Ryan Pickrell

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The White House sent a blunt warning to major US defense contractors, like missile maker RTX and F-35 producer Lockheed Martin, to prioritize rapid production.

"I have never been so focused on a landing in my entire life," Capt. Taylor Bye told Insider of the belly landing that earned her multiple awards.

In his most famous engagement, Chuck Mawhinney stopped an enemy advance across a river, killing 16 soldiers in 30 seconds.

A new book paints a bleak picture of the possibilities of future combat. The retired general who wrote it says the real situation could be much worse.

Numerous American aircraft have been supporting operations against Iran. US Central Command

The US Navy would need to lean heavily on its deployed destroyers if it were ordered to protect oil tankers from Iranian attack. U.S. Navy photo

Iran's critical location and its arsenal of drones and missiles are a challenge. Its stranglehold on the Strait has rattled global oil markets.

The US military has been an all-volunteer force for decades, though eligible men are required to register should a draft be reinstated.

The president pitched plans on Thursday for a supercharged version of the F-35 with two engines, which would likely require building a new aircraft.