Matthew Cox

Matthew Cox has been a defense reporter since 1998. During his time with Military.com he covered all the services, with a close eye on Army weapons development and procurement, body armor testing, camouflage, ammunition as well as readiness and training issues. He previously worked for 12 years for Army Times. He traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq numerous times from 2002 to 2008, covering Stryker and light infantry units in combat. 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.

Latest Articles

A Black Hawk from the Army's 1st Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment, takes part in the Box Tour at Fort Polk, Louisiana, on Aug. 17, 2019. (Army photo by Patricia Dubiel)

One Soldier Killed, Three Injured in Black Hawk Crash at Fort Polk

The soldiers in the Black Hawk were assigned to 1st Battalion, 5th Aviation Regiment, at Polk.

Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston tries out the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular during the first fielding of the system to soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kansas, on Sept. 25, 2019. When teamed with the Family of Weapon Sights-Individual -- mounted on Grinston’s M4 -- the sight reticle is wirelessly transmitted into the goggle. Army photo

These Are the First Units to Get Army’s New Night-Vision Binoculars

Army Futures Command enabled the service to develop and field the new technology fast, officials said.

Army Leaders Warn Soldiers to Watch for Foreign Agents Lurking on Twitter

Even Gen. Stephen Townsend, head of U.S. Africa Command, has had his identity used to set up false profiles on social media.

Army combat engineers with 1st Engineer Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, redeploy an M60 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge after several combat vehicles crossed a trench breach during a day of breach training conducted at a range near Camp Trzebień, Poland, on May 22, 2019. A significant amount of the Army’s combat bridging capability comes from the National Guard. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jeremiah Woods)

Army's Future Battle Plan May Include Restructuring Guard Forces

Certain capabilities may need to shift to counter an adversary such as Russia.

A Common Remote Weapons Station-Javelin (CROWS-J) is mounted on a Stryker infantry carrier while undergoing operational testing with the 4th Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, at the Joint Maneuver Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, in 2018. Army photo

Army Details Plan to Equip Stryker Infantry Carriers with Tank-Killing Missiles

Beginning in 2022, the Army will start turning large numbers of Stryker infantry carriers into tank-killers.

Steiner eOptics unveiled the Close Quarter Thermal (CQT) at Modern Day Marine 2019. The three-day Modern Day is co-sponsored by Marine Corps Base, Quantico, the Exposition's home base. MCB Quantico, home to the Combat Development Command and the Marine Corps Systems Command, is responsible for setting requirements, developing equipment and systems and purchasing the equipment and systems that the Marine Corps will rely on in the years to come. These vital and unique functions play a large part in positionin

This Tiny Thermal Weapons Optic with Red Dot Is Designed for Close Combat

The Close Quarter Thermal takes two CR-123 batteries, weighs approximately one pound and currently costs about $10,000.

Beretta Defense Technologies 9mm PMX submachinegun at Modern Day Marine 2019. It was the first time the company has shown a production model of the PMX in the U.S. (Matthew Cox/Military.com)

Beretta PMX Submachine Gun Makes US Debut at Modern Day Marine

Beretta Defense Technologies showed off a production model of its PMX submachine gun for the first time this week.

The Marine Corps’ new Squad Binocular Night Vision Optic was on display at Modern Day Marine 2019. Military.com photo by Matthew Cox

Here's What Marines Can Expect from Their New Night Vision Binoculars

The new Squad Binocular Night Vision Goggles (SBNVG) emerged from an effort that began last year.

The Expeditionary Modular Autonomous Vehicle (EMAV) mounted with a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station (CROWS) and a .50 caliber machine gun. (Matthew Cox/Military.com)

Marines Arm Drone Vehicle with .50-cal Machine Gun for Urban Fight

The Marine Corps is experimenting with new options for its unmanned, squad prototype vehicle.

U.S. Marines from Weapons Company, 1st Battalion, 3d Marine Regiment and civilians conduct weapons testing on the 81mm experimental non-lethal Indirect Fire Munition (IDFM) rounds at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, July 16, 2018. (Screenshot from video by Eric Tso and Adam Montera/Marine Corps)

Marines Test Nonlethal Mortar Round for Crowd Control

They may not be deadly, but some of the nonlethal weapons the Marine Corps is working on look pretty devastating.

Gen. Gus Perna, commander of Army Materiel Command, administers the oath of enlistment to 27 future Soldiers during the 2019 AUSA Global Force Symposium and Exposition ROTC/Future Soldiers luncheon, March 28. (U.S. Army/Richard Bumgardner, USASAC Public Affairs)

Army Surpasses Recruiting Goal, Attracts More Women to Sign Up

U.S. Army leaders declared victory Tuesday over the service's recruiting crisis.

A Marine looks at a digital map on a Target Handoff System version 2.0 during a Marine Corps Combat Readiness Evaluation at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 20, 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo)

Marines Get New Tool for Delivering Deadly 'Call for Fire' Missions

Marines in fire-support units can now coordinate artillery, mortar and naval gunfire from a handy, ruggedized tablet.

US Service Member Killed After General Vows Increased Attacks on Taliban

The news of this latest American casualty comes after peace negotiations broke down a week ago.

Air Force Gen. Mike Holmes, the commander of Air Combat Command, follows Col. Geoff Jensen, the 173rd Operations Group commander, toward a waiting F-15 for a flight at Kingsley Field, Oregon, Feb. 6, 2019. Although the weather is cold, its average of 300 days of sunshine in a given year make it an ideal place to train Eagle pilots. (Jefferson Thompson/U.S. Air National Guard)

Air Force Pursuing Heated Boots to Protect Downed Pilots in Extreme Cold

The Air Force contract is for low-bulk boots designed to keep pilots' feet warm in temperatures as low as -20 Fahrenheit.

The 66th Military Intelligence Brigade held a NCO Induction ceremony on Clay Kaserne, Wiesbaden, Germany on January 10, 2019. Over 40 newly promoted soldiers from across the brigade were celebrated as they joined the ranks of the noncommissioned officer. (US Army/Ashley L. Keasler)

Congress Wants the Military to Report Extremism in the Ranks. Here's Why That Will Be Tough

Experts say catching warning signs for future violent acts will prove difficult.

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