With the launch of the Air Force’s hypersonic missile off the coast of California earlier this month, the Navy’s development of water-based drones over the summer and the recent unveiling of the B-21 Raiders, the U.S. military has made major technological advancements over the past year.

Here are some moments to remember:

The military unveiled the U.S. Air Force B-21 Raider in Palmdale, California. The B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than three decades. In an email to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson confirmed the Air Force would transition its three-bomber fleet to a two-bomber fleet of B-21s and modernized B-52s. The branch confirmed that the first modified B-52s are expected to enter testing by the end of 2028.

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The Air Force successfully fired an air-to-ground hypersonic missile that reached speeds more than five times the speed of sound in a test off the southern California coast, officials said. The test of the All-Up-Round AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) was the first launch of a full prototype operational missile, the Air Force said in a press release.

The U.S. started working on new types of weapons to help keep pace with China’s military development and continue to deter a potential invasion of Taiwan. The Navy had identified water-borne drones as an affordable but effective means of delaying that challenge. Its 5th Fleet had previously deployed smaller drones in waters off the Middle East. Four of the largest drones deployed over the summer were to take part in a multi-national naval exercise in the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Air Force launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test in California. The operational test launched from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, the base confirmed on Twitter.

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The Wilder is a four-passenger light armored vehicle from Israeli defense contractor Plasan that has been designed for special forces’ use with innovative features. The four-passenger pickup uses a mid-engine design like a race car and is powered by a 159bhp 2.8-litre Cummins turbodiesel engine.

The Army test-fired Javelin anti-tank missiles at an exhibition in Fort Hood, Texas to demonstrate technological advancement in its fighting capabilities. During a series of weapons drills and exercises, soldiers fired Javelins and .50-caliber machine guns from seven-ton robotic vehicles. The demonstration consisted of 12 robotic platforms alongside six control vehicles, the culmination of four years of activity, according to one official at the exhibition.

You might not hear Oshkosh Defense's latest military vehicle coming, but it could be hard to miss. The eJLTV uses a diesel-hybrid powertrain. The eJLTV is a hybrid-powered version of the defense giant's hulking Joint Light Tactical Vehicle, of which approximately 15,000 currently serve the U.S. Army and U.S. Marines.

Hummer has re-enlisted in the U.S. Army. The military branch has purchased a GMC Hummer EV pickup for evaluation. The vehicle will be a top of the line Hummer EV Edition 1, which has a list price of $112,595.

Fox News' Pilar Arias, Peter Aitken, Bradford Betz, Caitlin McFall, Paul Best, Gary Gastelu and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Aaron Judge made his MLB debut on Aug. 13, 2016. In his first at-bat in the big leagues, he hit a home run to dead center field off the Yankee Stadium batters’ eye. That was very clearly a preview of what was to come.

The next season, he was unanimously named the AL Rookie of the Year with 52 home runs, then an MLB record for a rookie. He finished in second place in that year’s MVP voting to Jose Altuve, which has since become controversial amid the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal that season.

Over the next three seasons, he suffered multiple injuries, but his on-field talent never wavered. From 2018 to 2020, he owned a .917 OPS, hitting .274 average. In 2021, he hit .287 with a .916 OPS, finishing in fourth place in the AL MVP vote as he carried the Yankees down the stretch to a wild card game appearance.

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But now the Yankees had an issue. Their superstar’s contract was set to end after the upcoming season, and the MLB lockout made it literally impossible to negotiate for three months.

Just before opening day, Yankees offered him a $17 million salary for 2022, and then $213.5 million over the next seven seasons.

Judge declined. He was going to be a free agent after the 2022 season. He gambled on himself.

To say the bet worked is the understatement of the year.

Judge’s year was one for the ages – he became the American League home run king on Oct. 4 in Arlington, Texas, when he belted his 62nd home run of the season, surpassing former Yankee Roger Maris 61 years after he hit 61 homers. Several others (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa) shattered Maris’ mark, but their links to performance-enhancing drugs have tainted their numbers. Thus, many deem Judge to be the "true" single-season home run king.

But his season was so much more than 62 homers. 

AARON JUDGE HITS 62ND HOME RUN, PASSING ROGER MARIS FOR MOST IN A SEASON BY AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYER

Judge was in the Triple Crown race until the last day of the season – his .311 batting average was second in the AL. His 111 walks were the most in the American League, and his 62 homers, 131 RBI, .425 on-base percentage, .686 slugging percentage, 133 runs scored, and 391 total bases all led the majors by comfortable margins. 

It was one of the greatest offensive seasons in the history of baseball – while making zero errors in the field. He was easily named the American League Most Valuable Player, adding even more intrigue to his free agency market.

The rumor mill was swirling, and on Dec. 6, he was reportedly very close to joining his hometown San Francisco Giants. That’s when Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner gave Judge a call and asked him what it would take for him to remain in pinstripes. In that phone call, Judge and the Yanks agreed to a nine-year, $360 million deal, the largest ever by a free agent, and the second-largest in total value behind only Mike Trout’s $425 million. 

Now, the face of baseball is a Yankee for life. In his "welcome home" press conference on Dec. 21, he was named the 16th captain in Yankee history, and the first since Derek Jeter.

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Only four people have a higher OPS in a Yankee uniform than Judge’s .977 – Ruth (1.195), Lou Gehrig (1.079), Mickey Mantle (.978), and Joe DiMaggio (also .977). Judge is .0002 points behind DiMaggio – he’d pass him if he gets on base in his first plate appearance next season.

Judge has just about every accolade in baseball – three Silver Slugger Awards, a Home Run Derby championship, four All-Star nods (all starts), a Rookie of the Year, an MVP.

But there is one thing missing.

ASTROS COMPLETE SWEEP OF YANKEES, WILL FACE PHILLIES IN WORLD SERIES

Judge has not won, or appeared in, a World Series yet. He’s now 30, and the Yankees have had a problem with the Astros, who have defeated them three times in the ALCS since Judge began his career, including this past October. 

The ring is something Judge obviously wants badly. And Yankees fans are tough – they want championships with their stars. Considering Judge is a .211 postseason hitter, he knows he needs to be better if he wants to give the Yankees their 28th World Series title.

But if he doesn’t win 10 like Yogi Berra, or nine like DiMaggio, or seven like Mantle, or five like Jeter – God forbid he wins zero like Don Mattingly – he will go down as maybe the most polarizing figure to ever put on the pinstripes. His 6-foot-7, 282-pound frame, combined with maybe being the best player in baseball, already makes him some sort of magical player.

And that’s what his 2022 was.

From the gamble, to the broken records, to the contract, to the captaincy.

It was nothing short of magical.