Christian D. Orr

The B-21 Raider, the USAF’s sixth-generation stealth bomber, faces rising costs, raising concerns about its viability. Initially on budget, Northrop Grumman now projects losses of up to $1.56 billion for the first five planes, at $312 million per bomber.

The high cost of the NGAD program—$300 million per airframe, more than three times the F-35’s cost per plane—has put it on shaky ground. Initially touted as the next generation in U.S. air combat technology, recent budget concerns and growing skepticism over its practicality have delayed progress.

The decision to end the F-22 Raptor program prematurely—building only 195 out of a planned 381 airframes—remains controversial. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates halted production in 2009, citing the Raptor’s “niche” role and budget constraints, favoring a next-generation bomber program.

The USS New Jersey (BB-62), known as "Big J," is arguably the greatest battleship ever, renowned for her impressive combat record and longevity. Commissioned in 1943, New Jersey earned 19 Battle Stars, serving in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and Lebanon.

The T-14 Armata, Russia’s latest high-tech main battle tank, initially promised cutting-edge advancements like a three-man crew capsule, improved explosive-reactive armor, and remote-control weaponry.

The F-21, an advanced iteration of Lockheed Martin’s F-16, has been offered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a tailored "Make in India" opportunity in partnership with Tata.

The U.S. Navy’s SSN(X) program, an ambitious next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, aims to outclass existing subs with enhanced speed, payload, and stealth. Originally slated for production in 2031, budget constraints have delayed its construction until the early 2040s, with each unit projected to cost $6.2 billion—more than double the cost of the Virginia-class submarines.

Selling the F-15EX Eagle II to Taiwan’s Air Force would modernize its capabilities against China’s advanced military while boosting interoperability with U.S. and regional allies like Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

China has unveiled a mockup of its ambitious new 6th generation stealth aircraft, the "White Emperor" (Baidi), at the Zhuhai Airshow. Developed under the Nantianmen Project, this "integrated space-air fighter" aims to perform in both atmospheric and potential space operations, posing a hypothetical threat to U.S. satellites.

The U.S. Navy’s Seawolf-class submarines—USS Seawolf, USS Connecticut, and USS Jimmy Carter—are powerful yet rare nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines. Built as successors to the Los Angeles-class for Cold War operations, only three were constructed due to budget cuts after the Soviet Union's collapse.