https://www.commondef.com Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:00:55+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/virginia-man-arrested-in-sledgehammer-decapitation-of-quantico-iwo-jima-statue/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107105 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland Police arrested a Virginia man after the Quantico Iwo Jima sculpture was allegedly attacked with a sledgehammer, leaving one Marine figure decapitated and other figures damaged. Authorities estimate the destruction caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in harm. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/petraeus-sounds-alarm-u-s-military-needs-revolutionary-overhaul-for-modern-war/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107108 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy Petraeus says Ukraine’s massive drone war exposes a dangerous lack of institutional change across NATO, urging the United States to overhaul force structure, procurement, training and manufacturing as autonomous systems redefine modern combat. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/saudi-missile-factory-expansion-may-yield-bigger-more-powerful-weapons-study-finds/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107117 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy Commercial satellite images show major construction at Saudi Arabia’s al-Duwadimi missile complex, where researchers believe larger casting facilities could support more powerful solid fuel weapons with heavier payloads or longer ranges. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/military-takeover-of-new-mexico-borderlands-blasted-in-federal-court/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107102 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy Three nonprofits are suing to overturn the Trump administration’s New Mexico National Defense Area, arguing that the military designation covering 109,651 acres exceeds federal authority, circumvents limits on military law enforcement and blocks access for conservation and humanitarian searches. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/france-and-uk-launch-historic-first-joint-airborne-nuclear-strike-exercise/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107120 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland British Typhoons escorted French Rafales during a landmark simulated nuclear strike over the Mediterranean, demonstrating growing coordination while France and the United Kingdom retained independent control of their nuclear forces. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/marine-sniper-veteran-travels-to-ukraine-to-meet-marksman-behind-astonishing-2069-meter-shot/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107111 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Marine veteran Colby Barrett traveled to Ukraine to document Lektor, the intelligence sniper who struck a moving Russian soldier at 2,069 meters with a single .338 Lapua Magnum round before drones descended on his position. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/air-force-halts-special-ops-rappelling-after-instructors-fatal-stadium-fall/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107099 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett The 6th Combat Training Squadron has paused rappelling and ropes events indefinitely after instructor Tech. Sgt. Ian Patterson fell from the Alamodome rafters during a public demonstration and later died at a hospital. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/air-defense-soldiers-could-earn-striking-new-badge-after-five-successful-engagements/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107096 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Common Defense Staff The Army is reviewing a gold wreath skill badge for soldiers credited with at least five successful hostile engagements, potentially recognizing qualifying air defense achievements dating back to 2022. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/space-force-moves-to-embed-more-guardians-across-the-joint-force/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107093 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Gen. Douglas Schiess wants more guardians delivering space expertise directly to combatant commands as Space Force expands its personnel, strengthens ties with special operations and develops an arsenal that already includes undisclosed weapons in orbit. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-expands-sweeping-alcohol-restrictions-for-troops-in-japan/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107090 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy American troops participating in Keen Sword cannot consume alcohol and face overnight curfews, while separate Kadena Air Base orders restrict drinking, possession and nighttime liberties for personnel in ranks E-1 through E-4. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/army-activates-permanent-air-defense-battalion-to-fortify-guam/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107087 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Army’s new Guam battalion replaces a rotating task force and establishes permanent air defense capabilities, including THAAD and Patriot systems, as the military develops a broader network to protect the strategic Pacific territory. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-bans-troops-from-cashing-in-on-insider-military-information/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107084 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Common Defense Staff Hegseth’s directive warns that prediction market wagers based on insider military information can expose operational signals to foreign intelligence services while putting troops and civilian personnel at risk of military or federal penalties. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/leonardo-and-rheinmetall-land-reported-4-16-billion-italian-army-armor-contracts/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=107114 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Leonardo and Rheinmetall reportedly secured two Italian Army armor contracts totaling $4.16 billion, although Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani declined to confirm a signing while describing production preparations and close cooperation between the companies. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/trump-and-putin-secure-air-force-veterans-freedom-from-russian-prison/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106858 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett Stephen Hubbard is free after more than four years in Russian custody, with Trump saying no swap was required and defending his decision to avoid sanctions that he argued would have destroyed the negotiations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/navy-unleashes-up-to-100000-in-bonuses-for-explosive-ordnance-disposal-officers/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106873 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Navy is dangling bonuses worth up to $100,000 to retain experienced explosive ordnance disposal warfare officers, with separate eligibility thresholds, contract options and application requirements for lieutenants and lieutenant commanders. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-army-long-range-firepower-makes-waves-across-the-front-line-with-china/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106867 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland U.S. Army HIMARS and Typhon deployments are expanding across Japan and the Philippines, sharpening allied long range firepower while exposing the logistical challenges of sustaining dispersed forces near Taiwan. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/va-watchdog-finds-painful-scar-errors-fueled-5-6-million-in-overpayments/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106864 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer A VA watchdog linked painful scar disability errors to approximately $5.6 million in overpayments, while the agency challenged how the findings were statistically presented and agreed to pursue questionnaire revisions, employee guidance and corrections by February 2027. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/army-scrambles-for-new-155mm-howitzer-barrel-makers-as-demand-surges/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106861 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett The Army is testing whether industry can deliver up to 10 new 155mm howitzer barrels monthly as the aging Watervliet Arsenal struggles to meet demand generated by heavy artillery use and the need to replace worn cannon tubes. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-and-lockheed-agree-to-massive-10-year-framework-for-850-f-35-jets/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106855 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy The 10 year framework promises at least 850 F-35 fighters, billions in Lockheed investment and steadier production, but congressional authorization, funding and final negotiations must occur before the sweeping arrangement becomes a contract. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-races-to-put-ketamine-wafers-on-the-battlefield/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=106849 2026-10-26T13:16:38+00:00 Frank Guy A nearly $41 million War Department contract is advancing a dissolvable ketamine wafer as its manufacturer seeks emergency authorization, potentially putting the pain medication into military use before it receives full Food and Drug Administration approval.