The War Zone. Your daily source for military, defense, and geopolitics coverage.

AGM-114 Hellfire

Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles

Houthi attacks in the Red Sea prompted the Navy to rush the counter-drone Hellfire capability to the Freedom class LCS.

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A new threat assessment was issued in the wake of a Houthi pledge to stop attacking non-Israeli-linked vessels

Houthi Pledge To Curtail Ship Attacks Sparks New Security Assessment

In the wake of the Gaza War ceasefire, the Houthis vowed to limit shipping attacks only to vessels directly affiliated with Israel.

The U.S. Navy's use of expendable Nulka decoys in combat has highlighted the need to expand the ability of its ships to launch off-board decoying electronic attacks, including ones lasting tens of minutes or more.

Nulka Combat Use Shows Warships Need Longer-Lasting Electronic Warfare-Enabled Decoys

The Navy wants ships to be able to launch decoys that are capable of luring away missiles for tens of minutes to help defend against incoming barrages.

USS Michael Murphy

Arleigh Burke Destroyers Taking On Navy Air Defense Commander Role As Cruisers Disappear From Fleet

Arleigh Burke class Flight IIA destroyers were the air defense commanders for two carrier strike groups last year and plans are now underway to expand the practice.

A dramatic video has appeared showing a Russian BTR-82 8x8 armored personnel carrier firing its main gun wildly, apparently due to a malfunction after the vehicle was struck by a drone. While huge numbers of this particular model of BTR have been lost in Russian hands since the start of the full-scale invasion, this is certainly one of the most bizarre sequences we’ve seen of the vehicle in combat.

Russian BTR-82 Had A Spectacular Misfire On The Battlefield In Ukraine

Russia's BTR-82 series of armored personnel carriers have suffered extremely heavy losses in Ukraine.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - MAY 10: A vehicle drives into the tunnel at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station on May 10, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. NORAD is celebrating its 60th Anniversary at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

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

Great to see you guys!

In the coming weeks, drone boats will be plying the waters of the Baltic Sea helping to detect and deter undersea cable sabotage as part of Baltic Sentry.

Drone Boats Being Rushed To Help Prevent Baltic Seafloor Cable Sabotage

At least 20 drone boats will take part in NATO's new Baltic Sentry effort spurred by suspected sabotage of undersea cables.

After spending years charting a way forward to a family of unmanned surface vessels in a specific array of sizes and configurations, the Navy is eyeing a major course alteration that would see it pursuing a simpler and more interchangeable design.

Navy To Simplify Drone Ship Plans, Focus On Containerized Payloads That Look Alike

The Navy could abandon its separate large and medium drone boat efforts in favor a single smaller, more modular design.

A French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was illuminated by the fire-control radar of a Russian long-range air defense system, while flying over the Baltic Sea earlier this week, according to France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.

France Decries Russian S-400 Radar Locking Onto Its Maritime Patrol Aircraft Over Baltic Sea

The incident occurred the same week that NATO began patrols of these waters to prevent sabotage to critical undersea infrastructure.

An F-15E on a flight line in San Antonio, Texas. The aircraft was recently upgraded with Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, advanced electronic warfare system.

F-15E Strike Eagle With New EPAWSS Electronic Warfare Suite Heads To Frontline Unit

The 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England is the first recipient of the sophisticated Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System.

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Rendering of a Medium Landing Ship.

Navy Now Seeking Commercial Ship Design To Propel Its Long-Delayed Medium Landing Ship Program Forward

The Navy halted the Medium Landing Ship effort last month after high cost estimates and is now seeking commercial vessel designs to move Marines in a Pacific fight.

Members of Hamas's armed wing, the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, arrive in a vehicle at a street in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on January 15, 2025, amid the ongoing war in the Palestinian territory between Israel and Hamas. Thousands of Gazans celebrated on January 15 as news spread that a ceasefire and hostage release deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas, aimed at ending more than 15 months of war in the Palestinian territory.

Gaza Ceasefire Agreed To, Final Israeli Approval Pending (Updated)

After more than 15 months of fighting, a Gaza ceasefire deal that includes the release of Israeli hostages is expected to be implemented within days.

An image has appeared showing a Chinese commercial roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ferry linked to a temporary pier via a barge with jack-up supports. This follows the emergence of satellite imagery showing multiple similar, but different jack-up barges in various stages of construction at a shipyard in southeastern China.

Chinese Barge Usable For Potential Taiwan Beach Landings Seen In Action In New Image

Barges with jack-up legs could be key connectors for Chinese ships, including commercial ferries, and the shore.

How many weapons US Navy ships launched in the Red Sea.

Navy Just Revealed Tally Of Surface-To-Air Missiles Fired In Ongoing Red Sea Fight

Navy surface combatants have fired off hundreds of missiles and five-inch shells to repel Houthi drone and missile attacks.

The U.S. Navy's Orca UUV.

What The Navy’s Massive Orca Submarine Drone Is Actually Capable Of

We dive deep with the captain in charge of the Orca program on the drone's current abilities and what it could be capable of in the future.

Norfolk Naval Station, Norfolk, Virginia (April 1, 1999 -- President Clinton addresses U.S. and NATO military personnel, families, and civilian Department of Defense employees to express America's thanks to personnel deployed overseas in support of U.S. and NATO operations, as well as underscore the importance of NATO Operation Allied Force in Kosovo. (U.S. Navy photo by PH1(SW) Benjamin D. Olvey)

New Aircraft Carrier To Be Named After Bill Clinton

After the USS William J. Clinton, the next Ford class super carrier slated to be named USS George W. Bush.

A greater focus on long range strike capabilities is among the alternatives the U.S. Air Force is considering to a costly new crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) family of systems. A lower-cost design focused primarily on acting as a 'quarterback' for Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones is also still on the table.

$20 Billion Price Tag To Complete Development Of USAF’s Next Generation Fighter (Updated)

The Air Force could also still proceed with its original 6th generation stealth combat jet plans, but would need billions more in funding.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - MAY 10: A group of media were allowed inside Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station as NORAD celebrates its 60th Anniversary on May 10, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via Getty Images)

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

Plenty of stored canned foods to go around!

Soldiers driving Revised Weapons Mount Installation Kit (RWMIK) from Support Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, on their way to defensive positions during Exercise Haraka Storm, Kenya, on the 19th of July 2023. The British Army’s global response force has tested its ability to deploy and fight at short notice in some of Africa’s most challenging environments. The soldiers of 3 PARA Battlegroup honed both their fighting and fieldcraft skills on the Kenyan savannah as part of the six-week long Exercise Haraka Storm. Dealing with the rough terrain, searing heat and potentially deadly animals - ranging from lions and elephants to scorpions and snakes – troops followed a progression of training, building from polishing their individual skills and specialities to a final mission which sees the whole force operating together to assault a heavily-defended objective. The 1,000-strong battlegroup is built around the airborne infantry of Colchester-based 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, bolstered by artillery, engineers, signallers, medics, and logisticians from across 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team. Specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter or airlanding, the 3 PARA Battlegroup is currently held at very high readiness to respond to global crises. In April, it deployed to Sudan to provide security and logistic support to the evacuation of British civilians.

Land Rover Replacement Program Kickstarted By U.K. Military After 76 Years Of Service

After multiple false starts, the United Kingdom is looking for a successor for the last of its venerable Land Rover light utility vehicles.

The CL-415 Super Scooper damaged by a drone while fighting the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles should be dropping water on the flames again by earlier next week. Meanwhile, firefighters will receive two additional planes.

Two More CL-415 Super Scoopers On The Way To Fight Palisades Fire After One Damaged By Drone

Officials hope the aircraft hit by the drone will be repaired and ready to fly again early next week.

The second tranche of U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones could be between 20 to 30 percent more expensive per airframe than those in the first batch.

Second Batch Of Air Force CCA Drones Could Be 20 To 30 Percent Pricier Than The First

Concerns still loom over how the Air Force will pay for its CCA drones, as well as other advanced next-generation aircraft.

CL-415 super Scooper working for Cal Fire

One Of Just Two CL-415 Super Scooper Planes Taken Out Of Palisades Fire Fight By Drone

The drone strike punched a hole in the CL-415's wing and caused all firefighting aircraft on the Palisades fire to be temporarily grounded.

The Biden administration announced its last Presidential Drawdown Authority package for Ukraine, which included Sea Sparrow RIM-7 missiles.

Biden Puts Forward Final Ukraine Military Aid Package Of His Administration

Ukraine Situation Report: Plans for future aid to Kyiv were also unveiled, but all that could change with the new U.S. administrations.

The Olavsvern complex.

U.S. Navy Still Wants To Operate Out Of This Norwegian Submarine Cave, But A Deal Remains Elusive

Sold after the Cold War, the U.S. Navy remains interested in once again using the Olavsvern complex as a hub for Arctic operations.

Sweden is buying 44 German-made Leopard 2A8 tanks, in addition to upgrading 66 of its older models to the same standard, continuing a period of military investment for the Scandinavian country, which joined NATO last year. The decision adds another customer to a growing list of Leopard 2A8 operators, which also notably includes fellow NATO members Lithuania and Norway, also in the strategically critical Baltic region.

Sweden Buys More Leopard 2 Tanks As Part Of Major Defense Build-Up

The Swedish tank force is undergoing a renaissance as part of an ambitious build-up spurred by the Russian threat.

Hades ALEs

Army Wants To Test Air-Launched Drones From A Global Express Business Jet

The planned trials tally with previous comments about launching the drones from the new Global 6500-based HADES surveillance jet.

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The State Department’s Armored Vehicle Program Is a Mess

The State Department’s Armored Vehicle Program Is a Mess

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Watch This F-22 Raptor Execute A Mind-Blowing Inverted Somersault At Altitude

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This Cockpit Video Of A KC-10 Refueling Another KC-10 Is Amazing

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Space Shuttle Carrying 747 Was Secretly Modified To Defend Itself From Heat-Seeking Missiles (Updated)

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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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