Defense Archives

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, takes off during Checkered Flag 23-1 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 4, 2022. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. The 23-1 iteration of the exercise was held Oct. 31 - Nov. 10, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Betty R. Chevalier)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

For 20 Years, the F-22 Raptor Couldn’t Carry External Fuel Tanks Without Losing Stealth — Lockheed Just Solved That Problem

At the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in February 2026, Lockheed Martin publicly displayed a production-representative scale model of what it informally...

Jack BuckbyMay 11, 2026

The 354th Fighter Wing conducts a 75-fighter jet formation at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Aug. 12, 2022, in honor of the U.S. Air Force’s 75th Anniversary. This capabilities demonstration included F-35A Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-22 Raptor aircraft from across Pacific Air Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Gary Hilton)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Air Force ‘Elephant Walked’ 25 F-35s on the Runway at Kadena Air Base — Inside China’s First Island Chain

On May 6, 2025, the U.S. Air Force conducted one of the largest elephant walks seen at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in recent...

Isaac SeitzMay 10, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

During Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. Relied on Just 19 B-2 Bombers Flying 30-Hour Missions From Continental U.S. — China Is Watching

Summary and Three Key Points: During Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. military demonstrated heavy reliance on its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber fleet — flying...

Harrison KassMay 10, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airmen load a munition onto an F-35 Lightning II in preparation to conduct a scenario during Checkered Flag 24-1 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Nov. 1, 2023. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise held at Tyndall Air Force Base which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Carter)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35’s Combat Radius Is 670 Miles — Northern Japan to the Taiwan Strait Is 1,200 Miles, and China Knows It

Summary and Three Key Points: On March 28, 2026, the 13th Fighter Squadron’s F-35A Lightning II aircraft arrived at Misawa Air Base in northern...

Jack BuckbyMay 10, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Lockheed Designed the SR-71 I to Hunt Russian Bombers at Mach 3 — It Never Flew, and the U.S. Could Use One Today

In the early 1980s, Lockheed’s Skunk Works proposed converting the SR-71 Blackbird — the Mach 3+ reconnaissance aircraft that flew above 80,000 feet and...

Brandon WeichertMay 10, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

On August 12, 2000, the Kursk Submarine Sank in the Barents Sea — Putin Was on Vacation and 118 Sailors Died Trapped Inside

On August 12, 2000, the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea after a 65-76A hydrogen-peroxide torpedo exploded in her starboard torpedo...

Stephen SilverMay 10, 2026

DAYTON, Oh.--An F-22A Raptor from the 1st Fighter Wing conducts flying operations during a solar eclipse, April 8, 2024. The aircraft is from the 27th Fighter Squadron stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. The squadron was conducting dissimilar formation training in unfamiliar airspace.(U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

German Pilots ‘Shot Down’ F-22 Raptors in 2012 — They Also Admitted They Couldn’t Get Within 20 Miles of One in Real Combat

In a 2012 Red Flag exercise at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, two German Eurofighter Typhoons claimed notional “kills” against U.S. Air Force...

Steve BalestrieriMay 10, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

In 1968, an SR-71’s Engine Exploded at Mach 2.88 Over Oklahoma — Colonel Sheffield Refused to Eject and Rode the Burning Plane Down

On July 29, 1968, Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield was the Reconnaissance Systems Officer aboard an SR-71 Blackbird piloted by Ben Bowles at Mach 2.88...

Steve BalestrieriMay 10, 2026

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China Plans to Build 9 Aircraft Carriers — But Has Only Limited Overseas Ports to Operate Them From

China plans to build six more aircraft carriers over the next ten years to bring its operational fleet to nine, according to U.S. Defense...

Isaac SeitzMay 10, 2026

National Security Journal

All posts tagged "Defense"

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

For 20 Years, the F-22 Raptor Couldn’t Carry External Fuel Tanks Without Losing Stealth — Lockheed Just Solved That Problem

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Air Force ‘Elephant Walked’ 25 F-35s on the Runway at Kadena Air Base — Inside China’s First Island Chain

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

During Operation Epic Fury, the U.S. Relied on Just 19 B-2 Bombers Flying 30-Hour Missions From Continental U.S. — China Is Watching

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The F-35’s Combat Radius Is 670 Miles — Northern Japan to the Taiwan Strait Is 1,200 Miles, and China Knows It

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

Lockheed Designed the SR-71 I to Hunt Russian Bombers at Mach 3 — It Never Flew, and the U.S. Could Use One Today

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

On August 12, 2000, the Kursk Submarine Sank in the Barents Sea — Putin Was on Vacation and 118 Sailors Died Trapped Inside

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

German Pilots ‘Shot Down’ F-22 Raptors in 2012 — They Also Admitted They Couldn’t Get Within 20 Miles of One in Real Combat

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

In 1968, an SR-71’s Engine Exploded at Mach 2.88 Over Oklahoma — Colonel Sheffield Refused to Eject and Rode the Burning Plane Down

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China Plans to Build 9 Aircraft Carriers — But Has Only Limited Overseas Ports to Operate Them From

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