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

Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Young, senior NCO of the Army’s Stryker combat vehicle program, discusses the 30mm cannon on the Infantry Carrier Vehicle-Dragoon vehicle at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., Aug. 16, 2017. (Photo Credit: Sean Kimmons)

Senators Nearly Triple Army Request for Stryker Cannons

Army budget officials initially requested $144.4 million for the Stryker "MOD" effort in the base budget.

Pfc. Tyler Kramer, a mechanic with I Company, 3rd Combined Arms Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division qualifies on an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a range Feb. 1, 2018 at Fort Stewart, Ga. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Ian Thompson)

Army Getting Ready to Choose M249 SAW and M4 Carbine Replacements

The Army will begin fielding the 6.8mm weapons that will replace M249 squad automatic weapons and M4/M4A1 carbines in 2021.

Soldier displays a prototype of the Enhanced Night Vision Goggle – Binocular. (U.S. Army)

After Year-Long Delay, Soldiers to Get New Night-Vision Gear

A top U.S. Army Futures Command leader told Congress the service will field its new, binocular-style night-vision goggles.

The U.S. Army’s new Integrated Head Protection System. (Military.com/Matthew Cox)

Army's New Helmet Offers Greater Protection, Rails for Mounting Lights

U.S. Army officials will soon begin fielding a new combat helmet designed to give soldiers 100 percent greater protection.

Pvt. Kesley Darnell, B. Co., 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, let’s go of the air vehicle as it takes off during the systems fielding at Fort Bragg, NC, May 2nd, 2019 (US Army/Patrick Ferraris).

Army Fields Tiny Pocket Drones to Paratroopers at Fort Bragg

Equipment officials recently fielded the Army's first pocket-sized drones to units of the 82nd Airborne Division.

A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Task Force Shadow prepares to land at Bagram, Afghanistan Aug. 4, 2018. (U.S. Army/Capt. Kristoffer Sibbaluca)

Army Chinook Helicopter Destroyed by 'Hard Landing' in Afghanistan

The Chinook was "totally destroyed" during the landing, and U.S. and Afghan personnel on board were injured.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Dewey Adams, an allied trades technician assigned to 194th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 2nd Sustainment Brigade 520th Support Maintenance Company operates the Army’s first 3D printer, housed on Camp Humphreys, Republic of Korea, Oct. 29, 2018. (U.S. Army/Spc. Adeline Witherspoon, 2nd SBDE PAO)

Army Leaders Turn to New Tech to Fix 'Atrophied' Supply System

U.S. Army leaders discussed how using cell phone apps and 3D printing may help the service's sustainment machine keep up.

U.S. Army Gen. James C. McConville, 36th Vice Chief Staff of the Army, visits Erbil, Iraq, in October 15, 2017. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Tracy McKithern)

Senate Confirms Army Leaders for Chief of Staff, Vice Chief

The Senate recently confirmed two generals to become the next vice chief of staff and chief of staff of the Army.

A tactical psychological operations team from the 9th Military Information Support Battalion broadcasts an emergency message during civil support training at Camp Butner, N.C., March 19, 2016. (Photo: Spc. Jeremie Lee)

Army to Promote Hundreds of PSYOP Soldiers at Fort Bragg

The 1st Special Forces Command will promote 300 psychological operations sergeants at a record-breaking promotion ceremony

The Army's new prototype of the Army's Stryker vehicle armed with a 30mm cannon. Photo: Scout Warrior

Army Taps Five Firms to Study How to Mount 30mm Cannons on Strykers

The U.S. Army recently selected five defense firms to participate in a design study for mounting a 30mm cannon on a Stryker.

Pfc. Katherine Beatty gives helpful hints to her teammate holding four excess gunpowder bags that weren’t needed for the three-increment charge during live-fire training on the M119A3 howitzer, Fort Sill, Okla., March 1, 2016. Beatty is the Army’s first 13B cannon crewmember to graduate from advanced individual training, taught in 1st Battalion, 78th Field Artillery. (U.S. Army photo/Cindy McIntyre)

Army Will Soon Open More Combat Jobs to Women, General Says

Over the last three years, more than 1,000 female soldiers have moved into combat-arms jobs.

An AH-64E Apache helicopter takes off from its landing pad after arming and refueling during a rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif. (US Army photo/Andrew Ruiz)

Senate Panel Green-Lights More Money for Army Helos, New Auto Rifle

The SASAC approved defense spending bill provides dollars for Army helicopters and a weapon to replace the M249.

Sgt. Nicholas Maxim, acting as a member of the opposing force, builds and launches a simulated drone swarm during Exercise Dynamic Front 18 at the Joint Multinational Simulation Center, Grafenwoehr, Germany, in March, 2018. (U.S. Army/Staff Sgt. Kathleen V. Polanco, 7th Army Training Command)

Big Changes Coming to NTC: Drone Swarms, Communication Headaches

In addition to fighting an armored opposing force, BCTs will soon have to face a greater drone presence here.

Staff Sgt. Roger L. Whaley speaks with Phillip McDonald about the possibility of becoming a journalist or X-ray technician for the Army at the U.S. Army Recruiting Station in Radcliff, Ky. (U.S. Army/Sgt. Carl N. Hudson)

Army Beginning to See Payoff from New Recruiting Strategy

Recruiting is up 27 percent year-over-year in Minneapolis, 19 percent in New York City and 17 percent in Baltimore.

FN MK 3 Fire Control Unit, which is designed to give grenadiers a complete sighting and aiming solution for 40mm grenade launchers. (Image: FN America LLC)

FN's Fire Control System May Offer Glimpse at Army's Next-Gen Weapon Tech

The FN Mk3 Fire Control Unit is designed to give operators a sighting and aiming solution for 40mm grenade launchers.

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