The War Zone. Your daily source for military, defense, and geopolitics coverage.
HH-60
HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters To Take On Doomsday Evacuation Role In The Nation’s Capital
The Jolly Green IIs will be modified for VIP airlift and continuity of government ops, replacing aging UH-1N Twin Hueys in these roles.
Latest News
U.S. Efforts To Prevent Iranian Mine Laying In Strait Of Hormuz Underway
Another U.S. delegation is headed to Pakistan to try to restart negotiations as a third carrier strike group arrives in the region.
Ukraine’s Drone-Hunting An-28 Turboprop Is Now Launching Interceptor Drones
The latest evolution of Ukraine’s rugged An-28 Cash turboprop counter-drone platform combines interceptor drones and Minigun armament.
Saildrone’s Missile-Toting Spectre Enters Navy’s Medium-Sized Unmanned Ship Competition
Saildrone has joined forces with defense juggernauts to supersize its proven vehicle concept and equip it with missiles and sub-hunting sensors.
Trump Puts Out Kill Order On Iran’s Small Boats (Updated)
Trump also said he is going to “triple” demining efforts in the Strait, although it is unclear what, if any, of these activities are currently happening at all.
NASA’s 777 Flying Laboratory Touches Down At Langley
NASA’s largest research aircraft will take over from the agency’s iconic DC-8, with a first test campaign planned for 2027.
Navy Rushing To Arm Carrier Strike Groups With Hellfire Missiles
The Navy is pushing more counter-drone hard-kill capabilities to its fleet as it comes to terms with the growing threat of one-way attack drones.
Iranian Attacks Change Way Navy Refuels Its Ships In Middle East
The Navy created a commercial “tanker treadmill” to top off its oilers out at sea, offering lessons that could have larger impacts on operations in the future.
Everything New We Just Learned About The Trump Class Battleship Program
We are getting a clearer idea of how the Navy thinks it can use these ships, which have an estimated cost of $17B per vessel.
F-35s Quarterbacking Drones Seen As Gateway To USMC’s 6th Gen Fighter
Collaborative Combat Aircraft will “bridge” the Marines to a family of new capabilities that could include a new stealth fighter based on F/A-XX.
KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines
Developed to turn USMC C-130s into close air support platforms during the Global War on Terror, Harvest Hawk’s relevance has waned.
USMC’s Old F/A-18 Hornets To Get Drone Swatting Laser Guided Rockets
The combat-proven APKWS II laser-guided rocket’s use as a valuable low-cost air-to-air weapon continues to grow.
New Low-Cost Cruise Missile Features Tomahawk-Like Range
With a range of over 1,000 nautical miles, the RAACM-ER cruise missile aims to go far while costing less.
U.S. Navy MH-60S Pilot Talks Multi-Mission Roles During Tour Of The Seahawk
Branded Content: The MH-60S is a true U.S. Navy workhorse, from executing ship replenishment to mine hunting to anti-surface warfare.
F-15EX Buy Was Just Doubled By The USAF, Which Makes Perfect Sense
While it is initially replacing the F-15C, more F-15EXs will provide a ready successor to aging F-15E Strike Eagles and possibly other types.
Iran Ramps Up Attacks On Ships In The Strait Of Hormuz After Trump Ceasefire Extension (Updated)
With Iran refusing to commit to peace talks, the future of the ceasefire remains in doubt.
Ford Class Review Puts Navy’s Future Carrier Plans Into Question
The review includes comparing the Ford class to the Nimitz class and seeing what has been gained or lost operationally.
Leonardo DRS’s Plan To Counter Drones For The U.S. Navy
Branded Content: Maritime-Mission Equipment Package (M-MEP) is designed to protect seaborne assets from attack drones.
More Latest News
USS Spruance Blasting A Ship With Its Deck Gun Is A First In Nearly Four Decades
The Navy hasn’t struck another ship in anger with its deck gun since 1988.
MQ-9B SeaGuardian Ready For Teaming With P-8 Poseidon
Branded Content: General Atomics has developed the MQ-9B as an all-round maritime patrol drone and a companion to the P-8.
Northrop Defends Ability To Build F/A-XX 6th Gen Naval Fighters If Selected
The Navy’s top officer said yesterday that an unnamed contractor “really can’t deliver” on F/A-XX “in the timeframe we need it.”
F/A-XX Next Gen Naval Fighter Concept Video Emerges From Northrop Grumman
We see a lot more of Northrop Grumman’s F/A-XX tailless naval fighter concept in the new video, including some interesting features.
Iran Peace Talks Hanging By A Thread After Tumultuous Weekend Near The Strait (Updated)
Trump said peace talks are on while Iranians say they aren’t after both the U.S. and Iran fired on vessels over the weekend.
SNC Gives Details Of Its Clean-Sheet Freedom Trainer Offering To The U.S. Navy
Branded Content: New trainer designed as a “no-compromise” solution that aims to save significant money for U.S. Navy aviator training.
The H-60 Black Hawk Gunship Evolves With New Wings And Weapons
We get a close-up look and tour of the next armed H-60 Black Hawk evolution.
F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Selection To Finally Come By August: Navy’s Top Admiral
After being stalled in procurement purgatory, the Navy is set to move forward with its carrier-based 6th generation fighter.
Carrier Tracker As of April 20, 2026
Second American carrier strike group enters Central Command area of responsibility, third en route.
Jet-Powered JDAM Tested From Navy Super Hornet
F/A-18s have trialed the JDAM-LR, a powered evolution of the JDAM that offers a relatively cheap cruise missile-like standoff strike capability.
Spitfire Completes Unique Formation Flights With Royal Air Force
To mark the 90th anniversary of the first flight of the legendary fighter, a Spitfire took to the skies with various frontline British aircraft.
Air-Launched Drones Key To Keeping New Army Surveillance Jets Out Of Harms Way
The Army also sees drones launched from ME-11Bs offering a major boost in its ability to peer deep into hostile territory.
Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week
“I shall look forward personally to exterminating you, Mr. Bond.”
Qatari 747-8i Gifted To Trump For Interim Air Force One Is Undergoing Test Flights
The 747 is being rushed into service and the Air Force now says it is expected to be delivered this summer.
MV-75 Will Be Reconfigurable For Medevac Mission Via Kit, Not Purpose-Built Like HH-60
The Cheyenne II’s speed and range will usher in a major leap in the U.S. Army’s “dustoff” medical evacuation capability.
U.S. Pursuing Iranian-Linked Ships All Over The World In Addition To Its Blockade (Updated)
The Joint Chiefs Chairman said the U.S. now has a global effort for going after ships related to supporting Iran.
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.
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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….
