The USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1991, is undergoing its first refurbishment in over thirty years at a cost of $10 million. Summary: The USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship commissioned in 1943 and decommissioned in 1991, is undergoing its first refurbishment in over thirty years at a cost of $10 million. -Known as "Big J," the battleship served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War before becoming a museum ship. -The restoration, expected to take two months, aims...

The retirement of the A-10 Warthog, a critical close-air support aircraft, for the costly F-35 and the phasing out of Los Angeles-class submarines amidst an aging fleet and rising geopolitical threats, especially from China, are cited as examples of misguided priorities. Summary and Key Points: America's military faces criticism for retiring effective weapon systems, like the A-10 Warthog and Los Angeles-class submarines, in favor of expensive, less proven alternatives like the F-35 and next-generation submarines.

Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri, and Wisconsin were decommissioned for the final time in 1990, 1991 1992, and 1991 respectively. All have since been converted to museum ship status; besides the Iowa museum already mentioned at the beginning of this article, New Jersey is berthed in Camden, NJ (appropriately enough), Missouri at Pearl Harbor, and Wisconsin in Norfolk, VA. Here's a fact you will appreciate: I've actually toured the USS Iowa (BB-61) on multiple occasions. The Battleship USS Iowa Museum in Los Angeles Harbor/San Pedro has been open to the public...

Introduced with the SSN 774 Virginia in 2004, the Virginia class is the latest class of fast-attack submarines in the U.S. Navy. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Division and Huntington Ingalls Industries, the Virginia class is a powerful weapon system. Summary: The U.S. Navy's submarine fleet, renowned for its stealth and firepower, is set to welcome the newest addition, the SSN New Jersey, a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine. Commissioned on April 6 at the U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown, Connecticut, the SSN New Jersey's primary mission will be...

Even if built, the Montana-class ships, now would be 80 years old, making them ill-suited for current strategic military needs, underscoring the evolution of naval priorities towards aircraft carriers and smaller, faster vessels. Summary: Despite being larger and more heavily armed, the Montana-class would likely be ineffective in modern conflicts, particularly against a technologically advanced adversary like China. The advancements in naval warfare, emphasizing speed and stealth over sheer firepower, render the concept of battleships outdated.

The Alaska-class battlecruisers, conceived by the U.S. Navy in the 1930s to counter foreign naval developments, became a case of strategic misalignment by the time they were completed in the late 1940s. Summary: The Alaska-class battlecruisers, conceived by the U.S. Navy in the 1930s to counter foreign naval developments, became a case of strategic misalignment by the time they were completed in the late 1940s. -Originally intended to be fast and powerful “cruiser-killers” with modern 12-inch guns and a top speed of 33 knots, these ships were designed to challenge...

The future USS Miami is the latest Virginia-class submarine to receive its name, closely following the future USS Long Island (SSN-809) and USS San Francisco (SSN-810). Like SSN-809, SSN-811 will be constructed by Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, and it will be the 10th boat of the Block V series of this class of attack submarines. During the official kickoff concert for the inaugural Fleet Week Miami hosted by Blue Star Families, U.S. Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced that the future Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast submarine SSN-811...

Oregon’s 142nd will become the first operational unit for the F-15EX, giving Oregon plane spotters something novel to see. Summary: The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing is set for a significant upgrade as it prepares to transition from the F-15C to the newer F-15EX, becoming the first operational unit to do so. -Pilots from the 142nd recently tested the F-15EX at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, noting substantial improvements in power, radar, and avionics compared to the aging F-15C. The F-15EX features modern fly-by-wire control systems and a...

The USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship also known as "Big J," is currently undergoing a significant $10 million refurbishment, its first in 32 years. Summary: The USS New Jersey, an Iowa-class battleship also known as "Big J," is currently undergoing a significant $10 million refurbishment, its first in 32 years. First commissioned in 1943 during World War II, the New Jersey has a storied history, serving in multiple conflicts including the Pacific Theater, Korean War, and Vietnam War before being decommissioned for the last time in 1991. -Since then,...

The Alaska-class battlecruisers, conceived by the U.S. Navy in the 1930s to counter foreign naval developments, became a case of strategic misalignment by the time they were completed in the late 1940s. Summary: The Alaska-class battlecruisers, conceived by the U.S. Navy in the 1930s to counter foreign naval developments, became a case of strategic misalignment by the time they were completed in the late 1940s. -Originally intended to be fast and powerful “cruiser-killers” with modern 12-inch guns and a top speed of 33 knots, these ships were designed to challenge...