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The U.S. Army has given us our first glimpse at what the new MV-75A Cheyenne II tiltrotor will look like in its special operations configuration. FLRAA

First Look At What A Night Stalker MV-75 Cheyenne Will Look Like

A new rendering shows an MV-75 with special operations-specific features like a radar, other sensors, and in-flight refueling capability.

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Army officials and the MV-75A's prime contractor, Bell, have both pointed to a future where tanker drones like the U.S. Navy's forthcoming MQ-25 Stingray could help extend the Cheyenne II's reach.
FLRAA

Army Eyes Drone Tankers To Refuel Its New MV-75 Cheyenne II Tiltrotors

The Army and Bell have pointed to the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray drone tanker as an example of what could be on the horizon.

Apache counter-drone ammunition ramps up production
AH-64

Production Of AH-64 Apache’s New Counter-Drone Cannon Shell Ammunition Ramping-Up

The Army anticipates a five-fold increase in procurement of the XM1225 APEX ammo.

L3Harris is pushing its modular Wolf family of “launched effects vehicles” for the U.S. Army, including to equip its H-60 Black Hawk series and AH-64 Apache helicopters. The family of vehicles includes the Red Wolf, configured for long-range precision strikes against targets on land or at sea, and the Green Wolf fitted with an electronic warfare payload.
H-60

Wolf Pack Modular Mini Cruise Missiles Pitched For Apache, Black Hawk

Already building launched effects vehicles for the Marine Corps, L3Harris now wants to bring these capabilities to U.S. Army rotorcraft.

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

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

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

The German military has revealed details of tests in which its Wiesel armored personnel carrier has been airdropped under parachutes from A400M transport aircraft. While the diminutive Wiesel (German for weasel) is already notably mobile, including fitting into a CH-53 helicopter, this appears to be the first time that it has been airdropped, marking a significant new capability for Germany’s airborne forces.
Germany

Germany Is Now Airdropping Its Tiny Wiesel ‘Tankettes’

Already known for its agility and small size, dropping the Wiesel from A400M transports gives Germany’s airborne forces a new way of rapidly placing firepower forward.

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 optimally 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It
F-47

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It

The U.S. military is pushing to make huge investments in many programs in Fiscal Year 2027, but also some notable cuts.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

B-52 epic fury mission.

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Deal (Updated)

As Trump’s deadline for making Iran into a “living hell” fast approaches, a chasm remains between the two foes on a way to even temporarily pause the war.

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