Defense Archives

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Navy Never Built Deep-Diving Titanium Nuclear Submarines Like Russia

Article Summary – Titanium promised the Soviets deeper-diving, faster, low-magnetic submarines like Alfa and Sierra, but it came with brutal industrial, cost, and sustainment...

Harry J. KazianisNovember 22, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-23 ‘Black Widow II’ Stealth Fighter Still Haunts the Air Force

Key Points and Summary – Northrop’s YF-23 Black Widow II lost the Advanced Tactical Fighter competition to the YF-22, but many analysts still argue...

Steve BalestrieriNovember 22, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-14 Tomcat Fighter Still Haunts the Navy

Key Points and Summary – The F-14 Tomcat was built for a specific Cold War nightmare: long-range Soviet bombers and cruise missiles hunting U.S....

Isaac SeitzNovember 22, 2025

PACIFIC OCEAN (Feb. 9, 2012) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) transits the Pacific Ocean. John C. Stennis is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of responsibility while on a seven-month deployment. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate/Released) 120209-N-OY799-056

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China’s Aircraft Carriers Have 1 Massive Advantage over the Navy

Article Summary – Forget carrier-on-carrier duels. China’s real edge in a Taiwan fight is the PLA Rocket Force and the kill chain that feeds...

Harry J. KazianisNovember 22, 2025

Viewed from the front the #1 XB-70A (62-0001) is shown climbing out during take-off. Most flights were scheduled during the morning hours to take advantage of the cooler ambient air temperatures for improved propulsion efficiencies. The wing tips are extended straight out to provide a maximum lifting wing surface. The XB-70A, capable of flying three times the speed of sound, was the world's largest experimental aircraft in the 1960s. Two XB-70A aircraft were built. Ship #1 was flown by NASA in a high speed flight research program.

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Mach 3.08 XB-70 Valkyrie Bomber Has a Message for the U.S. Military

Article Summary – The XB-70 Valkyrie was born from a simple Cold War idea: fly so high and fast that nothing could touch you....

Harry J. KazianisNovember 22, 2025

A Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force) F-2 aircraft flies in formation with a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, during a Bomber Task Force mission over the Indo-Pacific region, September 21, 2021. Bomber missions provide opportunities to train and work with allies and partners in joint and coalition operations and exercises. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Devin M. Rumbaugh)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Japan’s F-2 ‘Super F-16’ Fighter Has a Message for China’s Air Force

Article Summary – Japan’s shift to a massive F-35 fleet hasn’t made the Mitsubishi F-2 obsolete—it’s turned it into a specialist. -Derived from the...

Kris OsbornNovember 22, 2025