Top 5     US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East, relieving long-deployed USS Lincoln (The Associated Press) The Asia-based USS George Washington aircraft carrier is now operating in the Middle East, the U.S. military said Thursday, relieving a long-deployed carrier following reports of mental health challenges and supply shortages aboard while it was supporting the Iran war.       The US Navy has battled operational tempo ordeals for years. The Iran war exposed the flaws. (Defense News) Vague operational planning and a lack of transparency during U.S. actions in Iran have exacerbated the U.S. Navy’s longstanding logistics, maintenance and manpower issues — and sailors are feeling the effects, congressional leaders, retired military officials and deployed sailors have told Military Times.       Trump vows tougher economic measures on Iran and supporting countries (BBC News) It comes after a 60-day ceasefire expired on Monday, with no sign of a diplomatic or military off-ramp to the conflict.       Hundreds of US military family members trapped at camp facing closure, group says (Military Times) Sean Jamshidi was a U.S. Marine Corps gunnery sergeant who served in some of the service’s most prized roles, including as an embassy security guard detachment commander and in psychological operations.       US approves possible $4.5 billion sale of KC-46As, equipment to Qatar (Military Times) The U.S. Department of State approved a possible $4.5 billion Foreign Military Sale to Qatar for the purchase of aerial refueling aircraft and related equipment.   Operation Timeline     The human impact of policy changes at the DOD and VA (The War Horse) An ongoing timeline of the Trump administration’s actions focusing on the military and veterans.   Congress & Politics     Golden Dome Caucus chair says building support, funding for missile shield is a ‘tough slog’ (Defense One) One of Golden Dome’s most supportive voices in Congress fears that prioritizing Iran war funding along with continuous partisan gridlock threatens President Donald Trump’s plans for a sprawling missile defense shield.   Your Military     Thousands of soldiers now roam Washington’s streets. They seldom stop crime. (Reuters) Well past midnight one day this spring, three police officers pulled up to a nightclub where a man was stomping on a young woman lying on the sidewalk.   Army     Army will shut down a unit in Europe focused on learning drone warfare (The Associated Press) An Army unit based in Europe that was specializing in drone warfare has been directed to end its efforts to learn and use the battlefield technology and return to being a traditional infantry battalion, officials said Thursday.   Navy     Sailor charged with murder in shooting death aboard USS John F. Kennedy (Military Times) A sailor assigned to the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy faces multiple charges, including murder and manslaughter, following the shooting death of another sailor earlier this summer.       US Navy leads multinational effort for next-gen SeaSparrow missile (Military Times) The U.S. Navy is leading a multinational effort to develop a new version of the Evolved SeaSparrow air defense missile.   AIr Force     US Air Force flight to Antarctica turns back after Russian hazardous space activity warning (Military Times) A U.S. Air Force flight enroute to Antarctica turned around to New Zealand after being notified of “potentially hazardous” space activity this week.   Veterans     He earned the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. Why did it take decades to receive it? (The War Horse) Inside an office building in West Los Angeles, retired Marine Maj. James Capers Jr. stood tall and strong in his signature spit-shined black cowboy boots. Under the shadow of a red Force Recon Association hat and tinted glasses, Capers’ eyes wore a hardened look that made no effort to hide the darkness and despair that gripped him at that moment.   Cyber, Space & Unmanned     US destroyed a lost Predator drone after hard landing in Middle East (Task & Purpose) The crew of a malfunctioning MQ-9A drone worked for more than 7 minutes last August to keep their stricken aircraft aloft, but a damaged wire in the fuel system had irreversibly killed its newly installed engine, dooming the $23 million drone after a day-long mission in the Middle East.   Defense Industry     Switzerland seeks additional $1.2 billion for air defense in 2026 budget (Defense News) The Swiss government is seeking parliamentary approval to allocate an additional 970 million Swiss francs (US$1.2 billion) for air defense under the 2026 budget, citing a heightened threat situation and long delivery times for defense equipment.       Taiwan floats record defense budget, sending message to US and China (The Wall Street Journal) Plan lifts spending by 18%, above symbolic 1 trillion New Taiwan dollar threshold Taiwan’s government proposed its highest level of military spending ever at over $35 billion, in a $123 billion budget for 2027 unveiled on Thursday.       Taiwan floats record defense budget, sending message to US and China (The War Zone) General Atomics has unveiled plans for what it calls the Wildfire Unmanned Aerial System, a next generation medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) drone. The move comes as the Pentagon is seeking an updated, modular, cheaper successor for the MQ-9 Reaper – one that is easier to produce and can be more freely sent into higher-risk environments where losses are likely to occur.   Ukraine     Ukraine braces for combined salvos of up to 200 missiles as overnight attack kills 15 in Kyiv (Defense News) Russia is racing to nearly triple its biggest missile barrage, from 77 missiles fired at once to as many as 200, a salvo built to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses in one shot rather than over days, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces said last week.   International     US warns allies and China to join Iran economic pressure campaign (France 24) The United States on Thursday urged allies and China to join its campaign to isolate Iran's economy, as President Donald Trump seeks to intensify pressure on Tehran amid a stalemate in the war and growing domestic criticism.       North Korea fires 10 missiles day after Trump curtails South Korea joint drills (The Guardian) Launches, detected by South Korea and Japan, came after U.S. scaled back exercises with South Korea in apparent overture to Kim Jong-un.       Russia’s missile tests around disputed islands anger Japan (The Guardian) Pacific fleet launched missile drills near what Moscow calls the Kuril Islands but Japan regards as its Northern Territories.       As conflict in the Middle East intensifies, India’s relationship with Israel deepens (The Guardian) An Amnesty International report reveals that the country is now a key part of Israel’s weapons supply chain. Plus, Assam floods, student anger spreads and a song to put in rotation.   Video     Pentagon says M17, M18 handguns are safe after review (Defense News) The Pentagon says the military’s M17 and M18 handguns are safe and reliable after reviewing concerns about accidental discharges   Commentary & Analysis     Trump warns of ‘economic D-Day’ against Iran, but Tehran is well acquainted with sanctions (The Associated Press) Nearing the six-month mark of the Iran war and facing diminishing stockpiles of key weapons, the Trump administration is touting a crushing financial campaign against Tehran, promising an “economic D-Day” against a country that has so far withstood nearly five decades of punishing American sanctions.       The cost of India’s calibrated neutrality in the Iran war (Small Wars Journal) When the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran on 28 February 2026, most regional and extra-regional powers were forced to declare, by word or by deed, where they stood. India chose a third path.       China’s military says AI can’t replace commanders. Xi is testing that (War on the Rocks) For years, the Chinese military’s own newspaper has been making a promise it may no longer be able to keep.       War with Iran has left western world exposed to ballistic missiles (The Maritime Executive) In six months of on-again, off-again fighting with Iran, the United States has effectively exhausted its supply of heavy air defence interceptors.       Why human informants still matter in the age of AI surveillance (Small Wars Journal) The most frightening thing about surveillance is not always the camera on the wall or the intelligence officer behind a desk. Sometimes it is the colleague who repeats your private joke, the neighbour who watches who visits your home, or the friend who suddenly asks too many careful questions.       War: Watt is it good for? (War on the Rocks) Military analysts are captivated by how the material nature of war is transforming in Ukraine.       Trump wants to be friends with Kim - but South Korea could pay the price (BBC News) U.S. military exercises with South Korea end early on Friday, at a time when the North is in a position of strength.