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The National Interest

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Cancel the Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Now

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy's reliance on aircraft carriers, including the costly and technologically ambitious Ford-class carriers, faces...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

The Royal Navy Could 'Axe' $3,000,000,000 Aircraft Carrier

What You Need to Know: The UK Treasury has reportedly proposed mothballing one of the Royal Navy's two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers as...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

We Have Questions: India Now Has Hypersonic Missiles

What You Need to Know: India has successfully tested a long-range hypersonic missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The Slow Death of the A-10 Warthog Has Started

What You Need to Know: The A-10 Thunderbolt II, or Warthog, is approaching retirement as the U.S. Air Force shifts focus toward modernizing its...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

$13,300,000,000: Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Is Most Expensive Warship Ever

What You Need to Know: The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is the most expensive warship ever built, with a price tag of $13.3 billion. As the lead...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The U.S. Navy's Aircraft Carrier Nightmare Explained in 2 Words

Too Expensive: The U.S. Navy’s commitment to building expensive Ford-class aircraft carriers, each costing over $12 billion, contrasts sharply...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

'Stealth' A-10 Warthog: A Warplane the Air Force Needs Right Now?

What You Need to Know: The A-10 Warthog, a legendary U.S. Air Force aircraft praised for its effectiveness in close air support (CAS), faces...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

YF-23 Black Widow Stealth Fighter Can Be Explained in 3 Words

Destined to Fail: The Northrop/McDonnell Douglas YF-23, a fifth-generation stealth fighter developed in the late 1980s as part of the U.S. Air...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Surprise: U.S. Army Testing ATACMS Replacement

What You Need to Know: The MGM-140 ATACMS has proven vital for Ukraine, allowing strikes deep into Russian territory, but the U.S. military is...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

J-35A Fighter: Is This China's Copy of an F-35?

What You Need to Know: China's J-35A stealth fighter, recently showcased at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, has sparked...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

USS Kentucky: The 'Lost' Iowa-Class Battleship

What You Need to Know: The USS Kentucky (BB-66), initially planned as a Montana-class battleship, was reordered as an Iowa-class vessel in 1940 to...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

Fletcher-Class: The Best U.S. Navy Destroyer?

What You Need to Know: The Fletcher-class destroyers were the most numerous and arguably among the most versatile warships of World War II, with...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

China's J-20S Stealth Fighter Explained in Just 4 Words

Threat to the F-35?: China has officially unveiled the J-20S, the two-seater variant of its fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 "Mighty Dragon" stealth...

yesterday 3

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

America’s Allies Need to Increase Defense Spending

American conservatives have long called for allies to increase their defense spending. America’s allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific should...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Wilson Beaver

This Is Serious: Why North Korea Is Fighting and Dying in Ukraine For Russia

Big news: North Korea is not a black hole. It is a country that is now sending its military to the other side of Eurasia.  Historically,...

yesterday 2

The National Interest

Anna Matveeva

Biden’s ATACMS Gambit on Ukraine Could Blow up in America’s Face

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv closed its doors on Wednesday, warning all its employees to “shelter in place” in the event of an air raid siren. The...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Daniel L. Davis

Can Russia Rebuild Its Military After the Ukraine War?

Recent discussion of the future trajectory of the Russian military after the conclusion of Russia’s war against Ukraine has centered on two...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Dmitry Gorenburg

North Korea Is the Only Winner in the Russia-Ukraine War

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has moved from vocal support of Russia and the invasion to shipping missiles and...

yesterday 1

The National Interest

Justin Hastings

Israeli Strikes Reportedly Hit and 'Destroy' Iran’s Covert Nuclear Facility

All the Key Points: Reports suggest an Israeli airstrike destroyed Iran’s secret Taleghan 2 nuclear research facility, significantly hampering...

yesterday 8

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

Explaining SpaceX’s Success

Yesterday marked the sixth test launch of SpaceX’s “Starship” shuttle, following a fifth successful test in October. If you want to know how...

yesterday 0

The National Interest

Rainer Zitelmann

The Russian Navy Is 'Slowly Sinking' in the Black Sea

What You Need to Know: The Black Sea theater in Ukraine's 1,000-day conflict has become a striking example of asymmetric warfare. Despite limited...

yesterday 10

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

Russia's Kirov-Class Battlecruiser Could Make the Ultimate 'Comeback'

What You Need to Know: Despite earlier speculation that the Kirov-class battlecruiser Admiral Nakhimov would never sail again, the Russian Navy has...

previous day 5

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Dark Eagle: The Army's New Hypersonic Missile Can Strike from 1,725 Miles Away

What You Need to Know: The Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), or "Dark Eagle," is a hypersonic missile system being developed by the U.S. Army to...

previous day 5

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

China’s 'White Emperor' Sixth-Generation Fighter Isn’t Real

China’s building a sixth-generation “integrated air-space fighter” that will supposedly outstrip anything the Americans and their allies have...

previous day 5

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

Navy 'Nuclear' Aircraft Carrier Has Been 'Out of Action' for 10 Months

What You Need to Know: The aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) has completed its Planned Incremental Availability (PIA) overhaul at...

previous day 4

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Is Russia Getting Ready for a Nuclear War with NATO over Ukraine?

What You Need to Know: Vladimir Putin has signed an update to Russia's nuclear doctrine, coinciding with the 1,000th day of the war in Ukraine....

previous day 4

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The U.S. Navy Is Spending $348,000,000,000 On Columbia-Class Submarines

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy's Columbia-class submarines, designed to replace the aging Ohio-class fleet as a cornerstone of the nuclear...

previous day 3

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

China's New H-20 Stealth Bomber Can Be Explained in 2 Words

Flying Soon? China’s H-20 stealth bomber aims to rival the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider, marking a significant leap in Beijing’s strategic...

previous day 5

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

ATACMS for Ukraine: A Game Changer or Just A Giant Mistake?

What You Need to Know: The Biden administration has reversed its policy and authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile Systems (...

previous day 4

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

The SR-71 Blackbird Was So Fast It Could 'Out Run the Sun'

What You Need to Know: On March 8, 1968, an SR-71 Blackbird, piloted by Lt. Col. Buddy Brown and RSO Maj. Dave Jensen, performed a remarkable...

previous day 2

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

Ukraine War at 1,000 Days: 700,000 Dead or Wounded for Russia

What You Need to Know: One thousand days into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has reshaped European history and global defense...

previous day 3

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

SR-71C was a Real 'Frankenstein' Blackbird Spy Plane That Hit Mach 3.56

What You Need to Know: The SR-71C "Hybrid Trainer," nicknamed "The Bas****," was a unique Blackbird variant created by merging parts of two...

previous day 4

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

The Houthis Are In 'Panic Mode': The F-35C Has Gone Into Battle

What You Need to Know: The F-35C Lightning II, designed for carrier operations, saw its first combat use in November 2024. U.S. Marine Corps...

previous day 4

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

Joe Biden's ATACMS Decision Is Too Little, Too Late

Biden Ukraine ATACMS Missile Policy is Too Little, Too Late: The Biden administration has loosened some restrictions on how Ukraine can use U.S.-...

previous day 7

The National Interest

James S. Robbins

The American Nuclear Arsenal Guarantees Peace

Advocates of nuclear abolition spend far too much time wringing their hands about the cost of modernizing the United States’ nuclear triad. These...

previous day 3

The National Interest

Curtis Mcgiffin

Five Things the Trump Administration Should Do on Taiwan

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominations are beginning to shape U.S. Taiwan policy and the trilateral relationship between Washington, Beijing,...

previous day 3

The National Interest

Shirley Martey Hargis

Russia Has a 'Mystery Buyer' for the Su-57 Felon Fighter

What You Need to Know: Russia’s Su-57 "Felon" fifth-generation stealth fighter may soon have its first international buyer, according to Russia's...

previous day 4

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

The U.S. Navy Has No Aircraft Carriers in the Middle East Right Now

What You Need to Know: The USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) has left the Middle East, marking only the second time in over a year that no U.S. Navy...

previous day 10

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Long-Range ATACMS Missiles Won't Win the War for Ukraine

What You Need to Know: The Biden administration's last-minute approval for Ukraine to deploy Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against targets...

previous day 6

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

How a U.S. vs. China War Could Become a Nuclear War

What You Need to Know: A recent Center for New American Security (CNAS) study, sponsored by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), highlights...

previous day 9

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

F-35 Fighter Is Becoming a $2,000,000,000,000 Headache

What You Need to Know: The cost of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is expected to exceed $2 trillion over its lifespan, according to a new GAO...

previous day 2

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

Why Did 3 Aircraft Carriers Just Leave San Diego?

What You Need to Know: On Monday, three aircraft carriers departed San Diego, offering a rare sight for ship watchers. The U.S. Navy’s USS Nimitz...

previous day 20

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

White Emperor: China's 'NGAD' 6th Generation Fighter Is Just a Mockup

What You Need to Know: China unveiled the White Emperor fighter, a purported sixth-generation aircraft, at the China International Aviation and...

monday 6

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

The U.S. Air Force's Great B-21 Raider Bomber Shortage

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Air Force faces significant challenges in procuring its desired number of B-21 Raider stealth bombers, with...

monday 4

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

Biden’s Foreign Policy Legacy: A Troubled Interregnum

Editor’s Note: The Red Cell series is published in collaboration with the Stimson Center. Drawing upon the legacy of the CIA’s Red...

monday 8

The National Interest

Robert A. Manning

China's J-20S Stealth Fighter Explained in 3 Words

A Total Beast: At the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai last week, China's People's Liberation Army Air Force...

monday 8

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The Stakes of the Russia-North Korea Alliance

In early October 2024, Ukrainian intelligence announced that several thousand North Korean soldiers had begun training in Russia. The South Korean...

monday 5

The National Interest

Carol R. Saivetz

Ukraine War: Let the Battle for Kursk Begin

What You Need to Know: With Donald Trump’s impending return to the White House possibly halting U.S. aid to Ukraine, Kyiv is intensifying efforts...

monday 5

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Israel's F-35I Adir Fighter Has an 'Achilles Heel' No One Saw Coming

What You Need to Know: A Palestinian NGO, Al-Haq, has filed a legal challenge in London seeking to halt the export of parts for Israel’s F-35...

monday 6

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The Collaborative Combat Aircraft Could Transform the Air Force

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program has reached a major milestone, with Anduril’s "Fury" and...

monday 7

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

U.S. Navy Submarines Can Defeat Anything: Explained in 3 Words

Underwater Mountain Collision: In 2005, the USS San Francisco, a U.S. Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine, collided with an uncharted undersea...

monday 5

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

China Is Freaked: Taiwan Wants the F-35 Fighter

What You Need to Know: Taiwan is reportedly seeking to procure F-35 Lightning II fighters, along with other advanced American defense systems, to...

monday 4

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

J-35A vs. F-35: Can China's New Fighter Jet Match Up?

What You Need to Know: At last week's Zhuhai Air Show, Beijing unveiled its much-anticipated J-35A stealth fighter jet. The J-35A will make China...

monday 6

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

Littoral Combat Ship Might Be Making a 'Comeback'

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy's Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) USS Nantucket (LCS-27) was commissioned in Boston, Massachusetts....

monday 7

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

The U.S. Navy's Zumwalt-Stealth Destroyer Is Making the Ultimate Comeback

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Navy plans to test the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile system aboard the USS Zumwalt by 2027 or...

monday 5

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

5 Worst Fighter Jets To Ever Fly, Explained in 2 Words: Flying Coffins

What a Mess: While fighter jets are iconic symbols of aviation and critical military assets, not all have been successful. This article explores...

monday 6

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

China's New H-20 Stealth Bomber Can Be Summed Up in 2 Words

What You Need to Know: China’s Xi’an H-20 stealth bomber, central to its nuclear triad, is designed to challenge U.S. military dominance in the...

monday 5

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

China's 'Missile Swarms' Would Overwhelm America in a War

What You Need to Know: The U.S. defense industrial base is under immense strain, leaving the nation ill-prepared for a potential high-intensity...

monday 6

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

Russia's Admiral Kuznetsov Aircraft Carrier: Summed Up In 3 Words

Headed for Retirement: Russia's only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, has long been an embarrassment for the Russian Navy. Currently...

monday 5

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

Israeli Strikes Reportedly Destroy Iran’s Covert Nuclear Facility

What You Need to Know: Israeli airstrikes in late October reportedly destroyed Talegahn 2, a covert Iranian nuclear research facility near Tehran,...

monday 5

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

Long-Range Missile Strikes in Russia: The Game-Changer Ukraine Needs?

What You Need to Know: Israeli airstrikes in late October reportedly destroyed Talegahn 2, a covert Iranian nuclear research facility near Tehran,...

monday 6

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP-EG Missiles Could All Soon Strike Deep Into Russia

What You Need to Know: The war in Ukraine could shift dramatically as reports suggest the U.S. has authorized the use of long-range munitions, such...

monday 6

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

The Unstoppable Legacy of the A-4 Skyhawk

What You Need to Know: The Douglas A-4 Skyhawk is a Cold War-era jet-powered light attack aircraft renowned for its service with the U.S. Navy and...

monday 5

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

China's Maritime Moves in South America: A Wake-Up Call for U.S. Leadership

Donald Trump Should Look South to Compete with China: China is still Mahanian. Twenty-one years ago I closed out my very first hefty journal...

monday 1

The National Interest

James Holmes

Dark Eagle: The Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon Explained in 1 Word

Epic: The U.S. Army recently completed a successful test of the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), nicknamed Dark Eagle, which flew in a near-...

monday 9

The National Interest

Alex Hollings

North Koreans Are Not Russia’s Only Foreign Fighters in Ukraine

The news about North Korean troops that have joined Russian forces to participate in Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine has spread quickly and...

monday 9

The National Interest

Kristiina Silvan

Kirov-Class Battlecruiser Might Be 'Sunk' Thanks to Ukraine War

What You Need to Know: Western sanctions are straining Russia’s military-industrial complex, as demonstrated by the prolonged refit of the...

monday 10

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

JAS 39 Gripen Keeps Proving Its One of the Best Fighters on Earth

What You Need to Know: Sweden's Saab JAS-39 Gripen continues to expand its presence in South America, with Brazil increasing its original order by...

monday 7

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

P-61 Black Widow: Best WWII Fighter to Ever Fly?

What You Need to Know: The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the U.S. Army Air Force’s first dedicated night-fighter, featuring innovative radar...

17.11.2024 6

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The F-35 Could Mean the End for the Eurofighter Typhoon Fighter

What You Need to Know: Boeing's F/A-18 Super Hornet production will cease in 2027, while BAE Systems' Eurofighter Typhoon assembly in the UK has...

17.11.2024 6

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Putin's Desperation for Tanks to Fight in Ukraine Just Hit a New Low

What You Need to Know: 3 Key Points - Russia’s Mosfilm, the country’s largest film studio, has donated Soviet-era military vehicles to aid the...

17.11.2024 10

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

Israel: The Holy Land of Open Carry

What You Need to Know: In Israel, open carry of firearms reflects a focus on national defense rather than individual rights like America’s Second...

17.11.2024 10

The National Interest

Peter Suciu

The Age Powerhouse Navy Warships Is 'Sinking' Really Fast

What You Need to Know: Naval warfare is evolving, with the utility of large surface combatants like carriers, cruisers, and destroyers increasingly...

17.11.2024 2

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

PAK DA: Russia's New Bomber That Might Never 'Bomb' Anything

What You Need to Know: Tupolev, part of Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation, is developing the PAK DA, Russia’s first stealth bomber. Unlike...

17.11.2024 10

The National Interest

Maya Carlin

Hiller X-18 Can Only Be Described in 2 Words

What You Need to Know: The Hiller X-18, developed in the late 1950s, was an experimental U.S. Air Force tiltwing aircraft exploring V/STOL...

17.11.2024 7

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

F-15SE Silent Eagle: 'Stealth' F-15 That Never Joined the Air Force

What You Need to Know: The F-15SE Silent Eagle, introduced in 2009, was Boeing's stealth-enhanced variant of the F-15 Strike Eagle, designed...

17.11.2024 1

The National Interest

Harrison Kass

A 'Failed' Stealth F-15 Is A Big Reason the F-15EX Eagle II Flies Today

What You Need to Know: The F-15EX Eagle II, America's newest advanced fighter, owes its origins to the F-15SE Silent Eagle, a...

17.11.2024 2

The National Interest

Brandon J. Weichert

The Air Force Has Bigger Plans Than NGAD 6th-Generation Fighters

What You Need to Know: The U.S. Air Force is developing three ambitious programs to maintain air superiority: the Next Generation Air Dominance...

17.11.2024 8

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

Battle Stations! $4,500,000,000 Aircraft Carrier 'Sunk' By $100,000,000 Diesel Sub

What You Need to Know: Aircraft carriers are critical warships, projecting immense power and influence, but they are also vulnerable. During a 2005...

17.11.2024 9

The National Interest

Stavros Atlamazoglou

F-20 Tigershark: The Greatest Fighter Jet That Never 'Flew'

What You Need to Know: The Northrop F-20 Tigershark is celebrated as the "greatest fighter never built." Originating from the F-5E Tiger II, the...

17.11.2024 9

The National Interest

John Rossomando

Vladimir Putin Will Take Advantage of the Presidential Transition

Russians are betting that the new Trump presidency will conclude the war in a manner that is as satisfactory to their interests as possible. To...

17.11.2024 7

The National Interest

Raffaele Marchetti

Why Is the F-15X Eagle II Fighter So Expensive?

What You Need to Know: The F-15EX Eagle II, an upgraded 4.5-generation fighter, entered U.S. Air Force service in June and is generating...

17.11.2024 7

The National Interest

Christian D. Orr

Understanding Climate Migration

Representatives from countries around the world are convened in Baku, Azerbaijan, through Friday (November 22) for the United Nations Climate...

16.11.2024 2

The National Interest

Shelly Culbertson

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