DefenseNews

Some US troops cite benefits of Germany presence as Trump threatens pullback

At a U.S Army training facility in Germany on Thursday, some senior officers highlighted the benefits of American presence in the country, a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was reviewing whether to reduce troop numbers in the country. The benefits of U.S. troops here include deterring adversaries, combat training with allies on European terrain and absorbing lessons from nearby…
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DefenseNews

Investigation: Russian shadow airlines use Algeria as base for secretive missions

BERLIN/VIENNA — A fleet of Russian military-affiliated cargo aircraft has made over a hundred flights to Algeria over the past year, likely delivering modern fighter jets and equipment to bolster an increasingly important Russian ally at Europe’s southern flank, and using the country as a hub to project Russia’s power deeper into Africa. A Defense News investigation found at least 167 cargo…
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DefenseNews

Brain function evaluations to be part of Marine health records

As the U.S. Marine Corps faces congressionally mandated deadlines to evaluate the brain injury impacts of weapons blasts on the force and start implementing mitigation measures, changes are already being made to limit blast exposure in training. Brig. Gen. Sean Hoewing, head…
DefenseNews

Drone diplomacy wins Ukraine valuable allies, but now it must deliver

KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has leveraged Ukraine’s expertise in drone warfare into a series of successful diplomatic deals during visits to the Middle East and Europe, showcasing how Kyiv is using military prowess to boost its diplomatic clout. Since Russia’s invasion in 2022, Zelenskiy has sought to strengthen Kyiv’s alliances, both with Western allies and with countries of the…
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DefenseNews

Why aircraft carriers are the best (and worst) place for laser weapons

When U.S. Navy leaders declared that “the dream of a laser on every ship can become a real one” earlier this year, they apparently had one particular ship in mind. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush shot down multiple drones with a high-energy laser weapon stationed on its flight deck during a first-of-its-kind live-fire test in October 2025, the Navy recently…
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