https://www.commondef.com Wed, 07 Oct 2026 17:43:33+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-unveils-four-directed-energy-weapons-for-counter-drone-shield-at-us-bases/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105389 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff Four laser and microwave systems will undergo operational testing at five U.S. bases as the military measures their performance, costs and maintenance demands while addressing safety concerns surrounding counter drone operations in domestic airspace. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/northrop-grummans-yfq-48a-talon-blue-scores-major-first-with-fully-autonomous-flight/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105383 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy Northrop Grumman’s Talon Blue autonomously completed taxi, takeoff, flight maneuvers and landing in California as the Air Force pursues 500 autonomous aircraft by 2032 and evaluates competing mission autonomy software. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/air-force-certifies-first-skydio-x10d-instructor-team-ahead-of-fielding/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105380 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff Six AFOSI personnel completed Quantico training to operate and teach the Skydio X10D, establishing an instructor model intended to expand aerial monitoring capabilities before five aircraft reach technical operations agents in January 2027. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/has-the-pentagon-pulled-the-plug-on-ai-loyalty-tests/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105386 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Julian Dorsett DCSA says several controversial AI tools are absent from its current polygraph modernization research, despite earlier Pentagon statements, slides and budget materials describing algorithms designed to assess deceptive speech, emotional states and personnel trustworthiness. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/utah-veterans-mount-urgent-push-for-agent-orange-victims-memorial/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105377 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Former Air Force Sgt. Larry Kerr and fellow veterans are pushing to complete a Sunset City memorial by Veterans Day, honoring those who suffered cancers and other diseases after Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/its-official-armys-improved-m8-rifle-charges-into-december-fielding/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105373 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Army will begin fielding Sig Sauer’s lighter, shorter M8 carbine in December as leaders consider what to do with roughly 50,000 M7 rifles, including the possibility of rapidly converting them with kits. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/uss-abraham-lincoln-finally-set-to-return-home-after-321-days/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105371 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff After 321 days deployed and more than 10 months away from American soil, the USS Abraham Lincoln is due home Thursday, following a mission marked by Middle East operations, strained mental health support, and family concerns about sailors. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/uss-dwight-d-eisenhower-returns-to-port-after-growler-mishap-injures-eight-sailors/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105368 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Norfolk after a failed Growler landing injured eight sailors. The aircraft remains in the ocean as the Navy investigates the arresting gear failure and considers whether to recommend salvage. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/army-locks-in-nidal-hasans-firing-squad-execution-at-fort-hood/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105365 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff The Army will return Nidal Hasan to Fort Hood for a Dec. 3 firing squad execution after President Donald Trump approved his death sentence following a recommendation from War Secretary Pete Hegseth. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/corps-hits-okinawa-marines-with-alcohol-ban-and-curfew-after-alleged-killing/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105362 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Bethany Loveland Marines on Okinawa face an alcohol ban, paused operations, and a month of curfew restrictions after Japanese authorities arrested a lance corporal in connection with the robbery and death of a local woman. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/camp-pendleton-marines-score-a-new-chow-hall-drive-through-for-faster-meals/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105359 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy Camp Pendleton’s new Tres Habaneros drive through gives Marines another way to grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner without entering the dining hall, addressing accessibility concerns raised during monthly focus groups with base officials. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/army-apache-blasts-alabama-car-show-with-brutal-rotor-wash/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105356 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff An Army AH-64 Apache’s delayed arrival coated collectible cars with dirt and debris at an Alabama festival, prompting Fort Rucker to acknowledge damage and provide claims forms while the Army reported no injuries. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/france-fires-upgraded-nuclear-capable-m51-from-submarine-in-major-first/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105391 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy France launched the upgraded M51.3 from Le Vigilant in its first submarine test, showcasing a missile estimated to exceed 9,500 kilometers in range as Paris continues modernizing its nuclear deterrence and weighs broader cooperation with European allies. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/embraer-and-lockheed-martin-clash-for-indias-10-5-billion-military-transport-prize/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105395 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy Embraer and Lockheed Martin are expanding their Indian manufacturing pitches as they compete for a 60 aircraft contract requiring at least 40% domestic content and demanding performance from high altitude locations and temporary or unpaved strips. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/navy-f-a-18f-returns-from-iran-sporting-mysterious-sub-buster-marking/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105220 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Bethany Loveland A VFA-41 Super Hornet returned from the Iran war carrying a mysterious “Sub Buster” marking, while a squadron scoreboard documented 426 munitions used during Operation Epic Fury. The Navy and CENTCOM have not explained the aircraft’s role. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-army-races-to-test-counter-drone-arsenal-as-cartel-incursions-surge/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105221 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Julian Dorsett The Army is evaluating radars, interceptor drones, automated guns and lasers along the southern border after officials recorded 378 drone incursions in 30 days and reported that cartel use of commercially available surveillance aircraft was increasing. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/boeing-secures-14-7-billion-pact-to-triple-pac-3-mse-seeker-output/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105230 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy Boeing’s approximately $14.7 billion Pentagon agreement formalizes a seven year push to triple PAC-3 MSE seeker output, aligning with Lockheed Martin’s plan to raise annual interceptor production from approximately 600 to 2,000. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/lithuania-offers-to-foot-entire-bill-for-permanent-u-s-military-base/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105252 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Julian Dorsett Lithuania says it will cover the costs of a permanent U.S. military base, leaving Washington to make the political decision as Trump considers replacing rotating deployments with a lasting American troop presence. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/trump-approves-firing-squad-execution-for-2009-fort-hood-shooter/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105214 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Common Defense Staff President Trump approved a firing squad execution for Nidal Hasan, convicted of killing 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, as the Army prepares for its first soldier execution in more than 60 years. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/marine-anti-ship-arsenal-heads-to-japan-island-just-110-kilometers-from-taiwan/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105243 2026-10-07T19:54:01+00:00 Frank Guy Marine Corps anti ship and air defense systems will deploy to Yonaguni during Keen Sword, placing mobile American firepower 110 kilometers from Taiwan as Japan expands distributed military operations across its southwestern islands.