More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 11)

A new report from the Government Accountability Office raises questions and concerns about the Air Force's push to retire 32 Block 20 F-22 Raptors.
F-22

Ditching Older F-22s Risks Creating Capability Gaps, New Costs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 19, 2024

Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F Super Hornets will be used to launch prototypes of the US Air Force's Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile.
F/A-18E/F

Australian F/A-18F Super Hornets To Test Launch U.S. Air Force’s Hypersonic Cruise Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 18, 2024

USAF B-52 in flight
Air

B-52s With New Rolls Royce Engines Won’t Fly Operational Missions Until 2033

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 18, 2024

German defense contractor Rheinmetall is pitching a containerized launcher for use with Hero family loitering munitions.
Air

Shipping Container Launcher Packing 126 Kamikaze Drones Hits The Market

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 17, 2024

A pair of apparent mockups of the Chinese GJ-11 Sharp Sword uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) have emerged at a site just over a mile from where the country is building the first of its new monster Type 076 amphibious assault ships.
Air

Mockups Of China’s Sharp Sword Stealth Drone Appear Near New Supersized Amphibious Warship

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 14, 2024

Anduril’s Fury
Air

Top Air Force Officer Doubles Down On Aerial Combat Drones With Short Life Spans

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 14, 2024

Franco-German consortium KNDS has rolled out a new version o its Leopard 2 tank with an uncrewed turret that can be armed with an a 140mm main gun and a host of other new features.
Leopard

New Leopard 2 Tank Packs A Big Cannon, Uncrewed Turret, Anti-Drone Defenses

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 13, 2024

Does The U.S. Need To Be Building Hardened Aircraft Shelters For Its Combat Aircraft?
China

Does The U.S. Need To Be Building Hardened Aircraft Shelters For Its Combat Aircraft?

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2024

Ship and flight tracking data shows that US and allied warships and aircraft have shadowing a Russian naval flotilla that includes an advanced Yasen-M class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine as it head toward Cuba.
Russia

Russian Naval Group Shadowed Off Florida By U.S., Allies (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2024

The former US Navy amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa is set to be sunk as part of this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, which is the first time in more than a decade a ship this big will be used as a target.
U.S. Navy

Flattop Amphibious Assault Ship Looks Set To Be Pummeled With Weapons In RIMPAC Wargames

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2024

The US Army's new Precision Strike Missile might provide the United States a ready path to acquiring an air-launched ballistic missile, a type of weapon that is seeing a renaissance around the world.
Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles

Army’s New PrSM Ballistic Missile Should Be Adapted Into An Air Launched Weapon

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2024

France has formally announced plans to transfer Mirage 2000-5 fighters to Ukraine and to try pilots to fly them.
French Air Force

Mirage 2000 Fighters To Be Sent To Ukraine From France

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 6, 2024

The Oregon Air National Guard has received its first F-15EX Eagle II fighter, marking the first delivery of one of these jets to an operational unit.
F-15

The F-15EX Eagle II Has Arrived In Portland

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 6, 2024

The US Navy's P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes are one step closer to getting new self-protection pods with towed decoys and other electronic warfare capabilities.
P-8

Towed Decoy Pods Will Protect P-8 Poseidons From Radar-Guided Threats

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 6, 2024

The Navy has been eying the possibility of arming its ships and submarines, as well as aircraft, with a new air-breathing hypersonic anti-ship cruise missile.
Air-launched hypersonic cruise missiles

Navy’s HALO Hypersonic Anti-Ship Missile Planned For Ships, Submarines, As Well As Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 5, 2024

Congress is moving to block the Air Force from retiring or preparing to retire any U-2 spy planes in the next fiscal year.
U-2

U-2 Retirement Reprieve Emerges In Proposed Defense Spending Bill

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

European aviation consortium Airbus has unveiled a new stealthy fighter-sized loyal wingman-type drone concept
Stealth

Stealthy Fighter-Like Wingman Drone Concept Unveiled By Airbus (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

Why no LCAC used in Gaza aid mission.
U.S. Navy

Why Aren’t U.S. Navy LCAC Hovercraft Being Used To Deliver Aid To Gaza?

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 3, 2024

The Defense Innovation Unit and the US Air Force have picked four different companies design, build, and flight test new low-cost cruise missile concepts.
U.S. Air Force

‘Cheap’ Long-Range Cruise Missile Designs To Be Tested By Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 3, 2024

The US Air Force has awarded its first contract for the purchase of production Joint Strike Missiles which are set to give its F-35A Joint Strike Fighters a new and capable stand-off strike option against targets on land and at sea.
F-35

USAF F-35s Are Officially Getting Joint Strike Cruise Missiles That Fit In Their Bays

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 1, 2024

The U.S. Government Accountability Office says that "unplanned weight growth" and design instability have been major factors in the huge delays with the Constellation class, and that the ship's top speed could take a hit as a result.
U.S. Navy

Navy’s New Constellation Class Frigate Is A Mess

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 31, 2024

Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of erecting physical barriers to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from drones.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Enclosures To Defend F-15Es From Drone Attacks Eyed At Seymour Johnson AFB

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 30, 2024

China's first example of a new class of big deck amphibious assault ship, which may also be able to act as drone-focused light aircraft carrier, is continuing to take shape, and that shape is big.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Type 076 Is Shaping Up To Be A Monster Amphibious Warship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 29, 2024

Satellite imagery looks to show a recent Ukrainian strike targeted a prized Russian long-range radar system.
Russia

Prized Russian Long Range Radar System Attacked In Eastern Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 29, 2024

Ukrainian M1 Abrams Tanks Get Elaborate ‘Cope Cages,’ Soviet Explosive Reactive Armor
M1 Abrams

Ukrainian M1 Abrams Tanks Get Elaborate ‘Cope Cages,’ Soviet Explosive Reactive Armor

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 25, 2024

Satellite imagery confirms an attack on a Russian strategic early warning radar site, which could point to a new and worrisome dimension to the conflict around Ukraine.
Russia

Strike On Russian Strategic Early Warning Radar Site Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 24, 2024

Nearly 50 warplanes, along with ships and assets ashore, took part in the first day of what Chinese authorities have dubbed "punishment" drills encircling Taiwan following the inauguration of the island's latest President.
China

China’s “Punishment” Drills Around Taiwan: Day One

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 24, 2024

Everything We Learned About The Next Doomsday Planes For The Air Force
E-4

Everything We Learned About The Next Doomsday Planes For The Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 23, 2024

U-2's new radar is going to the Army's HADES surveillance jet.
Civil Aviation

Radar Developed For U-2 To Go On Army Intel-Gathering BizJets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 22, 2024

Aurora Flight Sciences has unveiled a new uncrewed fan-in-wing aircraft concept as part of ongoing work for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
News & Features

Revised Lift Fan Aircraft Concept Emerges From Special Ops X-Plane Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 21, 2024

The quiet closing out of the Air Force's SHiELD program and issues the Army has been having with is laser-armed DE M-SHORAD variants of the 8x8 Stryker reflect broader hurdles facing directed energy weapons of this type.
Lasers

U.S. Military Laser Weapon Programs Are Facing A Reality Check

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 21, 2024

Lockheed Martin, in cooperation with elements of the US Department of Defense, has successfully shot down a mock cruise missile with a PAC-3 MSE interceptor fired from a Mk 70 launcher derived from the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System.
U.S. Navy

Successful Patriot Interceptor Test From Naval Vertical Launcher Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 20, 2024

US Army Green Berets are getting specialized drone training ahead of a rotational deployment that could include temporary training stint in Ukraine.
Ukraine

Green Beret A-Teams Training On FPV Drones Being Driven By War In Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 17, 2024

The War Zone has now obtained additional high-resolution imagery better showing the extent of the destruction at Russia's Belbek Air Base from recent Ukrainian strikes.
Russia

MiG-31 Foxhounds Confirmed Destroyed In New Imagery Of Belbek Air Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 17, 2024

Satellite imagery of Russia's Belbek Air Base on the occupied Crimean Peninsula shows damage from Ukrainian strikes earlier this week.
Russia

Damage To Russia’s Belbek Air Base In Crimea Seen After Ukrainian Strikes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 16, 2024

A Navy Growler electronic attack jet now sports a Hind helicopter "kill mark"
Mi-24

Navy EA-18G Growler Sports Puzzling Mi-24 Hind Kill Mark Overseas

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 16, 2024

Heckler & Koch is looking at selling versions of its existing product line chambered in Soviet-designed cartridges, driven in part by the conflict in Ukraine.
Small Arms

Heckler & Koch Eyes Adapting Its Rifles To Fire Soviet-Designed Ammo

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 15, 2024

A Chinese stealth vessel at sea
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Mysterious Stealthy Warship Has Headed Out To Sea (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

Posted on May 15, 2024

An uncrewed version of the UH-72B Lakota helicopter is among the types now in the running to become of the Marine Corps' next logistics drones.
Unmanned

UH-72 Lakota Drone In The Running To Haul Cargo For The USMC

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

Members of Congress are pushing to block the US Air Force from retiring more than half of its F-15E Strike Eagles.
F-15

Move To Block F-15E Strike Eagle Cuts Being Made In Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has released a new rendering of a stealth tanker concept amid uncertainty about the U.S. Air Force's future tanker plans.
U.S. Air Force

New Skunk Works Stealthy Tanker Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 13, 2024

A B-2 Spirit taxis at Whiteman Air Force Base
B-2

Damaged B-2 Won’t Be Repaired, Fleet To Shrink To 19 Jets (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

The replacement for Barrett .50 caliber riles, a well as Mk 15s in the same caliber, in U.S. special operations forces inventories may be chambered in a new smaller cartridge.
Sniper Rifles

Barrett .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Replacement For SOCOM May Fire A Smaller Round

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

A fourth Combatant Craft Heavy stealthy special operations boat is now on order for the Navy and testing of a loitering munition launcher for the Combatant Craft Medium is underway.
News & Features

Navy’s Secretive Fleet Of Stealthy Special Operations Boats Set To Evolve

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

The famed Little Bird helicopters used by the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are seeing a 'resurrection' after the Army's cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but their future is still murky.
160th SOAR "Nightstalkers"

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 9, 2024

We now have our first look at a mini-cruise missile U.S. Special Operations Command is developing that could arm AC-130J gunships and other aircraft.
AC-130

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 9, 2024

Unmanned Long-Endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft crew chiefs, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prep an ULTRA aircraft for taxi across the flightline before an early morning takeoff at an undisclosed location, May 7, 2024. ULTRA is an unmanned aerial system capable of flight times up to 80 hours, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to combatant commanders, with a smaller operational footprint than other UAS in its class.
UAE

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2024

An annual special operations capability demonstration has included paragliding Marines on a mock drone hunt.
Special Operations Aviation

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.
MC-130

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

The Air Force new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker buster bomb could be a future addition to the B-2 bomber's arsenal.
B-2

B-2 Spirits Could Get New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 7, 2024

A US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter has suffered a mishap at an airport in Georgia today, May 6, 2024.
F-22

F-22 Raptor Ends Up On Its Side During Air Guard Exercise (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2024

We now have what looks to be the first look at the Army's uncrewed derivative of its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, and of it firing a practice round.
M142 HIMARS

Our First Look At The Army’s Unmanned HIMARS Launcher Truck Firing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2024

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine
U.S. Air Force

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 4, 2024

Satellites in space
Anti-Satellite Capabilities

Russia’s Anti-Satellite Nuke Could Leave Lower Orbit Unusable, Test Vehicle May Already Be Deployed

By Oliver Parken, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 3, 2024

We now have a look at the Marine Corps' new uncrewed Tomahawk launch vehicle actually firing a missile.
Land

Our First Look At Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Firing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 3, 2024

The Marine Corps is now flight testing a new secretive stand-off missile for its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.
AH-1

Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 3, 2024

Israeli forces are shooting down large numbers of their own drones in friendly fire incidents, underscoring challenges the U.S. military will also have to contend with as uncrewed aerial systems become an ever more ubiquitous component of operations.
Unmanned

Israel Is Shooting Down A Lot Of Its Own Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 2, 2024

The future of the Harvest Hawk armament kits for Marine Corps KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft are increasingly uncertain as focus shifts to planning for future high-end conflicts.
KC-130

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 1, 2024

The Army has unveiled a new Bradley Fighting Vehicle variant, the M2A4E1, equipped with an Iron First active protection system and other upgrades.
M2/3 Bradley

This Is The Army’s New M2A4E1 Bradley That Features Iron Fist Protection

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 1, 2024

US Marine Corps units are set to begin receiving new Iron Dome and counter-drone systems next year as part of a larger air and missile defense push.
Land

Marines To More Than Triple Size Of Air Defense Forces By 2029

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 30, 2024

SNC has won the competition to deliver new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) 'doomsday planes' to succeed the Air Force's E-4B Nightwatch jets.
E-4

Job Of Building The Air Force’s Next Doomsday Planes Falls To Sierra Nevada Corp. (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 28, 2024

General Atomics has now confirmed that its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone design for the US Air Force is based on its XQ-67A.
U.S. Air Force

XQ-67 Confirmed To Be A Prototype For General Atomics’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 26, 2024

A US Marine Corps CH-53K recently carried the stripped-down hulk of an F-35C fighter from one base to another and refueled in mid-air along the way.
KC-130

Check Out This Marine CH-53K Carrying An F-35C While Refueling From A KC-130T

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 26, 2024

A senior U.S. official has strongly implied that Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs sent to Ukraine have performed so poorly for a variety of reasons that they have been removed from service.
Land

Have Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs Been ‘Thrown Aside’ By Ukraine?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 25, 2024