We have updated our Privacy Policy. Please review to learn more. By continuing to use our services, you agree to these updates.

TWZ. Where the cutting-edge of military technology, tactics, strategy, and geopolitics collide.

An agreement to ramp up production of the B-21 Raider was indeed structured to open the door to orders for more of the bombers, according to prime contractor Northrop Grumman. U.S. Air Force

Pathway To Larger B-21 Raider Fleet Was Baked Into Production Ramp-Up Deal

The USAF previously framed the B-21 production boost deal as simply helping accelerate fielding of the bombers next year.

Latest News

Unlike artist’s renderings, which offer few clues about scale, the factory-floor photograph includes technicians, assembly tooling, work platforms, and production fixtures that immediately provide useful reference points. Even allowing for perspective effects, the demonstrator’s center fuselage appears exceptionally broad and deep, giving the aircraft a physical presence that is difficult to appreciate in computer-generated imagery.
United Kingdom

More Of The UK’s Stealth Fighter Demonstrator Revealed In New Images

We are getting better insights into the configuration of the demonstrator jet that will inform the design of the upcoming Tempest fighter.

Ruta Block 1A used by Ukraine against Russia.
Ukraine

Evidence Of Ukraine Using Dutch Ruta Block 1 Cruise Missiles Emerges

The combat debut of the low-cost missile underscores Ukraine’s accelerating shift toward increasingly capable, mass-produced, long-range strike capabilities.

The White House has formally registered its opposition to a move by Congress to block work on the nuclear-powered Trump class battleship unless the U.S. Navy provides assurances that key weapon systems are “sufficiently mature.”
U.S. Navy

Congress’ Proposed Trump Class Battleship Program Guardrails Met With White House Pushback

Congress is moving ahead with a bill that would block Trump class battleship construction unless certain weapons are deemed mature.

Helicopter take centerstage in Navy sinkex in the pacific.
Indo-Pacific

Helicopters Just Took Center Stage In Rim Of The Pacific Sinking Exercises

Allied rotorcraft employed at least four different missile types against retired warships during the massive Pacific exercise.

Two EA-37B Compass Call electronic warfare jets arrived at RAF Fairford amid a new buildup of U.S. forces as tensions with Iran mount.
Iran

EA-37Bs Arrive At RAF Fairford As Iran Threatens To Attack The UK Air Base

RAF Fairford is a major hub for USAF bombers flying missions against Iran and other aircraft transmitting to the Middle East.

Raytheon has called attention to a new domestic order for PAC-2-series interceptors for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system. This is the first time the U.S. military has not bought any new PAC-2s in more than 30 years, according to the company.
U.S. Army

U.S. Army Is Buying Older PAC-2 Patriot Missiles For The First Time In Decades

PAC-2 GEM-T missiles are not generally as capable as their PAC-3 counterparts, but the Army needs all the Patriots it can get.

Operational and test units are laying the groundwork for F-15EXs to also take on air-to-ground missions.
U.S. Air Force

Air-To-Ground Capabilities Are Already Creeping Into The F-15EX’s Mission Set

The F-15EX’s current job is the same as its F-15C predecessor, strictly air-to-air combat, but that is going to change.

A Ukrainian F-16 has shot down a Russian fighter jet for the first time, according to the highest-ranking U.S. military officer. If confirmed, it would represent a significant development in the air war over Ukraine.
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukrainian F-16 Scored First Air-To-Air Kill Against A Russian Fighter: Top U.S. General

General Dan Caine’s disclosure bolsters reports that a Ukrainian F-16 downed a Russian Su-35S this month.

Farnborough International Airshow, 2026 Combat Air launch Client : BAE Systems Picture date: Tuesday July 21, 2026
United Kingdom

Brontanax Fighter Drone Is The UK’s Big Leap Into Collaborative Combat Aircraft

BAE Systems just unveiled its stealthy CCA with some intriguing features.

The U.S. Navy is pumping $70 million into the development of a surface-launched version of CoAspire's Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile-Extended Range (RAACM-ER) cruise missile.
Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Navy Picks RAACM-ER Low-Cost Cruise Missile For Program To Help Arm Allies (Updated)

The CHAOS program aims to give friendly ground forces new, cheaper ways to strike ships and targets on land at extended ranges.

The Navy is looking for a drone-launching mothership for the SOUTHCOM region.
South America

Mothership Sought By Navy For Southern Command Operations

The ship will be capable of launching and recovering helicopters, drones and small boats, and acting as a sea base for operations.

TWZ’s weekly carrier tracker monitoring America’s flattop fleet, including deployed Carrier Strike Groups (CSG) and Amphibious Ready Groups (ARG), using publicly available open-source information.
Carrier Tracker

Where Are The Aircraft Carriers: July 20, 2026

The U.S. conducted a weekend wave of strikes against Iran and announced a new round today, while the reinstated blockade of Iranian ports approaches the one-week mark.

More Latest News

The Houthis have attacked Saudi ships in the Red Sea.
Iran

Houthis Now Attacking Saudi Oil Tankers In Red Sea, Major Energy Supply Implications (Updated)

Just as the war with Iran looks about to fully erupt again, the Houthis are going to put an even tighter squeeze on the world’s energy supply.

The Pentagon is seeking $21 billion to replenish the stocks of weapons used during the Iran war.
Iran

Munitions Expenditures In Iran War Take Center Stage At Senate Hearing (Updated)

The Pentagon wants $21B to replace the weapons it already has used as alarm bells ring about sustaining the conflict with available munitions going forward.

A new hybrid-electric heavy-lift cargo drone has been unveiled by the defense arm of U.S. company Beta Technologies.
Helicopters

MV250 Hybrid-Electric VTOL Combat Cargo Drone Unveiled

The new uncrewed platform is designed to move cargo, deploy air-launched effects, and support dispersed military operations.

Bad El Mandeb Strait
Iran

Houthi Blockade On Saudi Red Sea Oil Transits Threatens To Widen War, Strangle Energy Supply (Updated)

If the Houthis start attacking ships near the Bab El-Mandeb Strait, it could peel-off U.S. resources from the Iran operation and exacerbate oil shortages.

The U.S. Air Force's new VC-25B Bridge aircraft will receive additional upgrades that will result in its capabilities being "maxed out," according to President Donald Trump.
POTUS

New VC-25B Air Force One Will Be Pulled From Service To Be “Maxed Out” With Upgrades

Trump said the ex-Qatari 747 is going to be upgraded soon when asked about the lack of defensive countermeasures on the new jet.

Jordan base targeted by Iran.
Iran

Two U.S. Troops Killed In Iranian Barrage On Base In Jordan (Updated)

Jordan is a key host of U.S. troops, with Muwaffaq Salti Air Base housing the largest contingent of American tactical airpower in the entire Middle East.

Members of the Moroccan Groupement des Forces Spéciale clear tunnels used by opposition forces during a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) at Tifnit Training Base, Morocco, May 13, 2026. JCETs bolster regional security and improve threat response by building shared readiness and fostering collaborative relationships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Enrique Barcelo)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

Is it getting more humid in here?

The U.S. is sending more aircraft to the Middle East amid increasing fighting with Iran.
Iran

U.S.-Iran Fight Heats Up With Mutual Strikes On Infrastructure Targets

More U.S. Air Force tankers and fighters head to the Middle East as the conflict intensifies.

The U.S. Navy expects the stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt, with its new launchers for Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missiles, to be formally returned to service by September.
U.S. Navy

USS Zumwalt Set To Return To Fleet After Long Anticipated Hypersonic Missile Upgrade

Issues tied to Zumwalt’s hugely powerful hybrid-electric power plant and other factors have set back its return to the fleet.

Saronic, the company that made the first sea drones ever to be used by the U.S. as weapons, announced plans to build a massive new shipyard in Texas
U.S. Navy

Drone Ship Maker Saronic Announces New $3B Shipyard In Texas Capable of Building 850-Foot Vessels

Saronic has been making headlines with its drone boats, but its Texas shipyard supersizes its nautical ambitions.

A very large and interesting-looking vessel is taking shape at a shipyard in southeastern China. What can be seen of it so far points strongly to it being the largest naval resupply ship anywhere in the world.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China Is Building A Monster Supply Ship For Its Carrier Groups

What looks to be the largest at-sea replenishment ship anywhere in the world is taking shape at a Chinese shipyard.

South Korea used anti-drone netting in a recent training exercise.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

South Korea Used Anti-Drone Netting During Recent Logistics Exercise

Across the globe, more militaries are relying on mesh netting to protect against the growing threat of small drones.

The U.K. Royal Air Force has launched a new collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program, named Storm Fighter, reviving a British push into the autonomous ‘loyal wingman’ arena as the service seeks to build what officials describe as “Europe’s first sixth-generation air force.” The announcement, made by a senior government official today, marks a renewed effort to field uncrewed combat aircraft designed to operate alongside crewed combat jets after earlier British CCA initiatives lost momentum.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

UK Unveils Storm Fighter Loyal Wingman Program

The new initiative revives Britain’s collaborative combat aircraft ambitions and is intended to fly alongside Typhoon, F-35, and the future Tempest.

The U.S. Navy is envisioning a future force of carrier-based uncrewed aircraft capable of attacking enemy forces at least 1,000 nautical miles away from the ship.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Navy Wants 1,000 Mile Combat Radius For Carrier Based Tactical Drone Fleets

The range requirement offers the first real window into the capabilities the Navy wants for its future carrier-based tactical drone fleets.

Saudi Arabia has been cleared for a $2 billion deal to buy up to 20,000 APKWS II systems.
Royal Saudi Air Force

Saudis Cleared To Buy A Whopping 20,000 Laser-Guided Rockets

The Saudis are clearly arming themselves to defend against a massive number of drones in future conflicts.

Here is the U.S. Navy Fleet operating in the Middle East.
U.S. Navy

Here Are The U.S. Navy Warships Available To Support The Blockade Of Iran

More than 20 U.S. Navy warships, including two carrier strike groups and an amphibious ready group, are underway in the Middle East.

See More

Must Read Features

Veteran U.S. Navy Submariners Explain Why Fire Is So Deadly Aboard A Submarine
U.S. Navy

Veteran U.S. Navy Submariners Explain Why Fire Is So Deadly Aboard A Submarine

U.S. Navy

The Navy’s Giant Hangar That Housed The Hindenburg Hides A Mock Aircraft Carrier Inside

Civil Aviation

Here’s What It Really Costs To Own Or Charter A Private Jet

U.S. Homeland

Check Out This Trio Of Special Operations Combatant Craft Tearing Across San Diego Bay

SEE MORE

TWZ — previously known as The War Zone — has become an essential resource for the defense industry, the national security community, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016.

 

From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same.

 

The site stands at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis website, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis to offer readers deeper, yet easy-to-consume, insights than what they will find anywhere else….

More About Us

The TWZ Team