Week in Tactical: F-35 DFCs, Army Ammo Deals, and a Historic Normandy Jump

Six F-35A pilots from the 34th Fighter Squadron received the Distinguished Flying Cross last week for their roles in last June's Operation Midnight Hammer — the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities that saw125 aircraft, including seven B-2 Spirit bombers, cross Iranian airspace. The awards, presented at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on May 21 but not announced until May 26, are the latest in a string of honors flowing to aircrews who flew deep-penetration missions into heavily defended airspace. Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, Maj. Alexander Cox, Maj. Scott Lafferty, Capt. Dakota Bowden, Capt. Christopher Patti, and Capt. Tyler Penkalski each received the DFC. Fifteen additional squadron members received Bronze Stars. According to the Air Force, the F-35s were the first aircraft inside Iranian airspace — escorting the B-2s to their targets while also suppressing enemy air defenses. The June 21-22 operation dropped 14 GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators on two nuclear sites while the Navy struck a third with cruise missiles. All aircraft returned with no losses.

Federal Ammunition and the Army's Peak Alloy Deal

Federal Ammunition announced a landmark agreement with the U.S. Army to utilize its patented Peak Alloy ammunition case technology across multiple weapon systems and chamberings — including calibers from 50-caliber down. Peak Alloy is a high-strength steel alloy that enables chamber pressures exceeding 80,000 PSI, well above traditional brass cases, enabling higher velocities in shorter-barreled rifles built around suppressors. The technology first appeared commercially in 2025 with Federal's 7mm Backcountry cartridge. The agreement specifies that the Army will receive 40 million cases before Government Purpose Rights are granted, and multiple allied European countries are also evaluating the technology. "This is a historic agreement between the United States military and Federal Ammunition," said Chairman and CEO Jason Vanderbrink. Federal's104-year track record and this new agreement position the company as a key ammunition innovator for next-generation small arms platforms.

A Double-Amputee Paratrooper Trains for Normandy

Former 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper Jon Harmon lost both legs above the knee when he stepped on an IED in Kandahar Province in June 2012 — a day that killed one of his squadmates and left nearly a dozen soldiers wounded. Fourteen years later, Harmon, 32, is training to jump into Normandy, France, in a World War II-era C-47. He would become what appears to be the first double above-knee amputee to complete a static-line jump into the historic drop zones. "Normandy's everything," Harmon said. "That's where our guys made their history, and to be able to jump in those drop zones, in front of the men who actually dropped there, is the greatest honor of my life." Harmon was the82nd Airborne's first double above-knee amputee soldier to return to active duty through the Army's Continuation on Active Duty program. He spent years as a liaison at Walter Reed, helping other wounded soldiers navigate recovery. The jump is planned for this year, marking both a return to the sky and a full-circle moment for a soldier who nearly lost his life on a patrol in an Afghan village.

Trump Declares Blockade on Iran to Be Lifted

President Donald Trump announced on May 29 that the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports — in place since mid-April — would be lifted, drawing pushback from Iranian officials who said no final agreement had been reached. The dual blockades of the Strait of Hormuz have complicated oil and gas transit through the critical chokepoint for weeks. According to CENTCOM, 115 commercial vessels had been redirected as of May 29, and five ships had been disabled by U.S. forces for attempting to break the blockade. Iranian media reported that Tehran viewed Trump's announcement with skepticism, noting that no signed Memorandum of Agreement was in place at the time. The situation remains fluid as negotiators work toward a broader ceasefire framework. Meanwhile, U.S. forces continue mine-clearance operations in the strait using uncrewed underwater vehicles — a key part of keeping the waterway safe for commercial traffic if and when it reopens.

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Sources: Task& Purpose, Soldier Systems Daily, The War Zone