Megan Eckstein

Naval warfare reporter

Megan Eckstein is the naval warfare reporter at Defense News. She has covered military news since 2009, with a focus on U.S. Navy and Marine Corps operations, acquisition programs and budgets. She has reported from four geographic fleets and is happiest when she’s filing stories from a ship. Megan is a University of Maryland alumna.

All Stories By Megan

Navy expeditionary forces eye counter-drone, offensive unmanned ops

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command is considering its future -- and that might include offensive drone operations.

3 days ago

The Pentagon in Washington, March 27, 2008.

Continuing resolution would slow military modernization, services warn

The Navy, for example, would have $26 billion in the wrong places, and would need Congress to approve $13 billion in formal reprogrammings.

4 days ago

Navy says it will lose millions by not committing to 10 destroyers in upcoming contract

The U.S. Navy doesn’t want to over-commit to buying too many ships in the next five years, in case it can’t follow through due to fiscal or supply chain issues. That will cost the service millions of dollars.

Pacific Marines move to formalize role as the stand-in force

In practice, the Pacific Marines have been the inside force even as the rest of the joint force considered China’s growing anti-access/area-denial capabilities. Now, they're formalizing what it means to be a Stand-In Force and what new gear will enable them.

Navy effort to cancel LCS mission package triggers new cost breach

A decision to cancel the technically challenged ASW mission package raised the per-unit cost overall for the mission modules program, resulting in a Nunn-McCurdy breach the Navy reported to Congress May 13.

An unarmed Trident II missile launches from Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741) off the coast of San Diego on Feb. 12, 2020

The Navy doesn’t want nukes on ships, despite interest from some combatant commanders

The Navy says forcing surface ships or attack submarines to haul around nuclear-tipped missiles would be feasible, but would be a burden in a time with many more pressing missions and no extra money to spare on lesser priorities.

First-of-kind Marine littoral regiment plays with new concepts, weapons

The Marine Corps’ first unit designed specifically to carry out new concepts of operations has already conducted its first exercise in the Philippines and is preparing to start experimentation and training later this year.

Marines to update amphibious ops concept amid uncertainty over future ship count

The commandant wants a Concept for 21st Century Amphibious Operations by the end of the year, after earlier Force Design 2030 modernization efforts have focused on stand-in forces operating as smaller units on smaller vessels.

How digital natives will change the Marine Corps

The Marine of 2030 will be born into the age of the Internet of Things and raised with drones and virtual reality goggles at home — making the commandant comfortable they’ll be able to take on additional tasks and manage a battlefield swirling with information.

The light amphibious warship is delayed, but the Marine Corps has a temporary solution

U.S. Marines want to move quickly and discreetly, but the crowded shipbuilding budget is in the way.

Marines’ Force Design 2030 update refocuses on reconnaissance

The modernization plan includes lethal effects like loitering munitions, but it now focuses on the sensing and communications needed to support these weapons without relying on outside targeting data.

First LCS deploys to European waters in 6th Fleet

The Florida-based Freedom-variant LCSs have only operated in local waters and in Central and South America until now, two years after an LCS was originally planned to deploy to 6th Fleet for the first time.

Military issues on Capitol Hill, and Black Sea updates | Defense News Weekly Full Episode, 2.24.24

How do I create a basic monthly budget? — Money Minute

Navy’s newest aircraft carrier recoups after long mission