Top stories
US Army seeks ‘last mile’ robot for medevac and resupply
The U.S. Army is looking to acquire an unmanned ground vehicle capable of transporting wounded personnel without causing them further harm.
Army launches new physical test for soldiers in combat roles
The new Combat Field Test is age- and sex-neutral and scored on a pass/fail standard.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Iran Coverage
Defense News is covering the evolving military, strategic, and regional implications of tensions and operations involving Iran.
Insurance Guide
Military Times has outlined helpful information about car insurance, renters insurance, and life insurance for troops.
2025 PCS Guide
Read up on tips and tricks in Military Times’ 2025 Permanent Change of Station Guide.
2025 Benefits Guide
Learn how your military benefits — including health care, retirement pay and more — have changed in 2025.
EDITOR'S PICKS
Your Army
US in talks to resettle 1,100 Afghans in Congo
Some of the Afghans are relatives of U.S. citizens or partnered with the U.S. during the 20-year war.
Push to identify remains of POWS who endured Bataan Death March, hell ships
Since 2014 the DPAA has been working to identify, recover and repatriate the remains of POWs who died in the prison camps or aboard Japanese hell ships.
US Southern Command stands up autonomous unit
Once fully operational, the new command will be tasked with engaging autonomous, semi-autonomous and unmanned platforms to “counter threats across domains.
Used as an ‘individual target’ by the Germans, this Medal of Honor recipient kept up the fight
Although mortally wounded, Robert Booker “remained retrained and unfazed as he continued to encourage his squad and helped direct their fire.”
In other news
Flu vaccine requirement discarded ‘effective immediately,’ Hegseth says
The flu vaccine has been required annually for U.S. military personnel since the 1950s .
Sailor reportedly finds dead rat in finished energy drink
The sailor said medical personnel informed him, “with the chemicals that are in Monster, that it should be OK.”
That time the Air Force proposed making a ‘gay bomb’
The Air Force once explored the idea of a chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to one another — striking a blow to morale.
Master Chief actor condemns use of character in White House’s Iran war hype video
“I demand that the producers of this disgusting and juvenile war porn remove my voice immediately,” Steve Downes wrote in a post on X.
‘War Machine’ review: Finally, a training scenario with aliens
The sci-fi flick raises the premise: What if the final phase of U.S. Army Ranger selection suddenly involved fighting a giant alien robot?
Don't miss
VIDEOS
Beating UAV threats starts with time—and better radar
Leonardo DRS explains how radar range and speed are critical to countering UAV threats.
Featured Videos
Trending Now
MORE STORIES
Trump clears path for expanded psychedelic research to treat veterans’ PTSD
The order commits at least $50 million in federal funds to boost research on ibogaine, a powerful hallucinogen.
By Tanya Noury
Two soldiers injured in bear encounter in Alaska
Two soldiers were injured in a bear encounter during a land navigation exercise on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, wildlife officials said.
By Eve Sampson
Boeing lands Chinook without a pilot at the controls
Boeing used its A2X software to autonomously guide an Army CH-47 Chinook through its final approach and landing.
By Eve Sampson
US Army turns to Ukraine-tested drones to counter Iranian UAV threat
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll told lawmakers the service has purchased 13,000 low-cost interceptor drones to counter Iranian-made Shahed drones.
By Daniel Terrill
US Army wants doctrine for landing helicopters on Arctic ice
The Army Corps of Engineers’ research and development component is working to disprove old assumptions about the risks of landing on frozen lakes.
By Hope Hodge Seck
US Navy destroyer fires on cargo vessel attempting to sail to Iranian port
The USS Spruance "disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room," CENTCOM stated.
By J.D. Simkins
Advocates press for preventive programs, VA benefits for struggling vets
Representatives from specialty courts and veterans’ legal organizations pressed Congress Wednesday for expansion of the Veterans Treatment Courts system.
By Patricia Kime
Starlink outage hit drone tests, exposing Pentagon’s growing reliance on SpaceX
Last August, a global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network left U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels bobbing off California, halting operations.
By David Jeans, Reuters
Army veteran tasked with prosecuting Nazi death squads awarded Congressional Gold Medal
Ben Ferencz was just 27 with no previous trial experience when he became chief prosecutor in one of the most significant murder trials in history.
White House offers no hint of Iran war cost as it seeks military funding surge
"I don't have a ballpark," White House budget director Russell Vought told lawmakers Wednesday about the cost of the Iran war.
By Nolan D. McCaskill and David Morgan, Reuters
AeroVironment launches new multifunctional drone variant
The MAYHEM 10 drone, a part of the Switchblade family, will serve as a multifunctional launch system, capable of deploying from various platforms.
By Eve Sampson
Suicide rates among military families continue to climb
The total overall number decreased, a drop that coincides with smaller overall force numbers.
By Patricia Kime
Army officer pleads guilty to 17 charges in firearms parts smuggling case
As part of a deal, the Army lieutenant colonel pleaded guilty to 17 of 21 charges against him.
New Army assault aircraft named ‘Cheyenne II’
The Army on Wednesday announced it would name the service's new assault aircraft, the Bell MV-75, the "Cheyenne II" in honor of the Native American tribes.
By Eve Sampson
Bill from vets in Congress would keep military roles open to women
The bill, which lacks Republican sponsors, is explicitly described as a response to the Pentagon review of women in ground combat roles.
By Hope Hodge Seck
US blockade halts ship traffic to Iranian ports, CENTCOM says
No ships entered or exited Iranian ports in the first 24 hours of a U.S. blockade involving more than 10,000 troops.
By Eve Sampson