More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 2)

An Australian E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control plane is headed for the Persian Gulf.
E-7

Massive Leap In Ability To Spot Iranian Drones Headed To Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

The U.S. military has been using M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to strike Iranian ships as part of Operation Epic Fury.
MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)

U.S. Striking Iranian Navy Ships With Ballistic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

U.S. and Israeli authorities have reportedly been considering a special operations ground raid to extract or otherwise neutralize Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, a risky plan that highlights challenges in attempting to achieve this objective from the air alone.
Iran Nuclear Crisis

Commando Raid To Secure Iran’s Enriched Uranium May Become A Very Risky Necessity

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 9, 2026

The irony that lower-end long-range kamikaze drones are perhaps the biggest threat to extremely advanced radars capable of providing telemetry for intercepting targets traveling at hypersonic speeds, sometimes in space, is glaring. The losses of the radars should finally serve as a stark wake-up call regarding the vulnerability of these critical but largely static assets.
Iran

Iranian Attacks On Prized Missile Defense Radars Are A Wake-Up Call

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 7, 2026

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

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

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 6, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied claims circulating online of the loss of another F-15E Strike Eagle, this time over enemy territory, as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
Iran

U.S. Denies F-15E Strike Eagle Went Down In Iran

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 5, 2026

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.
Iran

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

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

U.S. Navy Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate In Indian Ocean
Iran

U.S. Navy Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate In Indian Ocean

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

Iran appears to be increasingly focusing its retaliatory attacks against energy production infrastructure in Gulf Arab States.
Iran

Gulf Arab States Under Pressure As Iranian Attacks Grind On (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

U.S. Navy warships could soon be escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to President Donald Trump.
U.S. Navy

Trump’s Plan To Escort Ships Through Strait Of Hormuz Would Put U.S. Navy Warships In The Crosshairs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

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

War With Iran Now In Its Third Day

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

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

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

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 2, 2026

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

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

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

The U.S. military has employed new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 1, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump says that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in ongoing war.
Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed In Strikes, Trump Declares

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Iranian Navy frigate struck in port in konarak iran.
Iran

Iranian Frigate Seen Ablaze After Being Struck In Port

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

The U.S. Air Force now has at least 14 aerial refueling tankers forward-deployed in Israel ahead of potential strikes on Iran.
KC-135

Israel’s Fighter Force Stands To Be Far More Effective With Full USAF Tanker Support In A War With Iran

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Substantial demands placed on the relatively small B-52 create additional challenges when it comes to planning how to get those upgrades into service on operational aircraft.
B-52

Small B-52 Fleet Size Creates Challenges For Engine, Radar Upgrade Plans

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

A top U.S. Space Force general sees a clear need to be able to attack threats in space, not just to protect friendly satellites, but to challenge China's dramatically expanded surveillance capabilities in orbit.
Spy Satellites

China’s Growing Armada Of Spy Satellites Is Pushing Space Force To Go On The Offensive

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

Whether or not the U.S. Air Force's new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) will carry multiple warheads remains to be seen now that a key arms control treaty has expired, but the service is otherwise hopeful that the Sentinel program is now on the right track.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Number Of Nuclear Warheads New Sentinel ICBMs Will Carry Now An Open Question

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Newly teamed-up Northrop Grumman and Embraer are hoping that a boom refueling system-equipped version of the latter's KC-390 Millennium twin jet engine tanker-transport will catch the eye of the U.S. Air Force.
Tankers

KC-390 With A Refueling Boom Seems Like A Perfect Fit For The USAF’s Agile Tanker Needs, But Will It Bite?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

The official target size of the future B-21 Raider fleet remains 100 aircraft, despite an announcement that production of the stealth bomber is expanding, a U.S. Air Force official has confirmed to TWZ.
B-21

100 B-21 Stealth Bomber Fleet Size Target Unchanged For Now Despite Production Acceleration

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Lockheed Martin has shared new details about how it is using artificial intelligence (AI) technology to help F-35 pilots spot hostile air defenses faster and more accurately.
F-35

AI Is Now Helping The F-35 Spot Enemy Air Defenses

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has given us our first look at one of Anduril's YFQ-44 Fury ‘fighter drone’ prototypes carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
Loyal Wingman

Anduril’s Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft Is Now Flying With AIM-120 AMRAAM

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 24, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps has quietly axed the roll-on/roll-off Harvest Hawk armament kit for its KC-130J Hercules tanker/transport aircraft.
KC-130

KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

A group of Block 52 F-16CJ Vipers belonging to the South Carolina Air National Guard was recently spotted heading east across the Atlantic as part of a huge build-up of U.S. forces ahead of potential strikes on Iran.
F-16

F-16s Heading To Middle East Equipped With Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare Pods

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is aiming to acquire a new single "capability" to fill gaps left by the retirement of its AV-8 Harrier jump jets, AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, and legacy F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters.
AH-1

New Vision To Fill Gaps After AV-8B Harrier And AH-1Z Viper Retirements Laid Out By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

The U.S. Navy is exploring options for a new long-range anti-radiation missile designed to home in on radars to help neutralize enemy air defense networks.
AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)

Hunt For “AWACS Killer” Anti-Radiation Missile Kicked-Off By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 20, 2026

What looks to be a new 155mm naval gun has been installed on a Chinese weapons trials ship.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force's future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Security Forces Guarding ICBMs Need Fresh Tactics To Defend New Sentinel Silos

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe.
E-3

Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 18, 2026

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.
Drones

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

One of the U.S. Air Force's C-32A VIP aircraft has re-emerged wearing a new red, white, and blue paint scheme.
C-32

C-32A ‘Air Force Two’ Jet Emerges Wearing Trump’s New Air Force One Paint Job (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

Last year, the U.S. government was able to reverse engineer a critical subcomponent for the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb by leveraging technology from the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile.
U.S. Air Force

New GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Parts Reverse Engineered From ATACMS Ballistic Missile Tech

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 16, 2026

The F-35's 'computer brain,' including its cloud-based components, could be cracked to accept third-party software updates, just like 'jailbreaking' a cellphone, according to the Dutch Defense Minister.
F-35

F-35 Software Could Be Jailbreaked Like An iPhone: Dutch Defense Secretary

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 15, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is exploring new ways to protect aerial refueling tankers and other high-value support aircraft by physically defeating incoming threats rather than trying to jam them or otherwise throw them off course.
U.S. Air Force

Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets are in line to add air-to-air optimized versions of the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket to their arsenal.
F/A-18A-D

USMC’s Old F/A-18 Hornets To Get Drone Swatting Laser Guided Rockets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has now denied taking delivery of any F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from the latest Lot 17 production batch without radars installed.
F-35

Air Force Now Denies Receiving F-35s Without Radars

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

An Aerovironment Locust directed energy laser weapons took down a small Customs and Border Protection Drone.
Lasers

This Is The LOCUST Laser That Reportedly Prompted Closing El Paso’s Airspace

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Truxtun collided with the support ship USNS Supply while the two were conducting an at-sea replenishment yesterday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed.
Arleigh Burke Class

Destroyer USS Truxton Collides With Support Ship During At-Sea Resupply

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 12, 2026

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command says it is prepared to load more warheads onto Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restore nuclear weapons capability to the entire B-52 bomber fleet, if called upon to do so.
B-52

USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

The F-35 Joint Program Office has declined to confirm or deny a report that Joint Strike Fighters are being delivered to the U.S. military without radars due to chronic issues with a key upgrade program.
F-35

Are F-35s Being Delivered To The USAF Without Radars? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 11, 2026

Drones operated by Mexican drug cartels flying across the border prompted a major clampdown in air traffic over El Paso, Texas, earlier today, a Trump administration official has told TWZ.
U.S. Homeland

Claims Swirl Around Government’s Response To Cartel Drone Threat That Prompted El Paso Airspace Closure

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

The head of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has downplayed the current significance of Chinese efforts to develop new long-range strike aircraft with more global reach.
H-20

China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

L3Harris has highlighted the potential benefits of pairing its Red Wolf miniature cruise missile with the U.S. Air Force's OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Red Wolf Cruise Missile Eyed To Give OA-1K Skyraider II Standoff Strike Capability

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

Lockheed Martin has rolled out a new highly modular uncrewed undersea vehicle called Lamprey than can be configured to launch waves of aerial kamikaze drones.
Submarines

Undersea Drone That Attaches Itself To Other Vessels Unveiled By Lockheed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 9, 2026

The entire U.S. military is now pushing to acquire hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new drones, especially smaller types, in the coming years, spurred on by new direction from the Pentagon.
Drones

Hunt For Container Launchers Packed With Drones Kicked-Off By Pentagon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

China is testing nuclear warheads: US
Nuclear Policy

China Secretly Testing Nuclear Weapons And Covering Its Tracks, U.S. Alleges (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

A key nuclear arms control treaty between the United States and Russia has expired today, creating the potential for significant changes in U.S. force posture.
Nuclear Ballistic Missiles

What The Sunset Of Key U.S.-Russia Nuclear Deal Could Mean For America’s Stockpile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

The U.S. Navy has shown no signs of reversing course on major changes to its pipeline for new Naval Aviators in its latest draft requirements for a replacement for its T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
T-45

Navy’s T-45 Replacement Will Not Be Capable Of Making Carrier Landing Touch And Goes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 4, 2026

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has started making official trips using a new Gulfstream 700 (G700) VIP jet.
U.S. Homeland

Department Of Homeland Security’s New Gulfstream Jet Now In Service (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 4, 2026

Video has emerged that is said to show a Russian-made Mi-28NE Havoc attack helicopter flying over the Iranian capital Tehran.
Helicopters

Evidence Of Mi-28 Havoc Attack Helicopters Delivered To Iran Grows

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 4, 2026

A U.S. Navy F-35C Joint Strike Fighter flying from the supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln has shot down an Iranian drone said to have “aggressively approached” the ship.
F-35C

F-35 From USS Abraham Lincoln Shoots Down Iranian Drone (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 3, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps says it is planning to award a sole-source contract for a new AGM-114 Hellfire missile-armed mobile counter-drone system to defense contractor V2X.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Company Behind Drone-Killing Hellfire Missile-Armed Buggy Set To Get Marine Corps Contract

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

The U.S. Navy's Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Preble used its High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system to down four drones in a demonstration last year, Lockheed Martin has shared.
U.S. Navy

USS Preble Used HELIOS Laser To Zap Four Drones In Expanding Testing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

New Pentagon guidance for defending critical infrastructure against drone attacks calls for the increased use of netting, cables, and other kinds of passive physical defenses.
U.S. Homeland

Hardened Structures, Nets For Drone Defense Front And Center In New Pentagon Guidance

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 2, 2026

The initial production representative MQ-25 Stingray tanker drone for the U.S. Navy has completed its first low-speed taxi test.
MQ-25

MQ-25 Stingray Has Begun Taxi Tests (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

The Israeli Iron Fist active protection system has demonstrated its ability to down incoming drones.
Armored Vehicles

Iron Fist Active Protection System For Armor Can Shoot Down Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

Lockheed Martin has offered a very rare confirmation of the RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drone's operational exploits, in this case, in support of the recent mission to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
RQ-170

Lockheed Confirms RQ-170 Sentinel Spy Drones Took Part In Maduro Capture Mission

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 29, 2026

The future USS John F. Kennedy, the second Ford class aircraft carrier for the U.S. Navy, has begun its initial sea trials.
U.S. Navy

Future USS John F. Kennedy, Second Ford Class Carrier, Has Set Sail For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

F/A-XX is critical as the Navy's "ability to fly with impunity" using non-stealthy types like the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, even against smaller nation-state adversaries like Iran and non-state actors, is now "fleeting."
F/A-XX

F/A-XX Naval Fighter Needed For Adversaries Like Iran, Not Just China and Russia: Navy Boss

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

Boeing's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet production line is one major step closer to shuttering with the completion of the last batch of fuselage sections and vertical tails for those jets by Northrop Grumman.
EA-18G

Last New F/A-18 Aft Fuselages Built As Super Hornet Production End Approaches

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

One of NASA's high-flying WB-57F research aircraft went skidding down the runway on its belly at Ellington Airport in Houston, Texas, today.
NASA

NASA WB-57F Canberra Jet Makes Fiery Belly-Landing In Houston (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 27, 2026

The U.S. Air Force general who oversees America's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force sees a long future ahead for the new LGM-35A Sentinel after it eventually enters service, but has also acknowledged challenges.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Troubled Sentinel ICBM Program Still Being Restructured Nearly Two Years After Cost Breach

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 27, 2026