Author: Braxton Taylor

PRAGUE—European officials worry that NATO’s ambitious new targets for military capability may not be enough to deter Russia from “testing” how the alliance would respond to an attack on a member nation within the next three to five years. Russian President Vladimir Putin increasingly perceives Europe to be weaker than it is, they say, while the White House fails to grasp the severity of the Russian threat.At the NATO summit later this month, members will discuss not only increased defense budgets, but also new operational concepts to respond immediately to a Russian attack—including counterstrikes inside Russia—Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told…

Multi-day field operations are a routine part of military training and are known to impact physical performance. These exercises build resilience and readiness by simulating combat conditions that involve high stress, including operational and tactical decision-making, sleep deprivation, limited caloric intake and environmental challenges.This type of training creates units that work cohesively and build operational readiness. Field training exercises ensure that personnel can perform their duties efficiently, even under the most challenging conditions.However, the rigorous demands of multi-day military training come at a physiological cost. A new meta-analysis provides critical insights into how such training impacts short-term physical performance and…

PARIS—Boeing’s defense chief rejected the Navy secretary’s contention that U.S. defense companies can’t handle building two sixth-generation fighter jets at once.“Absolutely we can do it, and so can the industrial base, and so can the engine manufacturers. So I don’t see that as being an issue,” Boeing defense and space CEO Steve Parker told reporters Monday at the Paris Air Show.The Navy’s F/A-XX program is in limbo after the service cut funding for the program in initial 2026 budget documents, a move Navy Secretary John Phelan said was driven by industry’s tardiness on other programs.But Boeing, which won the competition…

Sharpen Your Mind, Not Just Your Aim. Looking to level up your shooting skills? This is more than just a marksmanship drill—it’s a mental workout. Part 7 from our 12-part series Built for Readiness The “Thinking Man’s Game” is designed to enhance a shooter’s ability to identify and prioritize targets in dynamic scenarios. By engaging targets first by size and then by alphabetical order, this drill forces shooters to process information quickly while maintaining accuracy under time pressure. Suitable for both pistol and rifle, this drill builds mental agility and precision, critical skills for real-world applications. Want to push your…

LE BOURGET, France—Lockheed Martin says it has completed work on a long-delayed upgrade for the F-35, known at Technology Refresh 3, but the company is still awaiting formal approval from the government. “What we have been working on throughout this process of getting TR-3 is to get the process stabilized to the point where it was consistently able to operate for the pilot. We believe we have reached that point,” J.R. McDonald, vice president of F-35 business development, told reporters Monday at the Paris Air Show. There is one part of the upgrade that still needs approval from the government before it…

I used to give whitetails a lot more credit than they probably deserve. This led me to be a little neurotic, and often, plan my summer stand-hanging missions during rainstorms. The logic was pretty simple, really. I figured that the rain would cover up my intrusion, and more importantly, wash away all of my scent.That may have been true, I don’t really know. What I do know is that heading to the woods during summer rain showers kept producing sightings and encounters in places I didn’t expect.Then it all kind of clicked.We often time our trips to the woods when…

The Safariland Group has recently expanded its Solis OWB (outside-the-waistband) holster product series to include more fits for SIG Sauer P365 pistols. Originally launched in 2023, the Safariland Solis holster is a two-piece, hard-sided OWB holster built from a proprietary nylon-polymer compound known as SafariSeven. The Solis’ design goal was to provide an OWB solution to carriers who carried slimmer subcompact pistols with subcompact mounted tactical lights and red dots in a low-profile package. SafariSeven material is not only durable, but it will also not scratch or mar a firearm’s finish. One of the unique aspects about Safariland Solis holsters…

Who doesn’t love the modern world? Sure, you have to file your taxes, but at least we have running water, antibiotics and plenty of food. And electricity, cars and supermarkets. Also there’s travel, smartphones and bidets.But if you really want to go back to the days of digging latrines and boiling river water, that’s an option. And if you do it in games, you get significantly fewer waterborne illnesses. Huzzah!Here are 10 games that are great for exactly that. Some are realistic, such as the new hit “Kingdom Come: Deliverance II,” and some are obviously fantasy, like “Middle Earth: Shadow…

The public lands advocacy group published a map and table detailing all the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service land that could be subject for disposal in 11 states. The map does not include all BLM and Forest Service land in those states because the bill describes a variety of exclusions. It is also unlikely that all 120 million acres will be sold or disposed of.However, the map still paints a striking picture of the millions of acres that would be eligible for disposal, most of which is not around major cities and would not be suitable for “affordable…

Foxtrot Mike has recently unveiled new products built around Foxtrot Mike-9 9mm pistol-caliber upper receivers. The three  new items consist of the 5-inch VFM 9 folding PCC pistol, the Foxtrot Mike Mike-9 fully ambidextrous folding lower receiver with the Foxtrot Mike RMB (Recoil Mitigation Buffer) and the standard version of the Mike-9 lower receiver. These firearms are engineered to exceed over 10,000 rounds in service life. The also have a thermal-fit design that simplifies construction while ensuring accuracy. Foxtrot Mike VFM 9 Folding PCC Pistol (MSRP: $699) The Foxtrot Mike VFM 9 Folding PCC Pistol combines Foxtrot Mike’s new ambidextrous…