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The Cold War-era Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne might have been bugged my multiple issues, but there’s no doubt it was the world’s most advanced attack helicopter of its day. But so radical was the AH-56, and its revolutionary features so far ahead of their time, that it’s a very suitable moniker for the U.S. Army’s highly anticipated MV-75 tiltrotor, rolled out today, and officially named Cheyenne II. FLRAA

Army Names Its New MV-75 Tiltrotor Cheyenne II

First applied to a failed cutting-edge attack helicopter, the Cheyenne name returns for what is perhaps the Army’s most ambitious rotorcraft program yet.

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U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed China's concerns over how the war is affecting its oil supplies.
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Iran

Trump Downplays Chinese Concerns Over Iran War’s Impact On Its Oil Supplies

The friction between the U.S. and China over disruption in energy shipments the war with Iran has caused remains a major issue.

Boeing has provided details on its future plans for the venerable H-47 Chinook, including adding launched effects and creating a path toward an uncrewed version of the helicopter.
MH-47

CH-47 Chinook Air-Launching Swarms Of Drones Touted As Future Feature

Boeing also identifies growing interest in an optionally crewed version of the Chinook.

General Atomics is calling attention to a new mission for its Mojave short takeoff and landing (STOL) drone: hunting uncrewed aerial threats with laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets.
Laser Guided Rockets

Hunting Drones From Sloppy Airstrips Is General Atomics’ Future Vision For Mojave

Pushed forward to very rough fields, Mojave could also escort helicopters, strike targets, provide surveillance and networking, and even transport cargo.

U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk Tour And Mission Brief With Its Pilots

U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk Tour And Mission Brief With Its Pilots

Branded Content: The UH-60M is a workhorse of the U.S. Army that can perform many duties, soon to include uncrewed battlefield support.

KC-135 from Edwards air force base refueling a B-21 for the first time.
B-21

B-21 Raider Seen From Above For The First Time

A new image of aerial refueling trials gives us our first full overhead look at the B-21 and a glimpse at some very interesting features.

The U.S. Navy has confirmed that an MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone crashed back on April 9.
MQ-4C

Navy MQ-4C Triton Surveillance Drone Crash In The Middle East Finally Confirmed

The MQ-4C had been flying over the Persian Gulf on April 9 when it suddenly disappeared from online flight tracking sites.

MV-75 will be entering service much fast than originally planned.
FLRAA

MV-75 Tiltrotor Already Part Of Army Officer Training, General Says

With the Army putting its MV-75 tiltrotor on a blazingly fast track, troops are already getting experience on the aircraft before the first one is even delivered.

U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawks assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment approach Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic during a forward arming and refueling point exercise, MCOLF Atlantic, May 6, 2025. U.S. Army Soldiers and aircraft from the 160th SOAR utilized MCAS Cherry Point’s training area to conduct a FARP. This training is essential for enhancing the unit’s operational readiness and ensuring efficient support for rapid deployment, as Cherry Point provides the facilities and resources to simulate real world scenarios.
MH-60/AH-60

This Is What The Night Stalkers’ MH-60M Direct Action Penetrator Brought To The Venezuelan Op

The hard-hitting attack version of the special operations MH-60 was clearly among the critical assets used in Operation Absolute Resolve.

U.S. M1A2 Abrams assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Iron, maneuver to get on line with the Apache helicopters assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Task Force Iron, during Iron Defender-25 at Orzysz Training Area in Orzysz, Poland, Sept. 17, 2025. The Apache helicopters provided cover fire while the Abrams advanced. The purpose of large scale training events like Iron Defender-25 is to prove the Polish Armed Forces and their NATO allies’ ability to deter and effectively defend the territory of Poland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Andre Gremillion Jr.)
AH-64

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache’s Counter-Drone Capability Rapidly Matures

Apaches scored 13 drone kills out of 14 engagements during Operation Flyswatter, reflecting the AH-64’s evolving counter-UAS capabilities.

An F-35A Lightning II from Eglin Air Force Base flies with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, June 16, 2024, before the Columbus Air Show. This year’s event featured more than 20 military and civilian planes, including a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, which served as the base of operations for military aircraft participating in the show.
F-35A

Air Guard Warns Of Dire Consequences If At Least 72 Fighters Aren’t Bought Annually

Air National Guard leaders have called upon Congress to approve multiyear funding for 72 to 100 new fighters annually.

The US Air Force has been work working to improve the ability of HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue aircraft carrying Angry Kitten pods to receive reprogramming updates in near-real-time via satellite.
C-130

Angry Kitten Jamming Pod Testing On HC-130J Focuses On Receiving Threat Updates Via Satellite

Being able to rapidly reprogram Angry Kitten pods remotely based on the real-time threat environment would be hugely valuable.

A new Ukrainian surface-to-air missile appears to have made its first public appearance. The weapon is apparently an example of the Koral (also sometimes spelled Coral), the development of which has been known about for some time, as part of an effort to field homegrown ground-based air defense systems, something that the head of Ukraine’s Brave1 defense tech incubator discussed with TWZ in the past.
Ukrainian Army

This May Be Our Best Look At Ukraine’s Secretive New Surface-To-Air Missile

The Koral surface-to-air missile apparently made its public debut as part of a recent lineup of homegrown weapon systems.

While several ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM says its blockade is working.
Iran

Navy Turns Around Ships Trying To Run Blockade Of Iran (Updated)

Meanwhile, CENTCOM says the blockade is working as communications between Washington and Tehran continue in hopes of more in-person talks.

A flurry of activity by American minesweeping vessels in the Pacific comes as the U.S. military has said it is sending additional forces to help clear Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran

Flurry Of Navy Minesweepers Appear To Be Heading Toward The Middle East

The migration of U.S. Navy minesweeping assets west from the Pacific indicates preparations are underway for a major de-mining operation.

The Marines are keeping an eye on the progress of a seaglider drone.
Unmanned

Regent Squire Wing-In-Ground Effect Drone Demonstrator Makes First Flight

Squire is designed to take on multiple roles and the Marines say they are monitoring the aircraft’s progress.

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KC-135 seen with battle damage repairs landing at RAF Midlenhall.

KC-135 Tanker Covered In Shrapnel Patches Seen Landing In UK

A KC-135 damaged in an Iranian strike has made its way to RAF Mildenhall in the UK thanks to field repairs.

TWZ Carrier Tracker as of April 12 2026 monitoring American carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups.

Carrier Tracker As of April 12, 2026

Trump orders U.S. Navy to blockade Strait of Hormuz as a third carrier strike group steams towards the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

A new and not immediately recognizable launcher has emerged on the U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin.

U.S. Navy Destroyer Equipped With New Launcher For Unknown Weapons

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carl M. Levin has received an interesting new addition to its aft upper deck.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg receives a brief from U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), during an orientation of the command’s battle deck at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., April 6, 2018. During his visit, Stoltenberg toured the command’s global operations center and participated in discussions with Hyten, other senior leaders and subject matter experts on the continuing U.S. commitment to supporting NATO and allies. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Julie R. Matyascik)

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

A tactical pause?

A graphic showing aircraft losses during EPIC FURY.

Operation Epic Fury U.S. Aircraft Losses Visualized

Here are all the known American aircraft losses during the nearly six week-long war with Iran.

Navy Calls It Quits On Attack Submarine USS Boise’s Never Ending Overhaul

Navy Calls It Quits On Attack Submarine USS Boise’s Never Ending Overhaul

The USS Boise has been stuck in limbo for more than a third of its career, and was still years and billions of dollars away from returning to service.

A Bahraini F-16 fighter recorded the first air-to-air kill for the Block 70/72 version of the jet during the conflict in the Middle East earlier this month.

Bahrain First To Claim F-16 Block 70 Air-To-Air Kills

The Bahraini advanced F-16 shot down two Iranian drones during the conflict in the Middle East earlier this month.

KC-135 ghost tanker

Inside The Air Force’s Elite Ghost Tanker Unit

TWZ Special Access: We flew aboard the unique KC-135R that is the centerpiece of the Air Force’s aerial refueling test force.

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer prepares to taxi prior to takeoff in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 6, 2026.

Questions Loom Over Iran Ceasefire

Both sides are claiming a triumphant victory, but the peace that’s in place now is very delicate and will have to survive tumultuous negotiations.

BAE has test fired APKWS rockets from an RAF Typhoon for the first time.

Eurofighter Typhoon Test Fires Laser-Guided Counter-Drone Rockets

The trial couldn’t come soon enough as Typhoons battle Iranian drones in the Persian Gulf.

B-2 Spirit about to head out on mission over Iran.

Trump Agrees To Ceasefire With Iran

Trump is stepping back from his threat to end Iran as a civilization predicated on the Strait of Hormuz being quickly opened.

RQ-180 features seen in new videos shot in Greece.

New Views Of Massive RQ-180 Stealth Drone Flying Over Greece

The secretive drone continues to be spotted flying during the day, offering new insights into its features.

A-10 is fitted with a refueling probe in its receptacle door for testing.

A-10 Warthog Being Tested With Aerial Refueling Probe (Updated)

Beyond a win for the A-10, putting refueling probes on USAF tactical jets could be a boon of the service’s Agile Combat Employment strategy.

President Donald Trump and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided new details about the risky missions to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran.

Everything We Now Know About The Operation To Rescue The F-15E WSO (Updated)

We have gotten many new details about how the high-risk extraction effort deep in Iranian territory went down.

A secretive late Cold War-era drone program known as Quartz, intended to persistently monitor mobile nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles deep within the Soviet Union, offers a window into exactly why the RQ-180 could be in high demand in the Middle East now.

RQ-180’s Likely Role Over Iran Foreshadowed By Secret Cold War Stealth Drone Program

Large sums of money were spent trying to build a spy drone just like the RQ-180 for a very specific mission decades beforehand.

FARP in Iran set up by special tactics squadron airman during WSO rescue.

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

An ex-USAF Special Tactics Squadron member tells how the impromptu airfield in Iran would have been rapidly established and defended.

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The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — 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….

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