June 8, 2025

Osprey Flying Again, Yet Its Safety Still in Question

Osprey

After being grounded for months following a crash last year that killed eight US service members in Japan, the V-22 Osprey is back in the air. Many question whether it should be. The military says it mitigated the problem with the aircraft, but the families of those killed are not convinced.

Navy Recruiting Rebounds, FY24 Goals Surpassed

Recruiting

The US Navy says it has surpassed its recruiting goals for fiscal 2024, which ended Oct. 1. This comes after the service had failed to meet its accession targets for the first time ever last year. At one point, officials had projected missing recruiting targets by roughly 6,700 for FY24.

Interns Tackle Challenges in the UAS Field

UAS

University of Maryland UAS Research and Operations Center interns have spent the summer fleshing out solutions to some of the most pressing challenges in the UAS field, such as Counter UAS, Navigation without GPS, and Vertical Takeoff and Landing.

F-35’s Armory Is About to Get Bigger

F-35

The US Navy is launching an effort to procure four integrated advanced munitions — JASSM, LRASM, JAGM, and Hellfire missiles — on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

Chinese Balloon: Spying or Blown Off Course?

Chinese Balloon

A Chinese balloon’s three-day trip across the US ended Saturday afternoon off the coast of South Carolina after an F-22 fighter jet fired a missile at the balloon, puncturing it. There is much criticism of how the incident was handled as well as many questions about what the balloon was for.

Latest US Aid Package to Ukraine Is Largest Yet

Aid Package

The latest package of military aid from the US is the biggest to date for Ukraine. The Defense Department will be delivering Bradleys and other infantry fighting vehicles armed with anti-tank missiles as part of a $3.75 billion assistance package.

Lawmakers Ask for Halt on Nice Bridge Demolition

Nice Bridge

Three Maryland lawmakers are urging the state Department of Transportation to pause plans to demolish the existing Gov. Harry Nice Memorial Bridge. They want a review conducted to determine the feasibility and cost of repurposing the old bridge for recreational use.

DoD Photos Take a Look Back at 2021

DoD

The Defense Department offers a glimpse into the lives and work of US military members across the globe in 2021 through the lenses of military photographers.

DoD Issues Report on Its Telework Practices

Telework

The Pentagon releases a new report on teleworking practices since the pandemic sent majority of employees to work from home. Among the findings: 47% of those responding said their productivity increased while working from home during the pandemic, 41% felt they were about as productive while teleworking as they were in the office, and nearly 12% felt their productivity slipped.

GOP Lawmakers Urge Hike in Defense Budget

Defense Budget

Eight GOP lawmakers, led by House Armed Services Committee member Mike Rogers, are urging President Joe Biden to increase the defense budget by 3% to 5%. They say the hike would be a prudent investment to stay ahead of China and other threats.