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“Worst” can mean many things: a jet that killed too many of its own pilots, missed its moment technologically, or never matched the mission it was bought to fly. Context matters—some of these aircraft taught valuable lessons or worked better in one air force than another. But taken on the whole—design intent vs. delivered performance, safety, combat effectiveness, and sustainment—these five stand out for the wrong reasons.

TIPS FOR THE PITS We have all been there....Blue Monday. Nothing is more miserable than feeling depressed. Depression has been, and continues to be, the world's #1 public health problem. All of us are susceptible to depression. It all begins with the blues, which come and go like the common cold. The "Poor Me" syndrome hits us and drags us to the pits of depression. What are the signs of depression? Dragging through the day, wondering how we will get through it; getting bogged down at the least little obstacle; thinking negatively about everything; all we see are pessimism...

As he signed an order recognizing the Defense Department as the “Department of War,” President Trump said that the country “could have won every war, but we really chose to be very politically correct.”President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that ceremonially recognized the Defense Department as the “Department of War,” a name that was dropped after World War II and that the president claimed had caused the country to enter wars it “never fought to win.”“We won World War II. We won everything before, and as I said, we won everything in between,” Mr. Trump said at an...

South Korea’s Hyundai-Rotem is developing the K3, a next-generation main battle tank concept packed with futuristic technology. Prioritizing firepower, the K3 concept features a larger 130mm main gun with AI-based fire controls and an autoloader for a three-person crew. The tank is almost an on-the-ground and smaller armored version of something that resembles a B-21 bomber more than a conventional MBT.

***** Tunes For Our Troops ~ The Freeper Canteen Music Dedication Presents: The Crooners Music! ~ *****~ Support The Artists You Hear Throughout The Canteen ! ~ ***** Warning: Not all music may be appropriate for children! Please click with caution. Thank you! Tunes For The Troops This music is provided for the entertainment of our Troops, Veterans, Allies & their families! Enjoy the variety of musical selections that the Canteen DJs provide throughout the thread. Please ping any DJ with your requests for the Troops! All music is removed on Monday.Thanks to all the DJs for their time...

Naval Base Ventura County in Point Mugu is starting a “Large Force Test Event” on Friday, and it’s expected to last approximately two weeks. According to a news release, residents in the Point Mugu, Oxnard, and Camarillo areas will notice an increase in aircraft activity and jet noise levels. The test includes an array of military aircraft, surface vessels and unmanned systems– all of which will mostly operate during regular airfield hours, but some will require after-hours testing.

A group of Navy SEALs emerged from the ink-black ocean on a winter night in early 2019 and crept to a rocky shore in North Korea. They were on a top secret mission so complex and consequential that everything had to go exactly right. The objective was to plant an electronic device that would let the United States intercept the communications of North Korea’s reclusive leader, Kim Jong-un, amid high-level nuclear talks with President Trump. The mission had the potential to provide the United States with a stream of valuable intelligence. But it meant putting American commandos on North Korean...

The U.S. Space Force’s secretive X-37B is a reusable, unmanned spaceplane whose true mission remains a mystery. Its eighth mission, launched August 21, 2025, has reignited speculation, with Russia and China claiming it is a space bomber. While not a “Death Star,” the X-37B is an invaluable and record-breaking testbed for advanced satellite technologies, enabling the U.S. to conduct experiments in space and bring the results back home for analysis.

The Ohio-class’s carrying capacity is about 50 percent of the entire supply of the U.S. Navy’s Tomahawk missiles. And since these SSGNs have been used recently to great effect, why take them away now? Some experts even argue that there is a strong case for attempting a refit of at least some of these powerful missile submarines until more Virginia-class boats equipped with cruise missiles can replace them.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth savagely fired Janelle Marra, a she/her DEI Navy Commander and medical director for “transgender healthcare” at a naval center in California. “Navy Cmdr. Janelle Marra, a native of Massachusetts, began her Naval Service by the Health Professions Scholarship program in 2004,” her bio read. “She is currently serving as the Senior Medical Officer over the medical clinics on MCRD-SD, the Deputy Medical Director of Transgender Care for the Navy and Director of Medical Services for Expeditionary Medical Facility Bravo,” Marra’s bio said. Social media users asked Hegseth to look into this DEI hire who was still...

The United Kingdom’s new Challenger 3 is a technologically impressive and formidable main battle tank, but the decision to procure only 148 units renders the fleet “patently inadequate” for its strategic needs. This small, “brittle” force lacks the numbers and depth required to sustain heavy combat operations, honor NATO commitments in Eastern Europe, or project power effectively.

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ Homecomings Are Still The Best! Col. Nate Vogel, 22nd Air Refueling Wing commander, poses with his family following his fini flight at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas. Vogel took one last flight on a KC-46A Pegasus before relinquishing command of the 22nd ARW. (U.S Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Felicia Przydzial) Canteen Mission StatementShowing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before. Marines Fight! Sailors Fight with Sumo Suits! PACIFIC OCEAN - U.S....

A military investigation found “multiple failures” ahead of the 2023 shooting, including communication breakdowns.Nearly two years after a member of the U.S. Army Reserve killed 18 people in Lewiston, Maine, survivors and victims’ families are suing the federal government.“The Army repeatedly broke its promise to protect the community that it pledges to defend and must be held responsible,” said attorney Travis Brennan of Berman & Simmons, one of the attorneys representing 100 survivors and family members of victims.In October 2023, the shooter, who was hearing voices and in mental decline, opened fire at two establishments — a bowling alley and...

On Sept 3, Beijing hosted one of its biggest military parades in years. Xi Jinping watched from Tiananmen Square as long-range missiles, hypersonic weapons, and unmanned systems rolled past in a choreographed display of force, accompanied by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un. The message was unmistakable: China is positioning itself to shift the global balance of power in its favor — and has the will and means to field a military that can deliver not just quantitative, but qualitative, superiority over the United States.

~ Freeper Canteen ~--Canteen Mission Statement-- Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies' military and family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before. Today We Want You To Take The.....Ice Cream Quiz Click HERE to take the quiz! Have fun! Please remember that The Canteen here to support and entertain our troops and veterans and their families, and is family friendly.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reportedly authorized sending as many as 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges. The move was reported by the Associated Press, based on what the wire service said was an Aug. 27 memo it reviewed. The military will begin sending groups of 150 attorneys – military and civilian — as early as next week, the memo also states. The move comes as the Trump administration cracks down on illegal immigration, which has resulted in arrests, deportations and related court issues. There are now as many as 3.5 million cases...

The Caribbean has become a “powder keg” as U.S. warships steam off the coast of Venezuela, sparking a tense standoff. While Washington frames the deployment as a counter-narcotics operation, it’s a clear strategic signal to President Maduro, whose own provocations against Guyana and alignment with China and Russia have raised alarms.

The FReeper Canteen Presents...Happy Labor Day! September 1, 2025 HISTORYLabor Day is a national legal holiday that is over 100 years old. Over the years, it has evolved from a purely labor union celebration into a general "last fling of summer" festival. It grew out of a celebration and parade in honor of the working class by the Knights of Labor in 1882 in New York. In 1884, the Knights held a large parade in New York City celebrating the working class. The parade was held on the first Monday in September. The Knights passed a resolution to hold all...

DISAPPOINTMENTS Disappointments come to all of us; and the more I see of life, the more convinced I am that one of the most important lessons anyone can learn is how to handle these disappointments. One of the great disappointments in my youth happened during my sophomore year in high school when I was running for class president. The class elected a cute brunette cheerleader. Another popular girl, another of the cheerleaders, came in second. And I trailed the field with only four votes. That was quite a blow to a cocky young boy to be defeated by not...

You’ve heard the problems. A $2 million interceptor to shoot down a $2,000 drone. U.S. anti-ship missiles expected to run out on day eight of any war over Taiwan. If Ukraine teaches anything, it is that a stockpile of existing weapons is less important than a manufacturing base—the ability to produce lots more weapons fast, and to adapt them and innovate on the fly.