{"id":5771,"date":"2020-12-21T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-12-21T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/12\/18\/year-in-review-top-stories-from-2020\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:07:19","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:07:19","slug":"year-in-review-top-stories-from-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/2020\/12\/21\/year-in-review-top-stories-from-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Year in review: Top stories from 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3082\" data-id=\"3082\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AF5.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AF5.jpg.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AF5.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AF5.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AF5.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The U.S. Air Force confirmed to Defense News that it secretly designed, built and flew at least one prototype of its enigmatic next-generation fighter jet. With the program still in its infancy, the rollout and successful first flight of a demonstrator was not expected for years. (U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3872\" height=\"2592\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3088\" data-id=\"3088\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg 3872w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?resize=300,201 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?resize=768,514 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,685 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1028 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1371 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3872px) 100vw, 3872px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">After a year of speculation about what would happen to Turkey\u2019s F-35s after the country was ousted from the Joint Strike Fighter program in 2019, the Pentagon announced plans to buy eight F-35A jets, originally built by Lockheed Martin for Turkey, as part of a $862 million contract modification. The deal also contained an additional six F-35As built for the U.S. Air Force and modifications that will bring the Turkish jets in line with the U.S. configuration. (dardanellas\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1199\" height=\"681\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3092\" data-id=\"3092\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pinckney.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pinckney.jpg.jpg 1199w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pinckney.jpg.jpg?resize=300,170 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pinckney.jpg.jpg?resize=768,436 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Pinckney.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,582 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1199px) 100vw, 1199px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The U.S. Navy told lawmakers it would cancel plans to add 10 years to the expected service life of its stalwart destroyer fleet as a cost-savings measure. The decision for the Arleigh Burke class came after years of assurances from Navy leaders that the destroyers would be modernized with an eye to growing the fleet over the coming decades. (MC3 Erick A. Parsons\/U.S. Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"249\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3095\" data-id=\"3095\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BR-fire-2.jpeg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BR-fire-2.jpeg.jpg 600w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/BR-fire-2.jpeg.jpg?resize=300,125 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The U.S. Navy&#8217;s fleet was hit with two high-profile fires. A series of explosions and a 1,200-degree inferno damaged 11 of the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard\u2019s 14 decks, according to a summary of the damage by the U.S. Navy\u2019s top officer. The fire on the Bonhomme Richard broke out the morning of July 12 while it was pierside in San Diego, California, undergoing maintenance. The service will not repair the ship over costs. And on July 17, the amphibious assault ship Kearsarge caught fire. The incident started when a spark from welding landed on nearby material, which was then quickly put out by the fire watch. (U.S. Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2464\" height=\"1550\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3098\" data-id=\"3098\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg 2464w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg?resize=300,189 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg?resize=768,483 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,644 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,966 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1288 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2464px) 100vw, 2464px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The littoral combat ship Detroit ended its deployment to South America early after issues with it combining gear, marking the latest setback for the Freedom variant\u2019s complicated propulsion system. (MC2 Devin Bowser\/U.S. Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1365\" alt=\"Defense Secretary Mark Esper holds a news conference at the Pentagon, June 3, 2020.\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3104\" data-id=\"3104\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/49967231466_ff306e3274_k.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Bonnie Kristian, a fellow at Defense Priorities, wrote a commentary on Defense News in March that attracted a lot of attention from readers. She argued that then-U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper was right to support withdrawing American troops from the Middle East and Africa in a pivot toward great power relations. But she was concerned that a move toward conflict with China would be dangerously unwise, instead calling for diplomacy, mutual economic benefit and peace. (Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders\/U.S. Defense Department)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3000\" height=\"2143\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3114\" data-id=\"3114\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg 3000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?resize=300,214 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?resize=768,549 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,731 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1097 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1463 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3000px) 100vw, 3000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">An issue that risks damage to the F-35\u2019s tail section if the aircraft needs to maintain supersonic speeds is not worth fixing and will instead be addressed by changing the operating parameters, the F-35 Joint Program Office told Defense News in April. The deficiency means that at extremely high altitudes, the U.S. Navy\u2019s and Marine Corps\u2019 versions of the F-35 jet can only fly at supersonic speeds for short bursts of time before there is a risk of structural damage and loss of stealth capability. The problem may make it impossible for the Navy\u2019s F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts. (Samuel King Jr.\/U.S. Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"4391\" height=\"2471\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3122\" data-id=\"3122\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg 4391w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4391px) 100vw, 4391px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">The Pentagon in March issued three contracts to start design work on mobile, small nuclear reactors, as part of a two-step plan toward achieving nuclear power for American forces at home and abroad. Under &#8220;Project Pele,&#8221; the department awarded contracts to BWX Technologies Inc. of Virginia for $13.5 million; Westinghouse Government Services of Washington, D.C., for $11.9 million; and X-energy LLC of Maryland for $14.3 million to begin a two-year engineering design competition for a small nuclear microreactor designed to potentially be forward deployed with forces outside the continental United States. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3724\" height=\"2483\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3127\" data-id=\"3127\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg 3724w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?resize=2048,1366 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 3724px) 100vw, 3724px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">Indonesia wrote to Austria expressing its interest in acquiring the European country&#8217;s entire fleet of 15 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets. Indonesia had been seeking a fighter aircraft to serve alongside its fleet of 23 refurbished early-block Lockheed Martin F-16C\/D Fighting Falcon jets. (Erwin Scheriau\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-3135\" data-id=\"3135\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/zumwalt.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_caption gallery-caption\">An announcement about the U.S. Navy\u2019s first stealth destroyer, the Zumwalt, attracted the attention of a lot of readers this year. A source with knowledge of the program told Defense News in March that the warship was on track to have its combat system installation completed and delivered shortly. It marked the end of a long journey for the ship that was commissioned in 2016 without a working combat system. In October, it test-fired an SM-2 missile out of its MK 57 Vertical Launching System. However, its future remains uncertain, as the service hasn\u2019t found a use for the Advanced Gun System. In late 2016, the service canceled its Long Range Land Attack Projectile, which cost about $1 million per round, and has struggled to come up with a replacement round for the gun. (U.S. Navy)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Secretive aircraft, tension with Turkey and warship problems: Here are the top stories from the year. (And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/global\/2019\/12\/27\/year-in-review-top-stories-from-2019\/\" target=_blank>click here<\/a> to see what made the 2019 list!)<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/breaking-news\/2020\/09\/15\/the-us-air-force-has-built-and-flown-a-mysterious-full-scale-prototype-of-its-future-fighter-jet\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"208\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/190123-F-AF999-002.JPG.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The US Air Force has built and flown a mysterious full-scale prototype of its future fighter jet<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Does this give the Next Generation Air Dominance program more momentum, or does it open it up to more scrutiny?<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/07\/20\/its-official-us-air-force-to-buy-turkish-f-35s\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"201\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-638257966.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">It\u2019s official: US Air Force to buy Turkish F-35s<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">A $862 million contract modification gives another 14 F-35As to the U.S. Air Force &#8230; including some Turkish jets.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/03\/07\/destroyers-left-behind-us-navy-cancels-plans-to-extend-service-lives-of-its-workhorse-ddgs\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/46894924521_a248724486_k.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Destroyers left behind: US Navy cancels plans to extend service lives of its workhorse DDGs<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Navy is killing a plan to add 10 years to the hull life of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/07\/22\/the-us-navys-top-officer-reveals-grim-details-of-the-damage-to-bonhomme-richard\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"157\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Bonhomme-Richard-fire-2-1.jpg-1.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Navy\u2019s top officer reveals grim new details of the damage to Bonhomme Richard<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Fire and flooding left 11 of 14 decks damaged.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/naval\/2020\/07\/18\/us-navy-orders-to-general-dynamics-nassco-to-stop-work-after-fire-on-uss-kearsarge\/\" target=_blank>US Navy orders General Dynamics shipyard to stop work after small fire on the warship Kearsarge<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.navytimes.com\/news\/your-navy\/2020\/11\/30\/navy-will-scrap-fire-ravaged-bonhomme-richard\/\" target=_blank>Navy will scrap fire-ravaged Bonhomme Richard<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/10\/28\/another-littoral-combat-breaks-down-on-deployment\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/detroit_lcs.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Another littoral combat ship breaks down on deployment<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">It&#039;s the latest in a string of reliability issues that have plagued the LCS since its introduction to the fleet.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2020\/03\/19\/espers-dark-vision-for-us-china-conflict-makes-war-more-likely\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20055857107915.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Esper\u2019s dark vision for US-China conflict makes war more likely<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">If Defense Secretary Mark Esper\u2019s grim vision becomes reality, American troops may soon be fighting China, embarking on a new and far larger conflict that would make Afghanistan look like child\u2019s play.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/04\/24\/the-pentagon-will-have-to-live-with-limits-on-f-35s-supersonic-flights\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"214\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/f-35c.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">The Pentagon will have to live with limits on F-35\u2019s supersonic flights<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Navy&#039;s and Marine Corps&#039; versions of the F-35 will have restrictions on how long they can fly at supersonic speeds because of a risk of damage to the tail section.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/smr\/nuclear-arsenal\/2020\/03\/09\/pentagon-to-award-mobile-nuclear-reactor-contracts-this-week\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/reactor_nuke.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Pentagon awards contracts to design mobile nuclear reactor<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Department of Defense has two parallel nuclear reactor programs underway, one for domestic use, one for use abroad.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/asia-pacific\/2020\/07\/20\/indonesia-says-it-wants-to-buy-austrias-entire-typhoon-fighter-fleet\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-1166233513.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Indonesia says it wants to buy Austria\u2019s entire Typhoon fighter fleet<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Indonesia\u2019s interest in the fleet comes two weeks after the surprise announcement that the U.S. State Department cleared the country to buy the Bell-Boeing MV-22 tilt-rotor aircraft.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2020\/03\/27\/nearly-4-years-after-commissioning-the-us-navy-is-about-to-get-a-fully-working-stealth-destroyer\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"178\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/635959677927562786-april-11-frontlines-6jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Nearly 4 years after commissioning, the US Navy is about to get a fully working stealth destroyer<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The combat system for the Navy&#039;s first stealth destroyer is expected to be completed within days, four years after the ship was commissioned.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Secretive aircraft, tension with Turkey and warship problems: Here are the top stories from the 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