More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 14)

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

The US Air Force has chosen Anduril and General Atomics to move ahead in Increment 1 of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program.
U.S. Air Force

General Atomics, Anduril Move Ahead In Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Program (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 24, 2024

Additional details about a breakthrough autonomous dogfight in September 2023 underscore significant challenges still to be addressed.
U.S. Air Force

Next Big Challenge For AI Dogfighting Is Keeping Track Of Enemies Up Close

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 24, 2024

General Atomics' Mojave short takeoff and landing drone armed with a pair of Minigun pods recently conducted a first-of-its-kind live-fire demonstration.
Aircraft gun systems

Minigun-Armed Mojave Drone Now Blasting Targets At 6,000 Rounds Per Minute

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 23, 2024

A picture has emerged purportedly showing a Chinese H-6 bomber carrying a large mystery payload underneath its fuselage.
H-6 Bomber

Black Mystery Craft Spotted Slung Under Chinese H-6 Bomber

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 23, 2024

Satellite imagery does now show any apparent damage to Russia's unique submarine rescue and deep-sea salvage ship Kommuna, one of the oldest military vessels in service in anywhere in the world.
Russia

Russia’s Historic Submarine Rescue Ship Looks Undamaged After Claimed Strike

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 22, 2024

A Chinese high-flying, long-range WZ-7 drone has been spotted near the Philippines for what appears to be the first time.
Unmanned

China’s High-Altitude WZ-7 Drone Has Appeared Near The Philippines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 18, 2024

B-21 raider production still capped at 100 units as USAF looks at what could come next.
B-21

Air Force Looking At Options Beyond The B-21 Raider Is Absolutely Necessary

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 18, 2024

The US Air Force's unique X-62A test jet participating in a breakthrough dogfight last year while a fully autonomous mode against a crewed F-16.
F-16

AI Is Now Dogfighting With Fighter Pilots In The Air

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 17, 2024

A new and larger Russian 'turtle tank' has emerged and is also equipped with a counter-drone electronic warfare jammer.
Russian Army

New Russian ‘Turtle Tank’ Emerges On The Battlefield, Features Electronic Warfare System

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 16, 2024

Elements of a US Army Typhon missile system have arrived in the Philippines for an exercise, which sends signals throughout the region, especially toward China, and is a major milestone for the service.
U.S. Army

Army Deploys Typhon Missile System To China’s Backyard For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 15, 2024

The US Navy has put in a rush order for five new Electronic Advanced Ground Launcher System Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (EAGLS C-UAS) to help defend U.S. forces in the Middle East.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Laser Rocket Anti-Drone Systems Being Rushed To U.S. Forces In The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 15, 2024

A variety of US and other foreign military assets, including US Navy Arleigh Burke class destroyers helped shoot down Iranian missiles and drones heading for targets in Israel.
U.S. Navy

Signs Point To Combat Debut Of Navy’s SM-3 Interceptor Against Iranian Ballistic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 14, 2024

Hezbollah has launched a new barrage of rockets and drones against targets in Israel as fears grow that a larger coordinated strike by Iran and/or proxies may be imminent.
Iran

Is Hezbollah’s Barrage On Israel Prelude To Much Larger Iranian Attack? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 12, 2024

Recently released pictures of a Bahraini Block 70 F-16D Viper undergoing testing in the United States show what one of these jets might look like one an actual combat mission.
F-16

Our First Look At An Armed-Up Block 70 F-16 Viper

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 12, 2024

The Navy is pushing ahead with work on a scalable electronic attack system for ships that cannot be fitted with the powerful, but massive AN/SLQ-32(V)7 electronic warfare suite.
Electronic Warfare/Countermeasures

Rush Is On To Give Smaller And Older Navy Ships Advanced Electronic Attack Capability

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 11, 2024

Navy's CCA vision
Loyal Wingman

Navy’s Vision For Disposable Carrier-Based Loyal Wingman Drones Comes Into Focus

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 10, 2024

The US Navy has cleared its EA-18G Growlers to carry AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, and increased how many its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet can carry, decisions driven by Houthi drone things in and around the Red Sea.
EA-18G

Navy EA-18G Growlers Get AIM-9X, Super Hornets Can Now Carry More Sidewinders

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 9, 2024

The US Navy is looking to add RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles to the arsenals of most of its Arleigh Burke class destroyers, and is pushing ahead with other more substantial upgrades for those ships, too.
U.S. Navy

Rolling Airframe Missiles To Arm Arleigh Burke Destroyer Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 9, 2024

The first of 22 former Swiss F-5E/F Tiger II jets is now in the United States for the final phase of its conversion into an aggressor for the Navy and Marine Corps.
KC-130

Marine KC-130 Delivers First Of New Batch Of Ex-Swiss F-5s Destined To Be Aggressors

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 5, 2024

The Navy and Lockheed Martin recently conducted a "historic" test in which four AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles were in flight simultaneously.
F/A-18E/F

Four Stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles Flew Together In “Historic” Test

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 4, 2024

Drone maker Kratos has disclosed the existence of work on an MQ-58B variant of its Valkyrie drone with electronic attack capabilities for the US Marine Corps.
XQ-58

MQ-58B Electronic Attack-Enabled Version Of Valkyrie Drone For USMC Revealed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 3, 2024

North Korea has tested what it claims is a new intermediate-range hypersonic missile tipped with a unpowered boost-glide vehicle.
Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons

North Korea’s Latest Hypersonic Missile System Is One Sinister-Looking Weapon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 3, 2024

The Danish Armed Forces say one of the country's frigates shot down four Houthi drones during a recent Red Sea deployment. However, other reports say that the ship also suffered serious problems while in the region.
Frigates

Danish Frigate Suffered Radar, Combat System, Gun Problems During Red Sea Ops: Reports

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 3, 2024

Spain selling off its M60s
Europe

Spain Is Selling Off Its M60 Tanks To The Highest Bidder

By Oliver Parken, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 2, 2024

The new radar for Japan's future cruiser-sized Aegis System Equipped Vessels has successfully tracked targets in space for the first time.
Japan Maritime Self Defense Force

Radar For Japan’s New Missile Defense Ships Passes Critical Space Object Tracking Test

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 2, 2024

The Navy has established a new forward-deployed MQ-4C detachment at NAS Sigonella in Italy.
MQ-4C

MQ-4C Triton Has Arrived In Europe, Could Impact Black Sea, Red Sea Operations

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 1, 2024

Navy’s Rush To Test Microwave Weapons Tied To Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Fears
U.S. Navy

Navy’s Rush To Test Microwave Weapons Tied To Anti-Ship Ballistic Missile Fears

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 29, 2024

Four US Army AH-64 Apaches have crashed in the past two months, with the most recent pair of incidents coming within days of each just this week.
AH-64

Four Army AH-64 Apaches Have Now Crashed In Just Two Months

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 29, 2024

The USAF wants $1.5B in spare parts it doesn't have in its budget.
KC-135

Hundreds Of Air Force Aircraft Risk Grounding Without Extra $1.5B Spare Parts Infusion

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 28, 2024

Boeing has announced plans to establish a new production facility for the MQ-28 Ghost Bat drone in Australia.
MQ-28

Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat Getting Facility To Ramp-Up Production In Australia

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 28, 2024

Four U.S. sealift ships on call to support military operations are now stuck in Baltimore following the collapse of a bridge after it was struck by a container ship.
Military Sealift Command Vessels

Two Of The Fastest U.S. Sealift Ships Trapped By Baltimore Bridge Collapse

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 27, 2024

A sortie today by a Chinese WZ-7 could be more significant beyond just being the apparent first time one of these drones has flown over the Sea of Japan.
Unmanned

China’s WZ-7 High-Altitude Drone Makes First Known Flight Over Sea Of Japan

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 27, 2024

The US Navy says that if it its budget for the Fiscal Year 2025 were to increase, one of the things it would want to spend that extra money on is accelerating development of an advanced decoy drone.
U.S. Homeland

More Money For Flying Drone That Makes Missiles Think It’s A Warship On Navy Wishlist

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 26, 2024

The UK Ministry of Defense has provided details about how it plans to test its new A21 nuclear warhead without actually detonating one.
UGM-133 Trident II (D5)

How The U.K. Will Test Its New Nuclear Warhead Without Setting One Off

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 25, 2024

F-22 with stealthy wing tanks and pods.
F-22

F-22 Spotted With New Stealth Wing Tanks, Infrared Sensor Pods

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 22, 2024

The F-35 Joint Program Office says the internal gun on the A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is now effective after years of accuracy and other problems.
F-35A

F-35A’s Beleaguered 25mm Cannon Is Finally “Effective”

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 22, 2024

Drone maker Kratos has disclosed new details about its growing XQ-58 family, which now includes at least five distinct variants.
OBSS

XQ-58 Valkyrie Drone Family Has Grown To Five Variants

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 21, 2024

What looks to be a counter-drone armor screen has appeared on the conning tower of the Russian nuclear ballistic missile submarine Tula.
Russian Navy

Russian Submarines Now Appear To Be Getting Anti-Drone “Cope Cages”

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 21, 2024

SpaceX's contract for a new satellite constellation for the DOD could be a game changer.
Spy Satellites

If SpaceX’s Secret Constellation Is What We Think It Is, It’s Game Changing (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 20, 2024