https://www.commondef.com Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:04:34+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-colonel-reveals-harrowing-dude-44-rescue-that-put-nearly-100-troops-inside-iran-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102412 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer An F-15E officer describes surviving a devastating shootdown, catastrophic injuries and 50 hours in Iran as approximately 92 American troops mounted a sprawling rescue operation that left multiple U.S. aircraft destroyed in the desert. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/vengeance-and-fury-unleashed-as-u-s-air-force-races-toward-500-autonomous-aircraft/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102415 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Air Force has named its newest autonomous fighters Vengeance and Fury while targeting at least 500 autonomous aircraft by 2032, backed by rapid testing, expanded production plans, and a fiscal 2027 program request totaling $2.37 billion. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/geissele-unleashes-production-ready-hicar-assault-rifle-for-socom/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102418 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Frank Guy Geissele says its SOCOM focused HICAR has moved beyond the prototype stage, even as engineers continue testing barrel durability under the punishing pressure of ammunition designed to dramatically extend the M4 platform’s effective range. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/long-awaited-pentagon-9-11-education-center-breaks-ground/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102421 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland A $100 million visitor education center planned near the Pentagon Memorial will explain the Sept. 11 attacks, honor the victims and document the aftermath, with organizers targeting a 2029 opening while continuing a major fundraising campaign. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-air-force-to-launch-new-point-defense-career-field-within-two-years/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102424 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Air Force is building a dedicated point defense career field after deadly Iranian attacks exposed the growing missile and drone threat to American bases, with the new force scheduled to become operational within two years. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/oregon-guard-f-15ex-jets-make-history-with-first-live-bomb-drops/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102427 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Common Defense Staff Oregon’s 142nd Wing completed the first live bomb drops by an operational F-15EX unit at Nellis Air Force Base, advancing its transition from air superiority operations toward full air-to-ground mission capability. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/iran-blew-the-hell-out-of-key-bahrain-base-acting-navy-secretary-admits/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102111 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Common Defense Staff https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/army-eyes-major-uniform-shake-up-with-baseball-caps-and-collar-rank/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101834 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Frank Guy https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/soldier-earns-bronze-star-for-valor-after-heroic-response-to-deadly-iranian-drone-strike/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101837 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/georgia-guard-helicopters-sweep-all-159-counties-to-spot-marijuana-grows-for-police-warrants/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101840 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-pilot-wins-top-safety-honor-for-daring-f-22-rescue/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101843 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-shoots-down-irans-claim-of-captured-saildrone/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101846 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/the-u-s-militarys-next-major-challenge-hiding-before-the-enemy-strikes/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101849 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Bethany Loveland https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-fighter-pilots-plunge-below-sortie-minimums-for-combat-readiness/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101851 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/navy-to-install-advanced-nuclear-microreactor-at-indiana-command-by-2028/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101855 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/vermont-f-35-wing-roars-home-after-nine-month-combat-odyssey-across-two-hemispheres/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=102147 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Frank Guy Vermont’s Green Mountain Boys are back after an extraordinary deployment that sent the F-35A wing from Caribbean operations directly into Middle East combat, keeping more than 200 Guard members away as global military demands continued to stretch American forces. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/navy-must-start-killing-manned-programs-top-war-official-warns/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101254 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Frank Guy https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/air-force-sharpens-quantum-navigation-for-combat-after-gps-goes-dark/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101522 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/military-issues-drone-survival-handbook-for-spotting-fighting-and-hiding-from-unmanned-threats/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101525 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Julian Dorsett https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/russia-sends-medieval-princes-sword-hand-bones-to-ukraine-front-in-morale-stunt/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=101257 2026-09-14T21:49:38+00:00 Frank Guy