Jonathan Lehrfeld
Early Bird Brief Editor, Military Times
Jonathan is a staff writer and editor of the Early Bird Brief newsletter for Military Times. Follow him on Twitter @lehrfeld_media
All Stories By Jonathan
US Air Force plans to bed down 25 F-35s in FY26, report says
The report also outlines the service’s procurement schedule to reach a fleet of nearly 1,800 of the aircraft by 2049.
Ukraine ramps up ground robot production to spare soldiers, haul ammo — and rescue grandma
The same unmanned ground systems Ukraine uses to haul ammunition and evacuate wounded soldiers are now pulling civilians out of contested ground.
Russia, Ukraine to enter temporary ceasefire with prisoner exchange, Trump says
President Donald Trump said Friday that Russia and Ukraine would temporarily halt fighting for three days beginning Saturday.
Hegseth aims to cut through the bureaucracy with ‘Deal Team Six’
The Pentagon is utilizing a crew of private sector businessmen to renovate how the department negotiates with defense companies.
US forces disable Iranian-flagged tankers trying to cross blockade
This week, U.S. forces around the Strait of Hormuz have launched strikes against Iranian military facilities and disabled missiles launched by the IRGC.
Marines to phase out F/A-18 maintenance jobs as Hornet era ends
Enlisted Marines with Hornet specialties will be offered retraining, reassignment or career dead ends.
The US Marine Corps is looking for a few good robots to build airfields
For Marines who have toiled over assembling airfields in austere environments, relief may be on the way.
India to build strategic outpost near key shipping lane in Indo-Pacific
“This is what I call the Hormuz Strait effect," one analyst said, referring to the collapse of shipping through the vital waterway due to war.
Turkey touts propellant breakthrough for Yıldırımhan long-range ballistic missile
The Turkish government has been working on hypersonic technologies and liquid-propellant propulsion systems for nearly a decade.
As the US Army adds drones to formations, here’s how one base trains its operators
Fort Stewart soldiers are figuring out how to train on unmanned systems after the base stood up the Marne Unmanned Center of Excellence.
