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Pentagon seeks an affordable drone capable of replacing many MQ-9 Reaper missions

Reaper drones hit hard in Iran, and losses force demand for lower-cost unmanned combat aircraft

New aircraft must combine long range with substantial payload capacity

The United States Air Force is examining a lower-cost unmanned aircraft concept after losing “dozens” of MQ-9 Reaper drones during the recent conflict involving Iran.

Those losses have intensified concerns about relying upon expensive aircraft in environments where increasingly affordable air defenses can destroy them.

With roughly 135 Reapers in service and each drone costing about $30 million, officials increasingly question whether existing loss rates remain sustainable.

Pentagon seeks a lower-cost drone with long range and heavy payload

Rather than pursuing a more advanced version of the MQ-9, defense planners are exploring a drone intended for larger-scale deployment.

The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking proposals for a Massed Modular Aircraft, or MMA, capable of performing many missions currently assigned to the Reaper.

According to the solicitation, the Pentagon believes dependence upon “exquisite” aircraft costing more than $30 million is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

The concept favours quantity alongside capability, allowing forces to continue operating even after suffering substantial battlefield attrition.

Unlike many smaller drones commonly associated with swarm operations, the proposed aircraft would retain significant reach and carrying capacity.

The solicitation calls for a payload of at least 2,800 pounds, compared with roughly 3,800 pounds carried by the MQ-9.

Requirements also include an unrefueled combat radius of at least 2,300 nautical miles and a one-way transfer distance exceeding 8,000 nautical miles.

The drone must travel at speeds above 200 miles per hour while remaining capable of operating from 6,000-foot runways and improvised airstrips.

Defense planners also want enough onboard power and cooling capacity to support diverse internal and external mission equipment.

The specifications mention 25kW of available electrical power and 5kW of cooling capacity for future mission systems.

Ambitious timeline aims for operational capability by 2031

The proposal places considerable emphasis upon autonomy, allowing a single operator to supervise several aircraft simultaneously during complex missions.

While no specific dimensions were included, the performance requirements indicate an aircraft broadly comparable in size to the MQ-9.

Officials have also not disclosed a preferred procurement price, though expectations suggest a figure substantially below the Reaper's estimated $30 million cost.

The timeline remains aggressive, with full-scale prototype flight testing expected within 21 months following contract award.

Initial Operating Capability is planned for fiscal year 2031, with 20 mission-ready aircraft delivered to an operational unit.

Recent combat experiences appear to have influenced the concept's development, particularly situations where defenders exhausted interceptors before attackers exhausted drones.

The solicitation argues that maintaining continuous MMA operations could pressure opponents into consuming costly defensive missiles at unsustainable rates.

“Keeping a constant airborne MMA presence to launch weapons, gather intelligence, perform electronic warfare missions, or relay communications will force an adversary to stay on the defensive,” the Defense Innovation Unit stated.

Via Defense News

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25 years since its release and over 15 years since its finale, 24 is undoubtedly a product of the 2000s. Airing less than two months after the September 11th attacks, Fox's crime/political thriller serendipitously captured the hearts and minds of Americans, reeling from the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center, looking for justice and retribution. The series echoed the sentiments of America constantly being under attack by international terrorists, particularly ones hailing from the Middle East, and the acceptance of federal authorities deploying any means necessary to protect the United States, feelings that have caused 24 to age like milk. Scoff at its jingoism and portrayals of Middle Eastern terrorists that have since drawn criticism, but contemporary audiences can't ignore just how revolutionary the series' narrative structure was upon airing . Before The Pitt , 24 captured an entire action-packed day's worth for agent Jack Bauer ( Kiefer Sutherland ), with relentless energy that laid the groundwork for today's subgenre of anxiety-inducing episodic TV.

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We often talk about Doom—the original 1993 shooter from the young upstarts at id Software—as one of the most influential videogames of all time . But the Washington Post, one of the country's most highly-regarded papers of record, has elevated it to an even higher plateau: It has selected Doom as one of the 25 most influential works of American culture , representing the absolute pinnacle of its era.

The list, assembled to commemorate the 250 th anniversary of the United States of America, covers a remarkable breadth, from Thomas Paine's Common Sense to the Star Spangled Banner, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, the Battle Hymn of the Republic, Levi's jeans, Mickey Mouse, and the recordings of legendary blues man Robert Johnson: One selection marking the highlight of each decade of America's existence, bolstered by a handful of honorable mentions.

And there, for the decade of 1986-1995, is Doom—beating out heavyweight competition including Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, The Simpsons, Seinfeld, and the MTV reality series The Real World.

"In December 1993, Id Software gave away part of its new videogame free over the internet. College networks buckled under the traffic, and bulletin boards lit up, as the game eventually was installed on more computers than Microsoft Windows 95 at the time," Washington Post videogame critic Gene Park wrote.

"Doom was foundational in digital entertainment—a 3D world viewed in first person, self-published, with no gatekeepers and no retail store, as it gave rise to user-generated content years before anyone had a name for it. Programmer John Carmack handed the audience the tools to build their own corners of hell."

Park acknowledged the negative perceptions of Doom over the years in his ode to the game's impact, saying it "was a scapegoat for the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, ground zero of America’s ongoing nightmare." But, he added, "It was people with guns, not a game, that took lives. A grieving nation feared a new form of entertainment it misunderstood. Hearings were held on games and music, a template that would replay after nearly every mass shooting since."

Ultimately, in Park's view, Doom embodies America: "The game’s spirit of sharing and community, along with its pioneering approach to guiding players through abstract environments in 3D space, is rooted in the upbringing of designer John Romero, who is Native American (Yaqui, Cherokee) and Mexican."

Quoting Romero, Park continued, "'A lot of Doom’s design, especially the level design, was really influenced by just that understanding of the environment, the world, and that comes from my dad, my grandma, everybody'— generations, he says, 'where people lived on the land' they believed to be shared."

Romero himself seemed pretty excited about it:

(Image credit: John Romero (Twitter)) So was his fellow id co-founder Tom Hall:

(Image credit: Tom Hall (Twitter)) It's a reflection of the way we perceive time and history, but more recent entries in the list definitely feel more like pop culture fluff than culturally significant works: Keeping Up with the Kardashians was selected for the 2006-2015 decade, for instance. But the Post says it's not meant to be a "best of" list, but rather a series of historical signposts, each defining its time.

"No decade can be summed up any more than a country can be summed up, but if we wrote an autobiography not of words but of works—books, music and art, ideas, dress and culture—these 25 would be among the most momentous," the Post's culture critic Philip Kennicott wrote. "These are not necessarily our proudest moments, but they are defining acts of culture. It is an imperfect list, and incomplete, but then that is America, imperfect and unfinished."

This is the second time Doom has been recognized as a culturally important American work in recent months. In May the Doom soundtrack was added to the country's "national playlist" in the US Library of Congress .

2026 games : All the upcoming games

Best PC games : Our all-time favorites

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Best FPS games : Finest gunplay

Best RPGs : Grand adventures

Best co-op games : Better together

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Lisbon's hotel scene has as much character and charm as the city itself — and its newest arrival comes courtesy of World of Hyatt's Andaz brand. Just opened in March, Andaz Lisbon made not one but two of TPG's lists of most exciting hotels opening in 2026.

The Andaz brand's Portugal debut promised a prime location in the bustling Baixa district, views of historic Lisbon landmarks and the brand's signature cultural connections — and it didn't disappoint. From the gorgeous design and top-notch service to the carefully curated menus of Portuguese dishes and cultural activities offered, this points hotel feels anything but cookie-cutter. Read on to learn what the buzz is all about.

Related: The Andaz Turks and Caicos Grace Bay is now open for bookings

First impressions

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY

From the outside, Andaz Lisbon — housed in a former bank building — fits right in with the Baixa neighborhood's elegant 18th-century architecture. Inside, the brand-new hotel gives a nod to its history. The foyer displays an Our Lady of Mercy tile panel from 1767, unearthed during the renovations, and a desk from one of the bank's offices displays books on art and design in the lobby.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY The corridors and common spaces feel alive with color, and artworks and curios await around every turn. In keeping with the Andaz brand's cultural ethos, the pieces on display were all created by artists with some connection to Portugal. Other decor elements were inspired by destinations around the globe: rich, saturated prints bring to mind African textiles, for example, and abstract sculptures are reminiscent of the German Bauhaus style.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY The result is a reflection of Lisbon: A diverse, cosmopolitan city that has plenty of style but doesn't take itself overly seriously. A place where high-end fashion designers coexist with tiny, centuries-old shoe stores (more on those later), where tuktuks rattle down winding cobblestoned streets and e-scooters zip past castles and cathedrals.

The rooms

Behind its compact facade, Andaz Lisbon houses 170 rooms and suites arranged over six floors. Options range from basic one-king rooms to the palatial 1,065-square-foot presidential suite.

A basic king room at Andaz Lisbon. RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY I stayed in a deluxe one-king room, with a little extra space in the seating area and double windows overlooking Rua do Comercio. Pops of color and mixed textures felt aligned with the hotel's art-forward design.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY My snack station was well equipped with a coffeemaker, tea kettle and minibar. (The snacks and drinks are complimentary, but only on the first night.) There were also two fun stainless steel water bottles — free souvenirs offered in every room — which the hotel encouraged guests to refill at the water station in the lobby.

The bold, red-tiled bathroom managed to fit a roomy shower, toilet stall and vanity into a small footprint. Even better, I found plush bathrobes and slippers waiting for me.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY It's worth noting that, like some other upscale hotels, Andaz Lisbon has a fragrance throughout the property, which may be a concern for migraine-prone travelers like me. I didn't have trouble because the smell didn't extend to my room or the dining areas, but extremely sensitive travelers should be mindful.

Dining at Andaz Lisbon

One notable takeaway about dining here: Andaz Lisbon offers an extensive breakfast spread, similar to what you'll find at many European hotels, for an extra 29 euros ($33) per person per day. There's a cold and hot buffet, and you can order more sophisticated cooked dishes from the menu at no added cost. This is a tasty and filling way to kick off a day of exploring; I often skipped lunch because I was still full from breakfast.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Luzzi Restaurant & Terrace

Breakfast is served inside Andaz Lisbon's rooftop restaurant, Luzzi, which for the rest of the day serves traditional Portuguese fare with a modern twist. The space is infused with colors, patterns and textures dappled with sunlight from the windows overlooking the city. The result manages to be both bright and cozy, yet energetic and relaxed at the same time.

Luzzi seems to attract not only guests but local Lisboetas, which is a good sign; even on a Wednesday night, I saw packs of locals dressed up for a night on the town.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Everything I tried — feijoada Lusitana, a Portuguese bean stew (20 euros or $23), tofu dumplings (10 euros or $11) and sweet potato fries (8 euros or $9) — was superb. I also sampled a vegan version of the Portuguese dessert quindim (10 euros or $11), and the passion fruit sorbet blew my mind.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY On the terrace next door, visitors can enjoy the same dishes and drinks in a more casual setting, with views of Rua Augusta Arch from balconies tucked into the tiled walls and live music every night from Wednesday to Saturday.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Andaz Lounge

On the ground floor, Andaz Lounge — inspired by the traditional Portuguese quiosque — serves refined drinks and elevated street food.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY I'm not exactly an oenophile, but I couldn't leave Lisbon without sampling some Portuguese wines — especially when all the lounge's by-the-glass offerings are made by female wine producers nearby. The bartender was happy to help me choose a wine, as well as to find vegan-friendly menu items. I went with the Caesar salad (12 euros or about $14) with a mushroom dressing and tofu, and let me tell you: I've had a lot of salads in my life, and this easily made the top five.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Whether you're fueling up at the breakfast buffet, having a lively dinner with friends at Luzzi or curling up with a glass of wine and a good book at the Andaz Lounge, you can expect warm service that's just polished enough to make you feel a little bit like a VIP — without having to worry about a dress code.

Amenities and Signature Experiences

Beyond the on-site restaurants, here are the other amenities you'll find at Andaz Lisbon:

A 24/7 fitness center

A spa coming later this year (until then, in-room spa treatments are available, and the hotel partners with nearby spa facilities that the concierge can arrange for guests)

Pet friendly accommodations (for dogs up to 66 pounds)

Andaz Signature Experiences available for booking

The hotel partners with a local tour company to offer various half- and full-day Andaz Signature Experiences. These culturally inspired activities include an artist-led street art tour, a coastal horseback ride and a catch-and-cook boat ride with a local fisherman.

I tried a shortened version of the "Gems in the Making" experience (900 euros or $1,028 for the full version), which involved a tour of the city's oldest artisanal shops on foot or by tuktuk. With the help of my guide, I explored the world's oldest operating bookshop, a fifth-generation hat maker, a coffee shop once frequented by the 19th century poet Fernando Pessao and more — followed by a hands-on filigree workshop with a family of jewelers that has been in business since 1924.

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY I was impressed not only by the tour's quality but also by how distinct to a "local's" version of Lisbon that it was. It introduced me to a lesser-known facet of the city that I otherwise would never have discovered.

Location and logistics

The Rua Augusta Arch near Andaz Lisbon. RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY The Andaz is located in the tourist-friendly Baixa area, or downtown, half a block from the main drag of Rua Augusta. It's steps away from the Tagus River, and it puts guests within easy walking distance of many of the city's highlights — from the historic Alfama neighborhood to the buzzy nightlife of Pink Street.

The hotel is about a 20-minute drive from Lisbon Airport (LIS). A rideshare will set you back around 10 to 20 euros ($12 to $24), or you can take public transportation for around 2 euros, though it will take roughly twice as long. The nearest bus stop and metro station, Praca do Comercio and Terreiro do Paco, are a couple of minutes away on foot.

Accessibility

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Andaz Lisbon is not the most accessible hotel I've visited, but it does have some accessibility features.

Most common areas are accessible by elevator, and there is a specially adapted room for guests using wheelchairs, complete with widened doors and a roll-in shower. There is only one of this room type, so be sure to call ahead and confirm it for your dates.

I didn't see any Braille on signs, and the hotel doesn't advertise features like visual doorbells. However, it's worth calling to see if it can accommodate your needs before ruling it out.

How to book a stay at Andaz Lisbon

RACHEL CRAFT/THE POINTS GUY Standard rooms start from 266 euros ($303) per night, while my one-king deluxe room starts at 304 euros ($346) per night, not including breakfast. Award rates for this category-6 property range from 20,000 to 40,000 World of Hyatt points per night, per the program's updated award chart .

Andaz Lisbon is also a member of Chase Travel's The Edit , so you can access elitelike perks while stacking Chase Ultimate Rewards and World of Hyatt earnings on your stay. Plus, it's a Points Boost property, so you can get solid value when redeeming your Chase points through Chase Travel. Just be sure to compare prices on the portal to Hyatt's website before deciding where to book .

CHASE TRAVEL If you book directly, you'll want to use one of the best credit cards for Hyatt stays , and ideally one that offers World of Hyatt elite status for value-added benefits. These include:

World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees ): Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status and five elite night credits per year toward a higher tier.

World of Hyatt Business Credit Card (see rates and fees ): Earn 4 points per dollar spent at Hyatt hotels and resorts, automatic Discoverist status and five tier-qualifying night credits for every $10,000 you spend each year toward a higher tier.

Bottom line

With a central location, top-notch service and style in spades, Andaz Lisbon makes a luxurious home base for a trip to Portugal's capital.

But this jewel of a hotel is more than just a place to rest your head. In fact, the hotel's excellent fare and cultural experiences were among the most memorable aspects of my entire trip.

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Weekend plans set? If you've been meaning to revisit the Saw franchise — or you’ve been looking for an excuse to take the plunge for the first time — now's your chance. Netflix is removing all 10 Saw films from its library on July 19. That includes the original seven installments, the seriously underrated 2017 film Jigsaw , and Chris Rock 's bizarre 2021 spin-off Spiral: From the Book of Saw , plus the critically acclaimed Saw X from 2023. It’s a rare opportunity to binge one of horror's most iconic franchises in its entirety all in one place, but you’ve only got until Sunday to do so.

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Following hints last week and an announcement on Monday by President Donald Trump, the U.S. blockade of Iran is back on in full force. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), in its latest update , stated that two commercial vessels were redirected and one was kinetically disabled in the first 24 hours. More than 20 U.S. warships , depicted in the graphic above, are operating in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, along with hundreds of aircraft dispersed across various bases, vessels, and forward arming and refueling points in the Middle East. “The U.S. military remains vigilant and prepared to ensure full compliance,” CENTCOM said.

USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) steams in formation with 19 other U.S. Navy ships in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command photo

The mechanics of the reinstated blockade appear to mirror the first, which CENTCOM outlined in an article published on X. “CENTCOM forces will enforce the blockade against vessels transiting to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas. The U.S. military continues to support traffic flow through regional waters for all vessels not violating the blockade.” Additional information was provided to commercial mariners in a formal notice issued by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT). “The blockade encompasses the entirety of the Iranian coastline to include but not limited to Iranian ports and oil terminals.” The blockade applies to all traffic, regardless of flag, according to the notice, but “will not impede neutral transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz to or from non-Iranian destinations.”

The U.S. maintains a considerable naval presence, centered around two carrier strike groups that have been operating in the northern Arabian Sea for months. Both carriers, USS Abraham Lincoln and USS George H.W. Bush , are each escorted by up to three guided-missile destroyers, with one serving as the Integrated Air and Missile Defense (IAMD) Commander. An additional seven destroyers from surrounding combatant commands are also independently deployed, as well as one guided-missile cruiser, USS Princeton , a littoral combat ship, USS Tulsa , and an expeditionary sea base (ESB), USS Miguel Keith . The independent destroyers serve multiple missions and are often attached and operate with other major naval assets, including the Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG) and ESBs.

U.S. Sailors conduct flight operations with MH-53E Sea Dragon assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron (HM) 15 aboard expeditionary sea base USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5). U.S. Navy Photo NAVCENT Public Affairs

Two ARGs with Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) embarked are also underway in the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. Amphibious assault ship USS Boxer , dock landing ship USS Comstock , and amphibious transport dock USS Portland sailed into U.S. 5th Fleet in early July. The Tripoli ARG, which had been operating in the CENTCOM area of responsibility (AOR) since February, moved deeper into the Indian Ocean and entered the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) AOR. The group is composed of USS Tripoli , USS New Orleans , and USS Rushmore .

The sun rises over the flight deck of forward-deployed America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7). U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Leonard Adams Chief Petty Officer Leonard Adams

The U.S. employed several different methods to kinetically disable Iranian-linked commercial vessels that failed to comply during the first blockade. In April, USS Spruance fired shots from her 5-inch Mk 45 gun into the engine room of the Iranian cargo ship M/V Touska . The following month, an F/A-18 Super Hornet launched from USS Abraham Lincoln disabled M/T Hasna by opening fire on its rudder with a 20mm cannon. U.S. aircraft fired two Hellfire missiles into the engine room of M/T Jalveer in June as she attempted to transport oil from Iran through the Gulf of Oman.

“Enforcement actions include disabling and destructive fires upon vessels who do not demonstrate immediate compliance with blockading/boarding forces,” NAVCENT warned in the notice to mariners. On July 15, U.S. aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the smokestack of M/T Belma , an unladen Curacao-flagged oil tanker in international waters attempting to sail toward Kharg Island, according to CENTCOM.

Additional Navy ships are operating in adjoining regions, and not pictured in the graphic, according to ship spotters, public AIS, and satellite imagery. At least one destroyer, USS Gonzalez , is operating in the Red Sea under U.S. 5th Fleet. Further north, in the Mediterranean Sea, four destroyers are deployed. Three of the four, USS Roosevelt , USS Arleigh Burke , and USS Paul Ignatius, are forward deployed out of Rota, Spain, and USS Thomas Hudner is homeported in Mayport, Florida.

The U.S. submarine force is not shown in graphic but elements of it are present in the CENTCOM theater. At least two fast-attack submarines are operating with the CSGs, and potentially more are on independent deployments and protecting assets like the ARG. A guided-missile submarine, which can be loaded with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles and Navy SEALs, is also often prowling the region, too.

Blockade 1.0 was lifted when the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by both parties on June 17, but the blockading forces never left the region , and U.S. naval force posture is unchanged since. At this point, however, the MOU is worth little more than the paper it was written on, as both sides have effectively declared it dead.

Note: Positions are general approximations.

Contact the author: ian.ellis-jones@teamrecurrent.io

The post Here Are The U.S. Navy Warships Available To Support The Blockade Of Iran appeared first on TWZ .