https://www.commondef.com Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:56:12+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/pentagon-awards-raytheon-massive-20-7-billion-deal-to-nearly-double-amraam-output/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104574 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Common Defense Staff A five year Raytheon contract worth up to $20.7 billion could nearly double AMRAAM production, supporting the Air Force, Navy and allies as the Pentagon rebuilds munitions stockpiles and prepares for the missile’s eventual successor. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/hegseth-set-to-unveil-sweeping-20-cut-in-general-and-admiral-positions/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104547 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Julian Dorsett Hegseth is expected to expand his senior officer reductions to 20% of general and flag billets, changing the ranks assigned to some future jobs while eliminating other positions across the military. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/uss-frank-e-petersen-jr-triumphantly-returns-after-grueling-10-months-at-sea/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104532 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. is home after 300 days at sea, more than 85,000 nautical miles and missile defense operations supporting American forces during the Iran war. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/u-s-military-expands-contingency-planning-for-potential-cuba-action/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104314 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Frank Guy The Army Reserve is assessing support units that could be needed by Southern Command within months as Cuba planning continues, even as President Trump says he expects a deal and does not believe military action will be necessary. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/hegseth-orders-immediate-halt-to-civilian-faculty-tenure-at-military-academies/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104550 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Bethany Loveland Hegseth has ended future civilian tenure appointments at military service academies, directing military departments to build more flexible hiring systems focused on faculty contributions to warfighting and the preparation of future officers. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/boeing-lands-20-billion-navy-f-a-xx-fighter-deal/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104553 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Bethany Loveland Boeing secured the Navy’s $20 billion F/A-XX development contract, giving the company control of another major sixth generation fighter program as the service prepares to replace aging carrier aircraft beginning in the 2030s. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/8-injured-as-growler-aviators-eject-in-uss-dwight-d-eisenhower-landing-failure/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104568 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Common Defense Staff Two Growler aviators ejected after arresting gear failed during a landing attempt aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, leaving six shipboard personnel injured and prompting medical evacuations as the Navy investigates the carrier mishap. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/uss-theodore-roosevelt-enters-the-pacific-as-extended-middle-east-deployment-looms/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104404 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Theodore Roosevelt has entered the Pacific ahead of an anticipated Middle East deployment, with sailors prepared for about eight months away as the Navy applies lessons from prolonged missions and continuing operations connected to the Iran war. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/space-force-guardians-conquer-armys-green-hell-in-historic-panama-first/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104407 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Julian Dorsett Maj. Alyson Gleason and Capt. Stephen Brown earned the Jungle tab after completing 18 days of combat, navigation and survival training, becoming the first Space Force guardians to graduate from the Army’s demanding Panama course. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/meet-axel-the-remarkable-deaf-rescue-dog-ready-to-deploy/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104411 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Julian Dorsett Deaf rescue dog Axel will deploy with Sgt. Mollie Karazim and Michigan National Guard soldiers, offering comfort, supporting readiness and helping chaplains connect with troops across the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/ohio-races-to-land-the-u-s-space-academy-as-washington-weighs-its-blueprint/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104471 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Ohio is racing to secure the U.S. Space Academy for Wright-Patterson while federal officials decide how the school will operate, whom it will admit and what role Congress must play in establishing it. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/congress-turns-up-the-heat-on-oracle-over-vas-exploding-27-billion-ehr-contract/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104417 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Common Defense Staff Congress is demanding answers from Oracle after VA raised its EHR contract ceiling by roughly $17 billion, while officials could not explain the increase and 14 Government Accountability Office recommendations remained not fully implemented. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/heavy-mq-9-reaper-losses-loom-over-air-force-replacement-plans/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104425 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Reaper fleet has fallen to around 135 aircraft while its production line remains closed. Congress is weighing retirement restrictions as the Air Force pursues a cheaper replacement fleet of 500 aircraft by 2032. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/coast-guard-enshrines-fallen-rescue-swimmers-legacy-at-cape-may-training-pool/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104472 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Common Defense Staff Coast Guard Training Center Cape May dedicated its aquatic facility to AST2 Tyler J. Jaggers, ensuring every recruit who trains there learns the name and sacrifice of the rescue swimmer who died after a Feb. 27 operation. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/green-beret-who-survived-an-ied-now-battles-ukraines-deadly-landmines/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104433 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Frank Guy After surviving an IED and returning to Afghanistan seven more times, retired Green Beret Ryan Hendrickson found renewed purpose clearing Ukraine’s landmines, helping civilians and creating humanitarian missions for veterans searching for service and identity. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/pentagon-personnel-database-breach-exposed-sensitive-data-of-millions/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104477 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Unauthorized users accessed unencrypted Pentagon personnel files containing Social Security numbers and military job details, exposing information tied to millions of living and deceased individuals before officials discovered and patched the vulnerability. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/nato-commander-warns-drone-threat-has-put-all-of-europe-on-the-front-line/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104459 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Gen. Alexus Grynkewich warned that drones, airspace incursions and increasingly brazen sabotage have expanded NATO’s front line across Europe, while allied nations must prepare for a security environment that could grow more unsettled over several years. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/north-korean-mines-likely-triggered-dmz-blasts-that-injured-three-south-korean-soldiers/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104481 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Julian Dorsett Investigators say preliminary evidence points toward North Korean mines after two blasts injured three South Korean soldiers near the Military Demarcation Line, while two additional unexploded devices were discovered during the continuing joint inquiry. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/armys-hidden-motor-pool-crisis-is-devouring-combat-readiness/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104443 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Equipment stranded outside ownership, maintenance, and supply systems is quietly draining Army readiness. A proposed Asset Management Chief in every company sized formation would give one trained leader responsibility for keeping critical assets visible, validated, and synchronized. https://www.commondef.com/2026/09/texas-man-convicted-in-brazen-26-million-tricare-fraud-to-fund-lavish-lifestyle/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104432 2026-09-30T23:44:28+00:00 Bethany Loveland Kevin Curry was convicted on nine counts after prosecutors said his clinics billed Tricare more than $26 million for fraudulent TMS claims, with $17 million paid and luxury spending that included a $100,000 gold plated Tesla Cybertruck.