Matthew Cox
Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. Prior to working for three years in media relations at Thales, he worked for Military.com from 2011 to 2021, covering Army and Marine Corps readiness and modernizations with a focus on weapons development and procurement. Before that he worked for more than 12 years at Army Times. He focused on modernization, training, and readiness as well as covering light infantry units in combat in both Afghanistan from 2002 to 2008. He also spent four years in the U.S. Army during the second half of the 1980s, serving as an infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Recent stories by Matthew Cox
M18 Pistol Is Back in Action at Air Force Global Strike Command—with a Twist
Air Force Global Strike Command has cleared Airmen to carry the M18 pistol again after completing inspections of thousands of handguns following the July 20 death of Airman Brayden Lovan, a 21-year-old security forces specialist who was killed on duty when his M18 pistol discharged, ...
Air Force Seeks Fivefold Funding Hike for Mobile Base Defense Tech
The Air Force hopes to snag $836 million in fiscal 2026 for rapidly deployable air base defenses to thwart incoming drones and missiles.
Air Force Orders Force-Wide Inspection of M18s in Wake of Airman’s Death
The Air Force is performing a force-wide safety inspection on every one of its M18 9mm pistols as the service investigates the circumstances around the July 20 discharge of the service pistol that killed a 21-year-old security forces Airman.
Space Force Unit that Tracked Iranian Missiles Earns New Honor
The Guardians of the 11th Space Warning Squadron were honored as the top U.S. Space Force unit for 2024 for their role in thwarting Iranian missile barrages last year.
Air Force Works to Modernize Aging B-52 Simulators
Air Force B-52 program officials are gunning for a budget boost for new simulators that can adequately replicate challenging tasks crew members must perform on real-world bombing missions.
‘What ACE Is All About’: Dispersion Protects Airmen, Planes During Iran Attack
As the Air Force readied for its June 21-22 strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the service was also putting its Agile Combat Employment strategy into action, dispersing combat aircraft and Airmen from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar in preparation for a possible Iranian retaliatory ...
Cyber, Electronic Warfare Key to Winning Future Fights, DARPA Official Says
Cyber and electromagnetic warfare are now crucial tools for modern warfare, but they are not emphasized enough as the go-to weapons for fighter pilots, DARPA Deputy Director Rob McHenry said during a June 25 event hosted by the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies.
House Appropriators Want More Transparency for Big-Ticket Air Force Buys
The House Appropriations Committee wants the Air Force to be more open about how it manages its multibillion-dollar weapons acquisition programs to ensure they are fully funded and ready for the next fight.
New Normandy Memorial Honors Eighth Air Force Airmen Crucial to D-Day Victory
A new Eighth Air Force Memorial, tucked behind the D-Day landing beaches at Normandy, immortalizes those Airmen in bronze 81 years after they defeated the Nazi air force.
Pentagon Reviewing Base Defense as Experts Warn of Pacific Threats
Defense experts say the drone threat represents only part of a larger, looming problem: U.S. air bases in the Pacific are increasingly vulnerable to air attacks.
In Trips to DC Memorials, Air Force Vietnam Vets Reflect on War
Vietnam War-era veterans from Wyoming took part in “Voyage of Valor,” an all-expenses-paid trip made possible by Wish of a Lifetime and AARP.
General Says Commercial Space Industry is Ready for Golden Dome
Advancements in commercial space technology could make President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense network far more likely to succeed than the failed “Star Wars” strategic umbrella initiative of the 1980s, U.S. Space Command’s top general said May 22.
Golden Dome’s Price Tag Will Likely Exceed Half a Trillion Dollars, Space Force Chief Says
The “Golden Dome” homeland missile defense system proposed by President Donald Trump will likely cost more than half a trillion dollars, Chief of Space Operations Gen. B. Chance Saltzman said May 15.
Pentagon Rushing to Find ‘Low-Collateral’ Tech to Counter Hostile Drones
The Pentagon is seeking ways to down hostile drones to defend military bases without endangering nearby civilians or infrastructure—and it wants solutions soon.
Air Force Eyes Less Class Time, More PT at Basic Training
Beginning in the fall, 2nd Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Wolfe Davidson plans to introduce a new curriculum for Basic Military Training that will focus on training Airmen and Space Force Guardians in much smaller groups, while replacing some classroom instruction with a more hands-on ...
