During Iran’s massive April 2024 drone and missile attack on Israel, U.S. Air Force F-15 crews ran out of air-to-air missiles after downing numerous drones, forcing them to improvise by attempting to use bombs against aerial targets. According to Lt. Gen. Derek France, commander of Air Forces Central, one F-15 had only a GBU-54 laser-guided JDAM left and tried to drop it on an Iranian drone—a highly unusual tactic since JDAMs lack the proximity fuzes that make air-to-air missiles effective. The bomb missed, as did two other F-15 attempts, but France called it “innovation on the fly” under extreme conditions. The engagement occurred during a coordinated Iranian strike involving 170 drones, 120+ ballistic missiles, and 30 cruise missiles launched by Iran and Houthi allies. Although dropping bombs on flying targets is rare, there is precedent: in 1991, an F-15 successfully destroyed an Iraqi helicopter with a laser-guided bomb. Since then, the Air Force has fielded the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS)—a cheaper, laser-guided rocket with a proximity fuze—allowing F-15Es to carry up to 42 rockets and better handle mass drone swarms in the future. Click here to read more.

President Donald Trump declared at the United Nations that he now believes Ukraine, with the support of NATO and the EU, can reclaim all territory lost to Russia—a sharp reversal from his past calls for concessions to end the war. The statement followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who urged continued U.S. backing as Ukraine faces relentless missile and drone strikes. Trump emphasized that Russia’s prolonged failure in the war made it appear like a “paper tiger,” while pushing Europe to cut off Russian oil imports and pledging support for NATO allies confronting Russian provocations. His remarks came as the U.N. detailed widespread human rights abuses in occupied Ukraine and reported surging civilian casualties amid intensified Russian attacks. Click here to read more.

U.S., Japanese, and Australian troops are conducting joint drills in Japan’s Orient Shield exercise, marking the first time Australia has formally joined the annual training amid growing tensions with China. Running from September 16–24 across multiple prefectures, the exercise includes infantry assaults, mortar fire, logistics, and medical evacuations, with around 2,100 troops participating. The expansion follows a reciprocal access agreement allowing Japan and Australia to train on each other’s soil, reflecting deeper trilateral security ties alongside the U.S. Brig. Gen. James Dooghan of U.S. Army Japan called Australia’s inclusion a sign of strengthened alliances, while Japanese and Australian commanders emphasized enhancing operational effectiveness and readiness. The exercise comes as China steps up naval activity near Taiwan and Japanese-controlled islands, and as the U.S. deploys new missile systems to the region. Click here to read more.

The U.S. military has deployed Marine F-35B Lightning II jets to Puerto Rico as part of a large anti-cartel mission in the Caribbean, raising questions about why one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft is being used against low-tech drug smugglers. The Pentagon framed the move as part of a broader campaign to defend Americans from “narco-terrorists,” but experts argue the F-35 is “an expensive form of overkill,” best suited for high-intensity battlespaces with advanced air defenses like those of China or Russia. Analysts suggest the jets may have been chosen because they were readily deployable or to provide pilots with training opportunities in real-world conditions. Critics counter that the Caribbean is an illogical use of stealth and fifth-generation capabilities designed for peer adversaries, with one former defense official calling it a “gross application of an exquisite technology.” Click here to read more.

President Donald Trump said Thursday that the U.S. is seeking to reclaim Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, a base abandoned during the 2021 withdrawal and later taken over by the Taliban. Speaking at a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Trump called the withdrawal a “total disaster” and said the U.S. wants the base back partly because of its proximity to western China, which he linked to nuclear weapons development. He did not clarify how the U.S. might negotiate or secure Bagram’s return, nor did the Pentagon confirm any active plans. The Taliban has not yet issued a response. For veterans, Bagram holds deep symbolic weight as the entry and exit point for two decades of war. Trump has previously tied the base to U.S.-China tensions, although experts note that China’s main nuclear facilities are far from Bagram, with the nearest, Lop Nur, around 2,000 km away. The remarks underscore ongoing debate about the U.S. role in Afghanistan and strategic competition with China. Click here to read more.