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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Operation Epic Fury exposes airpower limits as Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz

After US‑Israeli strikes that have hit roughly 6,000 targets and damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels, Operation Epic Fury has settled into a strategic stalemate: Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and asymmetric maritime tactics blunt coalition aerial superiority and sustain pressure on regional shipping.

2026-03-16T03:18:51.187780-07:00

AeroTime

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base in Iranian drone strike

2026-03-16T02:08:51.886406-07:00

Air Data News

U.S. Navy delays USS Nimitz decommissioning to March 2027, reshaping carrier retirement timeline

2026-03-16T01:15:20.915970-07:00

FlightGlobal

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability

2026-03-15T22:18:57.611304-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Operation Epic Fury exposes airpower limits as Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz After US‑Israeli strikes that have hit roughly 6,000 targets and damaged or destroyed more than 90 Iranian vessels, Operation Epic Fury has settled into a strategic stalemate: Tehran's control of the Strait of Hormuz and asymmetric maritime tactics blunt coalition aerial superiority and sustain pressure on regional shipping.

2026-03-16T03:18:51.187780-07:00

Operation Epic Fury exposes airpower limits as Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz

AeroTime

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base in Iranian drone strike An Iranian drone strike at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base destroyed an Italian MQ-9A Reaper, Italian officials confirmed; no Italian personnel were injured. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy will not be intimidated as Tehran continues strikes on coalition assets.

2026-03-16T02:08:51.886406-07:00

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base in Iranian drone strike

Air Data News

U.S. Navy delays USS Nimitz decommissioning to March 2027, reshaping carrier retirement timeline The U.S. Navy will keep the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) in service through March 2027, postponing planned decommissioning and nuclear defueling. The decision extends the fleet’s oldest carrier and shifts carrier rotation and retirement schedules during ongoing regional commitments.

2026-03-16T01:15:20.915970-07:00

U.S. Navy delays USS Nimitz decommissioning to March 2027, reshaping carrier retirement timeline

AeroTime

RAAF, RNZAF and Indian Navy P-8As join US-led Sea Dragon 2026 ASW exercise in Guam The Royal Australian and Royal New Zealand air forces have deployed P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Guam, joining the Indian Navy and other partners in the US Navy-led Exercise Sea Dragon 2026. The multinational anti-submarine warfare training runs throughout March and focuses on airborne and maritime ASW interoperability.

2026-03-15T22:40:51.507338-07:00

RAAF, RNZAF and Indian Navy P-8As join US-led Sea Dragon 2026 ASW exercise in Guam

FlightGlobal

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability Japan took delivery of its first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles at a ceremony in Norway, a milestone that enhances the strike capability of its Lockheed Martin F-35A fleet. The shipment marks the start of Japan's fielding of JSMs on its stealth fighters.

2026-03-15T22:18:57.611304-07:00

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability

SpaceNews.com

OSTP steps in to coordinate U.S. national space policy as National Space Council remains inactive With the National Space Council inactive, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy has assumed lead responsibility for coordinating U.S. national space policy. The move centralizes interagency policy coordination within OSTP across civil, commercial and national-security space domains.

2026-03-15T09:37:31.753429-07:00

OSTP steps in to coordinate U.S. national space policy as National Space Council remains inactive

FlightGlobal

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost The Pentagon disclosed specifications for LUCAS, a reverse-engineered Shahed-136 derivative loitering munition with a reported 434 nm range and unit costs between $10,000 and $55,000. The US military has begun operational deployments of the low-cost, long-range one-way attack drone in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-15T08:59:43.411374-07:00

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost

Reuters

China resumes large-scale PLA air operations around Taiwan after two-week pause After more than two weeks without major sorties, Taiwan reported on Sunday the return of large-scale Chinese military flights circling the island. The sudden resumption of PLA air activity raises regional surveillance and airspace-management pressures for civil and military operators across the Taiwan Strait.

2026-03-14T20:09:58.034117-07:00

China resumes large-scale PLA air operations around Taiwan after two-week pause

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Defense Policy News

Operation Epic Fury exposes airpower limits as Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base in Iranian drone strike

U.S. Navy delays USS Nimitz decommissioning to March 2027, reshaping carrier retirement timeline

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability

News Timeline