Defense writer and analyst. Editor of Uncommon Defense: www.theuncommondefense.com. Email: mikedefense1@gmail.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mxn6xq2k2s2fGuess who's the star of the U.S. Army's latest "know your enemy" guide? A soldier of the regular Iranian army (not the IRGC). The timing seems more than coincidental. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/10/09/official-poster-depicts-the-us-armys-newest-threat-the-iranian-soldier/11 Oct 2026 23:49 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mxn6xq2k2s2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mwbfak4ggk2wTrump may be nostalgic for steam catapults on aircraft carriers. But the U.S. Navy is still issuing contracts for EMALS electromagnetic catapults. And in the end, the Navy will have the last word. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/09/23/steam-catapults-us-navy-appears-to-be-sticking-with-electromagnetics-on-carriers/24 Sep 2026 13:44 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwbfak4ggk2whttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mvqc77pszs22China is targeting the U.S. Navy's carriers. So why not return the favor and target China's carriers? Losing a Fujian-class carrier would be as humiliating for China as losing a Ford-class vessel would be for America. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/09/17/us-navy-should-target-chinese-aircraft-carriers-report-says/17 Sep 2026 18:34 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvqc77pszs22https://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mvlkn6ix3k2iWho's afraid of the U.S. Marine Corps' Stand-In Force concept? China is. Unlike American critics, Chinese naval officers fear missile-equipped Marine detachments on Pacific islands threaten China's area denial strategy. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/09/15/us-marine-stand-in-forces-in-the-pacific-a-concern-to-china-report-details/15 Sep 2026 21:22 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvlkn6ix3k2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mufeg567u22y15,000 lost days = 41 years. And the bigger question: with so many nuclear subs idle because of maintenance delays, how much strain is being placed on the fully operational boats? My latest for Defense News. https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/08/27/15000-operational-days-lost-in-10-years-due-to-us-submarine-maintenance-delays-gao/31 Aug 2026 16:50 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mufeg567u22yhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mstd6icwlc2uMold, asbestos and crumbling walls. U.S. military bases -- and military housing -- in Japan are falling apart. The photos are shocking. My latest for Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/08/11/asbestos-mold-and-crumbling-walls-the-us-militarys-pacific-bases-are-falling-apart/11 Aug 2026 19:14 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mstd6icwlc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mruftcrdns2rUkraine's F-16s are being worn out from constantly intercepting drones. Another example of manned fighters burdened with a mission they were never designed for. My latest for Defense News. https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/ukraine/2026/07/30/ukraines-f-16s-are-being-worn-out-from-intercepting-russian-drones/30 Jul 2026 12:09 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mruftcrdns2rhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mqp4e7j75k2qIn desperate need of more 155-mm artillery shells, the U.S. Army spent $495 million on a Texas factory that was supposed to forge metal parts for the projectiles. The Army has yet to receive a single part. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/news/your-military/2026/07/14/manufacturing-woes-hamper-us-155-mm-ammo-production/15 Jul 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqp4e7j75k2qhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mq3jibd7jc2gThe U.S. Navy is worried that its ballistic missile subs can be hit by drones and anti-tank rockets while sailing on the surface as they enter or leave port. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/07/07/us-navy-fears-ballistic-missile-subs-can-be-hit-by-drones-anti-tank-rockets/07 Jul 2026 21:13 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq3jibd7jc2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3movbvn2l7222The U.S. Navy couldn't repair battle-damaged ships during a war with China, according to a RAND Corp. wargame. One reason: America's Pacific allies may not repair U.S. vessels for fear of Chinese retaliation. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/news/pentagon-congress/2026/06/22/us-couldnt-repair-battle-damaged-ships-in-war-with-china-study-finds/22 Jun 2026 16:16 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3movbvn2l7222https://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mnxzs6lnc22fCol. John Boyd's famous theory of the OODA Loop did much to explain the psychology of why armies win or lose battles. And "Flashpoint Campaigns: Cold War" is the best simulation I've seen of OODA in action. My look at this game for Military Times. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2026/06/09/flashpoint-campaigns-cold-war-is-the-ultimate-ooda-loop-wargame/11 Jun 2026 01:04 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnxzs6lnc22fhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mkxnfmsonk2aThe U.S. Air Force worries that terrorists and hijackers will use drones to attack military trucks carrying sensitive cargo on American highways. Now the Air Force wants trucks to be armed with counter-drone defenses. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/why-the-us-air-force-fears-drone03 May 2026 17:06 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mkxnfmsonk2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mjulsafkkk2vSouth Korea has one of the most powerful tank forces in the world. But will these tanks be easy prey for North Korean drones? My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/could-north-koreas-drones-wipe-out19 Apr 2026 18:34 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjulsafkkk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mjkvnpw5rc2xDARPA wants autonomous shipping containers that can launch hundreds of drones...and then recover, refuel and relaunch them. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/the-pentagon-wants-to-turn-shipping15 Apr 2026 22:04 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjkvnpw5rc2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3miyrlfjd622gChina would use tanks, drones and electronic warfare to disrupt and destroy U.S. Army brigades in a combined arms battle. Whether these tactics will work or not, the PLA has come a long way since the Korean War. My latest piece for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/china-has-a-battle-plan-to-defeat08 Apr 2026 17:03 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3miyrlfjd622ghttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mih55hfnmk2fBombing Iran may not win the war. But airpower is a much better option than American boots on the ground. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/airpower-is-better-than-boots-on01 Apr 2026 16:42 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mih55hfnmk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mhvzgidmbk2lThe U.S. and Israel may run out of several types of missiles -- including Arrow, Patriot and THAAD interceptors -- by next month, according to a new report. My latest story for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/the-us-and-israel-could-run-out-of25 Mar 2026 21:21 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mhvzgidmbk2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mgs6ir4zg22sFrom World War II to the Vietnam War, strategic bombing was supposed to break the enemy's will to resist. Thus history says that the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign can't compel Iran to surrender. My guest essay for Defending Democracy. https://defendingamericandemocracy.substack.com/p/history-says-america-cant-bomb-iran11 Mar 2026 15:16 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgs6ir4zg22shttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mgqbiprf6s2bIran sent drones to Russia. Now Ukraine is helping America fight Iranian drones. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/ukraine-is-getting-its-revenge-on10 Mar 2026 21:04 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgqbiprf6s2bhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mgd5szhlpk2vThey look like ordinary tractor-trailers. But they're actually armored vehicles that transport nuclear warheads for Minuteman ICBMs. And the Air Force wants more of them. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2026/03/03/us-air-force-wants-more-armored-transporters-for-icbm-warheads/05 Mar 2026 15:54 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mgd5szhlpk2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mg4f2migvk2dThe Pentagon wants robot cargo ships that will deliver supplies to combat zones. It also wants vessels that will scuttle themselves if the enemy tries to capture them. My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2026/03/02/pentagon-seeks-robot-ships-to-haul-supplies-to-combat-zones/02 Mar 2026 23:14 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mg4f2migvk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mejextatrc2jTrump got lucky in Venezuela. U.S. forces suffered few casualties, which means Trump will be tempted to conduct more military operations. But next time, what if his luck runs out? My latest for Defending Democracy. https://defendingamericandemocracy.substack.com/p/trump-got-lucky-in-venezuela-will10 Feb 2026 16:27 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mejextatrc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3meh6jmg2jk2pRussia's tactics in Ukraine resemble those of the First World War. Except that in World War I, the generals eventually learned from their mistakes. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/russia-is-fighting-like-its-191609 Feb 2026 19:26 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3meh6jmg2jk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mcusk22yas2xUkraine needs weapons to stop Russian drones. Lasers and microwaves have potential, but the technology is not yet mature enough for Ukraine to invest in directed energy weapons, according to a new study. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/laser-weapons-arent-ready-to-save20 Jan 2026 18:39 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcusk22yas2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mcanotm4h22oChina and Russia don't believe that that America has the ability or money to build Golden Dome. However, Beijing and Moscow won't take any chances: they will just build more missiles. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/china-and-russia-doubt-golden-dome12 Jan 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcanotm4h22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3mcafbe76ac2sChina believes it can invade Taiwan without the need for tanks. Just lots of light infantry, backed by missiles, drones and other firepower. My latest for Uncommon Defense. https://www.theuncommondefense.com/p/china-wont-use-tanks-to-invade-taiwan12 Jan 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3mcafbe76ac2shttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3maqpabsgzc2vSix wargames for your last-minute holiday shopping, courtesy of Defense News. Feel free to disagree with my choices. There were too many good wargames out there to list. https://www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/military-culture/2025/12/23/six-wargames-to-add-to-your-holiday-gift-list/24 Dec 2025 16:39 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3maqpabsgzc2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3m7ludbuqhc2oThe U.S. Air Force wants a massive AI-based digital wargaming system. But the U.S. military's history of giant computer sims isn't a happy one. Will this time be different? My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2025/12/09/us-air-force-wants-ai-to-power-high-speed-wargaming/10 Dec 2025 01:01 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7ludbuqhc2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3m7jltn24ac2uThe U.S. Navy wants to design a new generation of railroad cars to transport dummy ballistic missiles. With the U.S. military's aging rail system a mess, how difficult will be designing a new flatcar? My latest for Defense News. https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2025/12/08/us-navy-wants-new-railroad-car-to-transport-unarmed-ballistic-missiles/09 Dec 2025 03:24 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m7jltn24ac2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/michaelpeck.bsky.social/post/3m6pdwr36xk2mSpecial operations forces suffer higher rates of Traumatic Brain Injury than other soldiers -- yet TBI research has neglected them. My latest for Defense News. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2025/11/27/tbi-research-neglects-special-operations-forces-report-says/28 Nov 2025 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:72dn4oming7vmrnmitnbvecm/app.bsky.feed.post/3m6pdwr36xk2m