The U.S. military has incurred about $38 billion in costs from combat operations against Iran through Aug. 1, while the conflict’s main opportunity cost has been the missile-defense interceptors the Pentagon has expended defending U.S. forces and allies, according to a new Congressional Budget Office analysis released today.CBO estimates the conflict has consumed between one-half and two-thirds of the U.S. inventory of certain missile-defense interceptors since June 2025, leaving the military with fewer weapons available for a future conflict. Rebuilding those stocks could take at least five years, even if production rates increase, the agency found.The estimate includes Patriot, Terminal…

How many spotting scopes do you own? One for carrying in the field, another for the truck or back deck? Or maybe a cheaper knock-about model and another one that’s so expensive that you don’t want to ding it up? Could you add another to your collection? That’s the hope of the optics industry, which this year has a model for just about every hunter and outdoors person. We’re seeing more subcompact models that nicely bridge the gap between binoculars and full-size spotters. We have a couple of flagship models from high-end brands. And we have a number of spotters…

U.S. veterans ages 20 to 39 had higher levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in their bloodstream compared with civilians of comparable age, according to a new study published Monday by Brown and Harvard researchers.Known as “forever chemicals” because they resist breaking down and can accumulate in the body over time, PFAS are used in a host of products and equipment such as firefighting foam, weapons systems and textiles in military settings and food packaging, cookware, makeup, stain repellent and more. At least one type of PFAS — PFOS — has been linked directly to testicular cancer, while…

Few fish are more impressive than big tuna when it comes to power and athleticism. Their fight can leave anglers with numb arms and busted tackle. And when it comes to trophy quality on the plate, few fish compare with tasty tuna, whether deck-side as sashimi with a little soy and lemon juice or grilled rare as ahi steaks. Here’s a look at the biggest tuna of all time, as recorded by the International Game Fish Association. Bigeye Tuna, Atlantic: 392 pounds, 6 ounces Bigeye tuna records are split into two categories: Atlantic- and Pacific-caught fish. Dieter Vogel holds the…

Plans by the U.S. Marine Corps in recent years to reorganize itself for small-unit expeditionary warfare have drawn fire from traditionalists who worry the service’s capabilities will be gutted in the process. For some Chinese naval officers, however, the prospect of facing missile-equipped Marine Stand-In Forces, or SIF, on Pacific islands is concerning. “The USMC’s continuous refinement of the SIF concept and optimization of deployment and operational employment will erode our land-enabled advantages in sea denial, make it more difficult for us to breach island chain blockades, induce rapid depletion of our combat resources, and complicate our operating environment,” according…

This story, “The Golden Age of Big-game Hunting,” appeared in the November 1948 issue of Outdoor Life. From the sportsman’s point of view the three-decade span of years between 1870 and 1900 had a bright side and a very dark one. Looking back on its bright side, we see it as the Golden Age of American big-game hunting — not only because a still-abundant supply of game provided superlative sport, but also because in those thirty years improvements in firearms, and the building of railroads, changed big-game hunting from an amusement restricted to a few wealthy men to a democratic…

Two former sailors pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to selling counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl to fellow sailors stationed aboard the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in 2023, which led to the death of one service member and the hospitalization of another. According to a Justice Department release, Bailey A. Szramowski, 29, provided an active-duty sailor aboard the Lincoln with what was purported to be oxycodone in December 2022. The following month, the victim, identified solely by his initials, A.N., overdosed and died of “acute fentanyl intoxication” while on leave in San Leandro, California.Local law enforcement officials found evidence…

The U.S. Space Force plans to add 10,000 guardians in the next five years, doubling its uniformed ranks.The growth will hinge on the service recruiting more than 200 guardians and civilian specialists to fill instructor roles in anticipation of the large increase in students, Space Training and Readiness Commander Maj. Gen. James E. Smith told reporters Tuesday at the Air & Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference.“We understand the requirements behind right-sizing the Space Force, and we are fully postured to meet those goals for FY27,” Smith said.“Adding 10,000 Guardians over the next five years represents our…

Veterans who refinance their homes through a VA-backed loan could face significantly higher fees under a proposal in Congress that would use changes to the home-loan program to fund a broader package of veterans benefits.The provision is Section 104(b) of the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, H.R. 9237. It carries forward the home-loan fee changes developed in the standalone Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, H.R. 6047, before that legislation was incorporated into the broader package. The proposal would sharply increase two specified VA home-loan fees. The funding fee for Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loans, or…

The memories of big deer that I’ve had within bow range, and failed to kill, are as fresh as the day they were made. Each one is accompanied by a stabbing pain in my gut and a clear vision of the blunder. I’m not talking about variables beyond my control, like the wind swirling or a hot doe pulling a buck out of range, I’m talking about boneheaded mistakes on my part. I think most bowhunters can relate to blowing a shot and even being slow to learn from mistakes, but I hope that most have not experienced the incredible…

Body armor, set up the way it ought to be.

Editor’s note: This article first appeared on The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit news organization educating the public on military service.When Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth summoned hundreds of generals and admirals from around the world to Quantico, Virginia, last September, he delivered a blunt message: Things were changing fast in the newly renamed Department of War.“No more division, distraction, or gender delusions,” he said. “We are done with that shit.”What mattered going forward, Hegseth said, were standards.“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat [units] with females who can’t meet the same…

A Montana bowhunter was attacked by a bear on public land south of Augusta while hunting Tuesday morning, according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks. The hunter sustained “significant but fortunately not life-threatening injuries,” according to state officials. The hunter, who is only identified as male, was able to drive himself home after he was mauled and was subsequently driven to Benefis Hospital, likely in nearby Great Falls. The encounter occurred on Montana state land near Elk Creek and Haystack Butte in the west-central part of the state. Details of the encounter — including whether the bear was a grizzly…

Old war iron. Odds are you’ve never put rounds through one.

A whole sniper rifle. In a laptop case.

He’s not asking whether there was a deception.

The title is shouting. See what’s under it.

Old survival math. Worth knowing before you need it.

A corpsman who lived through Beirut. Hear it from him.

You’re in the driver’s seat when it starts. Now what?

Just the trailer so far. See what you think.

PARIS — The number of satellites launched to provide militaries and defense departments with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data from space is expected to increase more than fourfold in the next decade, industry consultancy Novaspace said.Defense-owned satellites for ISR will drive the future market in the segment, with 2,306 launched into orbit in the 2026-2035 period, from 485 launched in the decade through to 2025, according to data presented by Novaspace Chief Executive Officer Pacôme Révillon at the Space Defense and Security Summit here on Tuesday.The war in Ukraine has underscored the importance of space-based intelligence on the battlefield, while…

Your car keeps a record of you.

A year’s worth of 5.56 cans, ranked.