Tag: operation epic fury
18 articles

USS Abraham Lincoln Returns Home With 103 Drone, 34 Ship Kill Marks
The USS Abraham Lincoln's triumphant return home marks the end of an epic mission, with an impressive 103 drone and 34 ship kill marks to its name. Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the crew, saying a few in the media had tried to misrepresent the ship's legendary status.

US Navy Fighter Squadron Fired 421 Munitions in Iran Conflict
The US Navy's VFA-41 squadron unleashed a staggering 421 missiles and bombs in support of Operation Epic Fury, showcasing their firepower in a recent Iran conflict. Their arsenal included a range of precision-guided munitions, from 500-pound JDAMs to 2,000-pound behemoths and advanced air-to-air missiles.

Space Force Waged Electronic Warfare Against Iran in Operation Epic Fury
The US Space Force isn't just a supporting player - it's a game-changer on the battlefield, delivering crucial space power to the fight. In a recent example, Space Force waged electronic warfare against Iran in Operation Epic Fury, providing direct support to the mission.

Air Force Accelerates Drone Replacement Amid Steep Reaper Losses
The Air Force is fast-tracking the replacement of its MQ-9 Reaper drones due to an alarming rate of losses in recent combat operations against Iran, with at least 45 Reapers destroyed since February. This steep attrition has dramatically changed the military's plans for its remotely piloted aircraft fleet.

US Missile Defense Arsenal Exposes Gaps Against China Threat
The US missile defense arsenal was put to the test during Operation Epic Fury, where 1,738 munitions were fired to counter 622 incoming Iranian missiles - a staggering show of force that reveals just how quickly defenses can be depleted. This intense battle highlights a concerning gap in the US missile defense capabilities, particularly against a formidable threat like China.

Airpower Fails to Secure Hormuz Despite Dominance in Iranian Skies
Despite the Defense Secretary's boast of a historic win, Iranian drones and missiles are still shutting down the Strait of Hormuz to commercial traffic, exposing a gaping hole in airpower's ability to secure the vital waterway. The US military's impressive destruction of Iran's navy and defense infrastructure has failed to translate to control of the skies and seas.

Air Force Accelerates KC-135 Connectivity Upgrades Amid Iran War
The Air Force has fast-tracked connectivity upgrades for its KC-135 fleet following a deadly tanker crash during Operation Epic Fury, a move driven by urgent safety and operational concerns. This acceleration comes after a tragic incident in March that claimed the lives of six airmen and raised critical questions about the aircraft's battlespace awareness and secure communications.

US Shifts to 'Affordable Mass' Warfare, Targets Iran with Low-Cost Precision Strikes
The US military's high-stakes Operation Epic Fury in 2026 revealed a startling vulnerability: its arsenal of guided munitions was depleted faster than it could be replenished, forcing a strategic shift towards affordable, low-cost precision strikes. This pivot has put Iran in the crosshairs, as the US seeks to maintain its military edge without breaking the bank.

USS Abraham Lincoln Sets Record with 210 Days at Sea
Meet the USS Abraham Lincoln, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier that's made history by spending a record-breaking 210 days at sea, showcasing its unparalleled endurance and capabilities. With over 5,000 Sailors and Marines on board, this unstoppable vessel has been a continuous presence in Middle Eastern waters since November 2025.

Iran-Linked Cavern Manticore Targets Israel with Modular Cyber Attacks
Meet Cavern Manticore, a highly skilled and disciplined cyber threat group with ties to Iran, targeting Israel's defense and government sectors with modular attacks. Their sophisticated tactics have allowed them to infiltrate organizations with alarming speed and precision.

Space Force Targets Distributed Ops, EW Sites to Bolster Resilience
The Space Force is shifting its strategy to prioritize distributed operations and electronic warfare sites, driven by the harsh lessons learned from Operation Epic Fury, where US space capabilities were targeted and destroyed for the first time. This new reality demands a bold response to safeguard ground-based US space systems.

Iran-Linked Hackers Target US Aviation with Sophisticated Phishing and SEO Poisoning
Meet Nimbus Manticore, an Iran-linked hacking group that's back with a vengeance, using clever phishing and SEO poisoning tactics to target the US aviation industry in a series of sophisticated attacks. Their latest campaign, which ran from February to April 2026, marked a significant expansion into aviation, defense, and telecommunications.

US Campaign Severely Degrades Iran's Navy, Disrupts Proxy Support
The US campaign, Operation Epic Fury, has delivered a crushing blow to Iran's Navy, crippling its defense capabilities by a staggering 90%, leaving only a fraction of its former strength. CENTCOM head Adm. Brad Cooper revealed the dramatic impact in a Senate hearing, highlighting the significant disruption to Iran's naval power and proxy support.

Pentagon Tallies Iran War Costs at $29 Billion, Omits Base Damage
The Pentagon's latest tally of the Iran war costs has skyrocketed to $29 billion, a $4 billion jump in just two weeks, with a whopping $24 billion going towards repairing or replacing ravaged equipment, including drones, aircraft, and munitions.

US Bolsters Maritime Security with Hormuz Escort Operation
The US has launched Project Freedom, a temporary escort operation through the Strait of Hormuz, to safeguard commercial ships and ensure the free flow of global trade. Dubbed a "powerful red, white and blue dome" by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, this defensive initiative aims to protect vessels navigating the critical waterway.

US Airstrikes Expose Limits of American Power Against Iran
Within days of the US and Israel launching a massive air campaign against Iran, the scale of Iran's retaliation - over 500 ballistic missiles and 2,000 drones - dramatically reshaped the war's trajectory. The initial barrage of 900 strikes in just 12 hours, targeting military sites, nuclear facilities, and top officials, came at a staggering $3.7 billion cost in the first 100 hours alone.

Pakistan's Gulf Strategy Exposes Enduring Ambiguity
Six months after the historic Saudi-Pakistan Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement was signed, its true test has come in the form of Operation Epic Fury, which has dramatically reshaped the Gulf security landscape. The pact, aimed at tackling threats from Iranian drones and missiles, is being put to the ultimate test - can it live up to its promise?

Navy Overhauls Refueling Tactics Amid Iranian Attacks
When Iranian missile and drone attacks disrupted traditional refueling operations, the US Navy was forced to rethink its logistics strategy, shifting from fixed port hubs to a more agile approach using commercially chartered tankers to fuel ships at sea. This pivot, dubbed a move from port hubs to "tanker treadmills," has been a game-changer for keeping naval vessels operational in the region.