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New Orleans, Louisiana. (February 12, 2025): Every aircraft must take off at exactly the same time and arrive at their target at precisely the appointed moment in front of a worldwide television audience. In this photo by Sergeant Scott Jenkins, Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft perform a formation flight over the site of Super Bowl LIX. Prior to their dramatic flyover, the pilots and crew participated in a number of public events with locals and dignitaries from around the world.
The flyover concept originated in 1918 at the World Series in Chicago where a procession of sixty aircraft entertained crowds for the first time. Later in 1946, the Navy created its Blue Angels demonstration team and the Air Force followed with the Thunderbirds in 1953. The tradition of military flyovers at the Super Bowl began in 1968 with a roaring display by F-4 Phantom jets. Since then, these dramatic displays of flying skills have rendered honors after national disasters, the death of Presidents, and to celebrate Memorial and Veterans Day.
But what is it like to fly these missions?
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Monterey, California. (February 15, 2025): What seeing is to the Air Force is what hearing is for the Navy. In this underwater world, even the slightest noise can reveal ones position to the enemy. This is why the Navy is developing underwater sentinels to listen for enemy submarines around the world. In this photo courtesy of Seatrec Corporation, researchers prepare the Persistent Smart Acoustic Profiler (PSAP) Voyager for initial testing in Monterey Bay. The PSAP is a self-powered autonomous underwater drone used to collect acoustic data for long periods of time.
What makes it special is its ability to “harvest” energy from the ocean with no need of external power sources.
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Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii. (February 4, 2025): If combat in Ukraine has taught U.S. military planners one lesson, it is that drone warfare will dominate air defense strategy for the near future. In this photo by Sergeant Jacqueline Parsons, a Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) fires upon a small, unmanned aircraft during a training exercise. MADIS is a mobile air defense system that helps the Marine Corps detect, track, and defeat aerial threats. It is part of the Marine Corps' plan to modernize its ground-based air defenses to deal with the emerging drone threat.
The goal is to expand the range of airspaces a Marine regiment can defend against not just unmanned drones but helicopters and aircraft as well. The newest version, the M-K2, features a 30 mm cannon, a machine gun, and Stinger air to air missiles giving it a full range of options to defeat incoming aircraft. The system uses Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radars that can track multiple targets simultaneously and optical and infrared sensors to identify targets in low light conditions.
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Okinoerabu, Japan. (February 14, 2025): It was during the Revolutionary War that the first American ship was sunk by sea mines, wooden kegs filled with gun powder. Ever since, ship captains have dreaded colliding with these underwater menaces. Today, however, they can send a “Super Stallion” to hunt them down and kill them. In this photo by Captain Pawel Puczko, a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter, attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, takes part in joint operations with Japan’s Self Defense Forces. The Japanese have acquired eleven Super Stallions of their own and train regularly with the Marines in counter-mining operations.
Built by Sikorsky Aircraft specifically for the Marines, the Super Stallion entered service in 1981 and is one of the largest helicopters in service. Able to operate off Navy ships, the CH-53E version is designed for airborne mine detection and countermeasures. It is also a heavy lift chopper that can be used for ship-to-shore transport and for vertical on-board delivery of supplies. It can carry up to fifty-five troops or a sixteen-ton payload fifty-nautical miles. An extremely capable aircraft, the Super Stallion can be refueled in-flight, even when hovering, which increases its range and ability to loiter over a target. What makes the MH-53E version special is its digital flight-control system specifically designed to haul minesweeping gear.
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Philippine Sea. (February 12, 2025): During World War II, American Sailors valiantly battled to save their ship after Kamikaze attacks by forming “damage control” parties. Despite the chaotic situation, these teams of highly trained Seaman seemed to do the impossible, bringing their vessel back from the dead. In this photo by MC1 Ryre Arciaga, Retail Services Specialist 2nd Class James Rivera participates in a structural damage and flooding control drill aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Preble.
Every ship in the Navy designates a group of Sailors who are specifically trained to quickly contain damage from fires, flooding, or other emergencies. Their primary goal is to restore a ship’s structural integrity and its ability to operate as quickly as possible. To accomplish this, damage control parties train with specialized equipment to battle fires, seal leaks, and structurally stabilize the ship.
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PENTAGON, (Feb. 20, 2025): During a recorded, on-camera address from the Pentagon today, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed his priorities of strengthening the military by cutting fiscal fraud, waste and abuse at DOD while also finding ways to refocus the department's budget.
Hegseth began his remarks stating the Defense Department owes the American people transparency related to steps DOD is taking to accomplish its mission while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars.
"We shoot straight with you. We want you, the American people — the taxpayers — to understand why we're making the decisions that we're making here," Hegseth said, adding that DOD is working as quickly as possible to execute the priorities of achieving peace through strength by rebuilding the military, restoring the warrior ethos and reestablishing deterrence.
Read more: HEGSETH ADDRESSES STRENGTHENING MILITARY BY CUTTING EXCESS, REFOCUSING DOD BUDGET