https://www.commondef.com Fri, 02 Oct 2026 18:29:50+0000 en-us hourly 1 https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/return-of-the-blackbird-new-clues-suggest-an-sr-71-could-soar-again/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104873 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett The disappearance of SR-71 tail number 844, reported recruiting of veteran Blackbird engineers and NASA’s renewed interest in X-planes have stirred hopes that America’s legendary reconnaissance jet could once again thunder into the sky. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/boeing-caps-blockbuster-week-with-first-full-rate-grey-wolf-order/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104897 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Air Force’s roughly $85 million order moves the MH-139A Grey Wolf into full rate production as the faster, higher capacity helicopter begins replacing aging UH-1N Hueys that secure America’s intercontinental ballistic missile fields. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/navy-rebrands-expeditionary-command-to-match-the-new-face-of-warfare/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104900 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Navy’s expeditionary command is getting a new name while retaining its current missions, reflecting its growing role in autonomous systems, subsea warfare and the preparation of security forces for ships, ports and installations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/inspector-general-reviews-will-put-new-military-fitness-standards-under-the-microscope/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104870 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Bethany Loveland Inspector General reviews are becoming a key enforcement tool for stricter fitness rules in the Marine Corps, Navy, and potentially the Air Force, while the Army continues implementing its new tests and body composition standards. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-launches-religious-affairs-office-with-direct-line-to-hegseth/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104876 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett The Pentagon’s new Office of Religious Affairs will answer directly to Pete Hegseth, advocate for military chaplains, protect religious support funding, and help place spiritual readiness alongside physical readiness across the armed forces. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/marine-corps-plans-rigorous-warfighter-test-for-future-generals/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104882 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer The Marine Corps is building a new evaluation that will test aspiring generals through a complex operational scenario, adding a direct measure of planning, communication and critical thinking to its existing promotion screening process. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-blew-millions-on-migrant-detention-supplies-that-sat-unused/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104883 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett GAO found the Pentagon spent $2.85 million on unused Guantanamo tents, while separate Army costs at Camp East Montana included up to $11.5 million in services and about $423,000 for unneeded meals. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/powerful-military-education-benefits-you-may-be-leaving-on-the-table/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104865 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Navy lieutenant commander Jai Salters explains how Tuition Assistance, examinations, apprenticeships and careful planning helped him earn degrees and credentials while preserving his Post-9/11 GI Bill for his daughters. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/u-s-forces-exit-iraq-after-two-decades-leaving-iran-a-dangerous-opening/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104541 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Common Defense Staff American forces are leaving their final Iraqi bases as Iran celebrates, militia influence grows and security officials warn that the Islamic State could exploit the loss of U.S. intelligence, logistical support and drones. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/uss-klakring-sent-to-atlantic-grave-in-joint-american-and-british-sinkex-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104561 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Common Defense Staff USS Massachusetts delivered the final blow to the decommissioned USS Klakring with a Mk 48 torpedo as American and British forces demonstrated their combined naval firepower during Exercise Atlantic Thunder 2026. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/investigation-exposes-uae-missions-with-sanctioned-russian-shadow-airline-in-africa/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104630 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Vicki Schwarmer Flight records and leaked documents suggest the UAE used sanctioned Aviacon Zitotrans aircraft for more than 100 missions, linking Emirati bases with Africa and Pakistan despite the airline’s role in Russian military and weapons operations. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/ukraines-former-defense-minister-launches-bold-manhattan-project-for-killer-robots/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104627 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Bethany Loveland Mykhailo Fedorov wants Ukraine to produce a confirmed humanoid robot battlefield result within six months, then conduct an assault within one year in which machines handle the most dangerous tasks without infantry beside them. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/why-the-pentagon-just-poured-450-million-into-tungsten-mining/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104614 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett The War Department’s $450 million Elmet investment targets domestic tungsten mining, manufacturing and processing as a Jan. 1 procurement ban approaches and China retains control of approximately 85% of the global supply. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/cannon-afb-medical-gaps-drain-5000-duty-days-gao-finds/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104538 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Common Defense Staff Cannon Air Force Base personnel lost at least 5,000 duty days in 2025 seeking distant medical care, while outside treatment and travel generated millions in costs and exposed broader staffing and support problems documented by GAO. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/pentagon-orders-cyber-and-intelligence-agencies-to-confront-foreign-election-threats/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104544 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Common Defense Staff Hegseth has directed U.S. Cyber Command and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise to mobilize authorized capabilities against foreign election threats, with agencies ordered to protect voting systems and lawful voters ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/nearly-500000-veterans-score-three-months-free-from-life-insurance-premiums/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104556 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Common Defense Staff More than 457,000 veterans with current Veterans’ Group Life Insurance policies will automatically receive three months without premium payments, saving nearly $150 million while providing timely financial relief from November through January 2027. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/marine-corps-rolls-out-cash-and-leave-rewards-for-longer-overseas-tours/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104565 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett The Marine Corps is offering approved personnel $2,000 or special leave benefits for extending overseas tours, with eligibility covering most posts outside the contiguous United States beginning Nov. 1. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/airmen-and-guardians-ordered-to-update-religious-affiliations-under-pentagon-policy/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104571 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett Airmen and guardians must update religious affiliation records under a standardized Pentagon system, with separate October and November deadlines. Missed deadlines will trigger automatic record changes, while identification tags may still reflect preferences outside the standardized list. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/navy-selects-three-firms-for-30-vessel-musv-push-at-40-million-each/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104559 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Frank Guy The Navy selected three companies to build 30 medium unmanned surface vessels at an average cost of $40 million each, with first deliveries planned before fiscal year 2027 ends and phase two testing already underway. https://www.commondef.com/2026/10/hegseth-unveils-major-new-four-star-command-for-autonomous-warfare-watch/ https://www.commondef.com/?p=104765 2026-10-02T22:58:34+00:00 Julian Dorsett War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced AutoWarCom and Project Agincourt as the Pentagon moves to accelerate autonomous warfare development, connect frontline operators with technology builders and push acquisition authority closer to combatant commands and military units.