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Satellite imagery from Vantor shows at least two, and more likely three, swing-wing F-14 Tomcat fighters, as well as at least 10 other aircraft destroyed on the ground following strikes on an Iranian airbase in Isfahan. Iran

Iranian F-14 Tomcats Meet Their Doom In Israeli Airstrikes

Iran's Tomcats may have used up the last of their nine lives as the U.S. and Israel seek to neuter the country's air force.

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Iran is stepping up its attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran

Iran Turns Up The Heat Around The Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

Iran struck three commercial ships today in its continuing effort to inflict economic pain and political pressure on the U.S. and its allies.

F-35B ready to carry out defensive counter-air sortie operations across the Middle East. British jets are protecting UK personnel and allied nations across the Middle East. These operations form part of the UK’s broader commitment to regional security and an active commitment to protect our personnel and allies. ** Some blurring has been applied for operational security reasons **
United Kingdom

UK Grows Its Defensive Posture Abroad In Response To Iran Conflict

The British Armed Forces have bolstered their air defense presence in the region, but it has also shown cracks in readiness.

B-1B takeoff at night in afterburner
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM)

B-1B Being Loaded With Bunker Busters In England A Sign Of Increasing Air Supremacy Over Iran

There are now 15 American bombers that are flying strike missions against Iran from RAF Fairford.

KC-135 refueling B-21 over the Mojave Desert.
KC-135

B-21 Raider Photographed Aerial Refueling For The First Time

The B-21 is said to be making quick progress in testing as the USAF accelerates production ahead of its 2027 entry into service.

B-1B bomber used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford.
Iran

Epic Fury Day 11: U.S. Promises “Most Intense Day Of Strikes” On Iran

The U.S. adds to its bomber force deployed to the U.K. as Iranian drones and missiles continue to fly.

In a surprising development, Serbia has emerged as an operator of the Chinese-made CM-400 air-launched supersonic missile. The weapon has been integrated into Serbia’s Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrums, which have undergone various upgrades.
MiG-29

Serbian MiG-29 Appears Armed With Chinese Supersonic Standoff Missiles

Previously only known to be in Pakistani service, the Chinese-made CM-400 air-to-ground missile has now appeared on Serbian MiG-29 jets.

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First Lt. Pamela Blanco-Coca, 319th Missile Squadron missile combat crew commander, and 2nd Lt. John Anderson, 319th MS deputy missile combat crew commander, conduct pre-operational checks at a launch control center in the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., missile complex Feb. 9, 2016. The missileers worked heavily in conjunction with missile maintainers to conduct a test of Minuteman III weapon system components in a test known as the Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jason Wiese)

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

It’s been a really, REALLY long week, guys…

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is unwilling to negotiate with Iran unless it surrenders unconditionally.

Trump Demands “Unconditional Surrender,” Iran Says Bring On The Ground Invasion (Updated)

Trump wants to pick the country’s new leader, while Israel continues to strike at what’s left of Iran’s current leadership in Tehran.

F-15E Strike Eagle are operating over Iran.

The Misconception That Air Supremacy Has Been Achieved Over Iran

While there are areas where air superiority exists over Iran, total air supremacy has not been achieved, which should be no surprise.

For more than three weeks, Ukraine was left with only “a handful” of U.S.-made AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet, after the supply of the weapons dried up. This is the conclusion of a Reuters report, citing three sources, all of whom are said to have direct knowledge of the situation. It also comes as Kyiv is increasingly in competition with the U.S. military and its Gulf allies as they come under continued pressure from Iranian drones and missiles in the Middle East.

Ukrainian F-16s Had Only A Handful Of Sidewinder Missiles Available: Report

The conflict in the Middle East is now also driving up demand for and increasing scarcity of various kinds of air-defense effectors.

Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones at U.S., Israeli, and other allied targets in the Middle East has been severely degraded, two top American military leaders said Wednesday morning.

Strikes Hobble Iranian Missile Threat As Concerns Over Interceptor Stockpile Mount (Updated)

There is a war of attrition ongoing between Iran’s stockpiles of standoff weapons and the U.S. and its allies’ supplies of interceptors.

For the first time, an F-35 has shot down a crewed aircraft in combat. According to the Israeli military, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I Adir brought down an Iranian Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer over Tehran.

Israeli Air Force First To Claim F-35 Air-To-Air Kill Of A Crewed Aircraft

The Iranian Yak-130 combat trainer was shot down while flying over Tehran.

Kuwaiti Hornet shot down F-15Es: REPORT

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet Responsible For Shooting Down Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles: Report

The bizarre friendly fire incident resulted in the total loss of all three Strike Eagles, but their crews survived.

New Russian cruise missile is being used in Ukraine.

New Russian Air-Launched Cruise Missile Appears In Ukraine

The Izdeliye 30 is likely cheaper, faster to produce, and harder-hitting than previous Russian air-launched cruise missiles.

The U.S. is sending more fighters jets to the Middle East.

More U.S. Fighter Aircraft Heading To Middle East

Additional F-35As and F-15Es will be arriving in the CENTCOM area of responsibility shortly.

Drone boat attack, first of operation Epic Fury.

Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War

Iran, a pioneer in lower-end uncrewed surface vessel technology, used at least one to attack the oil tanker MKD VYOM in the Gulf of Oman.

The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered day three.

War With Iran Now In Its Third Day

The Pentagon has offered new details about the conflict as joint strikes with Israel, and Iranian retaliation, continue.

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Sept. 28, 2020. The F/A-18 is a highly versatile aircraft due to its avionics, cockpit displays, aerodynamic characteristics, and its ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan)

Friendly-Fire Incidents Are Nothing New In Modern Air Warfare

The loss of three F-15Es to friendly fire today is far from the first time similar combat accidents have happened in the post Cold War era.

Iran’s Key Naval Base On Strait Of Hormuz Set Ablaze From Strikes

Iran’s Key Naval Base On Strait Of Hormuz Set Ablaze From Strikes

The attack overnight on the port has left one of Iran’s prized sea bases and at least one frigate on fire, with black smoke filling the air.

F-15 crashes in the Middle East.

Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles Shot Down By Friendly Fire (Updated)

The F-15Es went down over Kuwait while flying Operation Epic Fury missions.

The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered its second day.

U.S.-Israeli War With Iran Enters Day Two (Updated)

U.S.-Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation continue amid new uncertainty with the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The U.S. military has employed new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles as part of ongoing operations against Iran.

America’s New PrSM Ballistic Missile Just Made Its Combat Debut

PrSM struck targets in Iran and can fly hundreds of miles further than its predecessor ATACMS.

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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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