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The U.S. Base Problem

Why US basing in the Gulf may not survive this war

John Waters

Mar 15, 2026

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5 min read

The U.S. Must "Bat a Thousand"

Why the Strait of Hormuz is the hardest problem in this war

John Waters

Iran

Mar 11, 2026

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8 min read

War with Iran: How We Landed Here

A Brief Timeline of Iran over 80 years

John Waters

Iran

Feb 27, 2026

•

5 min read

Will the U.S. Attack Iran

Why the F-16 is still crucial

John Waters

NGAD

China Tests Amphibious Barges and “Floating Barriers”

Jan 24, 2026

•

8 min read

China Tests Amphibious Barges and “Floating Barriers”

🔺 Threat of the Day: Su-35, Second Round of Chinese Barges, Interim Air Force 1

John Waters

Surface to Air Missile

Jan 16, 2026

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7 min read

$12,000 for a Navy Ship...'ish'

🔺 Threat of Day: DF-41 ICBM, Chinese Spy Sentenced, New Electronic Warfare Squadron at Nellis, CENTCOM hammers ISIS

John Waters

Surface to Air Missile

A-10s Saved | T-7 Arrives | B-2 Brought Back to Life

Dec 13, 2025

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8 min read

A-10s Saved | T-7 Arrives | B-2 Brought Back to Life

Congress halts A-10 retirements, the F-35 takes on SEAD in Iran, and the B-2 “Spirit of Georgia” returns to the sky

John Waters

Su-75

F-22 Commands Drone | China Buys a Trailer Park | Saudi F-35s?

Nov 24, 2025

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8 min read

F-22 Commands Drone | China Buys a Trailer Park | Saudi F-35s?

Defense and Aviation Insights

John Waters

Russia

NATO Tosses E-7 | "Cheap" Anti-Drone Missiles | Threat: Su-57

Nov 15, 2025

•

8 min read

NATO Tosses E-7 | "Cheap" Anti-Drone Missiles | Threat: Su-57

Lowdown Newsletter

John Waters

Watch & Listen

Stories from the Cockpit & Beyond

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Archive

The U.S. Base Problem

The U.S. Must "Bat a Thousand"

War with Iran: How We Landed Here

Will the U.S. Attack Iran

China Tests Amphibious Barges and “Floating Barriers”

$12,000 for a Navy Ship...'ish'

A-10s Saved | T-7 Arrives | B-2 Brought Back to Life

F-22 Commands Drone | China Buys a Trailer Park | Saudi F-35s?

NATO Tosses E-7 | "Cheap" Anti-Drone Missiles | Threat: Su-57

Watch & Listen

Lowdown Newsletter