https://www.commondef.com Fri, 09 Oct 2026 16:02:27+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/air-force-eyes-industry-access-to-test-ranges-as-army-accelerates-innovation/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105630 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland Air Force leaders are studying the Army’s industry access model for military test ranges, weighing faster technology development against security threats involving sensitive capabilities, overhead imagery, and expanding drone incursions. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/congressional-report-puts-marine-corps-acv-costs-and-battlefield-survival-under-harsh-scrutiny/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105627 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland Congressional researchers are questioning whether the Marine Corps’ $6 million ACVs can survive modern drone threats, while weight, corrosion, surf incidents and a possible service expansion complicate future purchasing and upgrade decisions. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/navy-readiness-bill-looms-after-marathon-carrier-deployment-no-2-admiral-warns/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105617 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Frank Guy Adm. James Kilby says the Navy’s impressive operational performance is masking a future readiness bill, with returning ships, delayed maintenance and limited industrial capacity threatening to expose the real cost of extended combat commitments. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/fort-braggs-century-old-homes-roar-back-to-life/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105616 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland Fort Bragg and Corvias have renovated the first of 21 historic homes for military families, preserving features from residences built between 1928 and 1939 while adding updates and addressing safety concerns tied to aging properties. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/senator-claims-pentagon-blocked-qatar-base-visit-to-conceal-iran-war-damage/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105612 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Julian Dorsett Sen. Chris Murphy alleges the Pentagon concealed Iran war damage by denying him access to Al Udeid Air Base, while the War Department says Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s regional travel restrictions were applied evenly. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-to-livestream-unprecedented-army-execution-of-fort-hood-shooter/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105610 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Common Defense Staff The United States plans to livestream Nidal Hasan’s Dec. 3, 2026, firing squad execution at Fort Hood, returning the convicted shooter to the site where he killed 13 people and wounded 32 others in 2009. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-recruits-100-drone-pilots-for-1-1-billion-gauntlet-iii/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105607 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Pentagon wants about 100 military drone pilots for Gauntlet III, where selected troops will test emerging systems and help determine which aircraft advance under the $1.1 billion Drone Dominance program. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/sig-sauer-builds-25-round-magazine-for-armys-next-generation-rifle/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105604 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Sig Sauer’s M8 carbine is getting a 25 round magazine and a more rigid handguard after soldiers flagged ammunition limits and laser alignment problems, though the magazine still requires a full Army evaluation before troops can use it. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/veteran-suicide-rate-barely-budges-as-va-revises-death-toll-higher/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105601 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland The VA recorded 6,488 veteran suicide deaths in 2024 while sharply revising its 2023 total upward, as enrollment status, homelessness and recent traumatic brain injuries remained major dividing lines in the troubling data. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/va-dental-newcomers-stuck-with-nearly-two-month-wait/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105598 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Frank Guy New VA dental patients average a 51 day wait while established patients average 14 days. A nationwide Optum Serve contract promises greater oversight, but the VA has not disclosed a target for reducing initial appointment delays. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-army-simulator-supercharges-german-pilots-for-ch-47f-chinook-fleet/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105621 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Frank Guy German pilots are using a U.S. Army simulator in Europe as they prepare to operate 60 CH-47F Block II Chinooks, with annual Fort Rucker training set to begin in 2028. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/florida-air-force-bases-rush-evacuations-as-hurricane-isaias-closes-in/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105595 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Florida Air Force installations evacuated about 1,000 residents and relocated multiple aircraft as Hurricane Isaias approached, while crews secured facilities, protected vulnerable waterfront buildings and prepared for possible flooding and utility disruptions. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/estonias-krattworks-crafts-shahed-mimic-drone-for-target-practice/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105624 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Julian Dorsett KrattWorks plans to unveil a reliable Shahed mimic drone by the end of 2027, giving militaries a realistic target as Ukraine reports significantly weaker interception results against faster jet powered Shaheds. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/two-f-16-crashes-expose-dangerous-engine-blind-spot-as-air-force-revamps-inspections/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105592 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Common Defense Staff The Air Force is deploying a new borescope procedure for vulnerable F100 engine stages after investigators linked hidden, unrepaired fan damage to at least two F-16 crashes, including the destruction of a Thunderbird demonstration jet. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/uss-lincoln-strike-group-earns-militarys-highest-unit-valor-award-for-iran-deployment/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105480 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Lincoln strike group earned the military’s highest unit valor award after a 321 day deployment that included 40 combat days, 3,963 combat sorties and 64 Iranian vessels sunk, according to the citation announced by Pete Hegseth. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/trumps-former-war-secretary-sees-iran-war-dragging-for-years-as-china-amasses-power/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105498 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Frank Guy Former War Secretary Mark Esper expects no foreseeable end to the Iran conflict, warning that Washington’s prolonged Middle East focus could distract from China’s expanding military, economic, technological and diplomatic power. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/armys-ah-64e-apache-grounding-likely-to-drag-on-for-months/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105483 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland The Army expects roughly 400 AH-64E Apaches to remain grounded for months as global transmission inspections proceed, forcing aviation leaders to assess unit readiness and potentially move helicopters between squadrons. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/turkey-weighs-saudi-defense-aid-but-flatly-rules-out-offensive-role/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105489 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Turkey is assessing air defense, electronic warfare and technical support for Saudi Arabia under a pact with Pakistan, while Hakan Fidan says Ankara will not send troops abroad to conduct offensive operations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/uss-harry-s-truman-set-for-massive-5-1-billion-service-midpoint-overhaul/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104705 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Bethany Loveland USS Harry S. Truman will receive reactor refueling and sweeping system upgrades under a $5.1 billion contract with HII, preparing the carrier for the second half of its service life after a historic but incident plagued deployment. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/trump-turns-against-iran-deal-as-u-s-reportedly-prepares-for-massive-bombing/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=105501 2026-10-09T23:05:02+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Trump is backing away from an Iran agreement as reports say his national security team is considering renewed U.S. military operations, including possible bombing of energy, infrastructure and nuclear targets.