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More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 2)

An agreement to ramp up production of the B-21 Raider was indeed structured to open the door to orders for more of the bombers, according to prime contractor Northrop Grumman.
B-21

Pathway To Larger B-21 Raider Fleet Was Baked Into Production Ramp-Up Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 24, 2026

The White House has formally registered its opposition to a move by Congress to block work on the nuclear-powered Trump class battleship unless the U.S. Navy provides assurances that key weapon systems are “sufficiently mature.”
U.S. Navy

Congress’ Proposed Trump Class Battleship Program Guardrails Met With White House Pushback

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 23, 2026

Raytheon has called attention to a new domestic order for PAC-2-series interceptors for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system. This is the first time the U.S. military has not bought any new PAC-2s in more than 30 years, according to the company.
MIM-104 Patriot

U.S. Army Is Buying Older PAC-2 Patriot Missiles For The First Time In Decades

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 23, 2026

Operational and test units are laying the groundwork for F-15EXs to also take on air-to-ground missions.
F-15

Air-To-Ground Capabilities Are Already Creeping Into The F-15EX’s Mission Set

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 22, 2026

The U.S. Navy is pumping $70 million into the development of a surface-launched version of CoAspire's Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile-Extended Range (RAACM-ER) cruise missile.
Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Navy Picks RAACM-ER Low-Cost Cruise Missile For Program To Help Arm Allies (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 22, 2026

The scheduled launch of the first MRV spacecraft today is a very important milestone all around, and one that might open the door to a very different kind of 'armed' space-based capability.
Anti-Satellite Capabilities

Could This New Northrop Spacecraft Use Its Robotic Arms To Attack Enemy Satellites?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 21, 2026

The U.S. Air Force's new VC-25B Bridge aircraft will receive additional upgrades that will result in its capabilities being "maxed out," according to President Donald Trump.
POTUS

New VC-25B Air Force One Will Be Pulled From Service To Be “Maxed Out” With Upgrades

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 20, 2026

Anduril has revealed a new hybrid-electric-powered tiltrotor combat drone called Thunder, which it has developed in partnership with Archer Aviation.
Drones

Anduril Brings The Thunder With Autonomous Tiltrotor Attack Drone Concept

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 20, 2026

The U.S. Navy expects the stealth destroyer USS Zumwalt, with its new launchers for Intermediate-Range Conventional Prompt Strike (IRCPS) hypersonic missiles, to be formally returned to service by September.
U.S. Navy

USS Zumwalt Set To Return To Fleet After Long Anticipated Hypersonic Missile Upgrade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 17, 2026

A very large and interesting-looking vessel is taking shape at a shipyard in southeastern China. What can be seen of it so far points strongly to it being the largest naval resupply ship anywhere in the world.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China Is Building A Monster Supply Ship For Its Carrier Groups

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 17, 2026

The U.S. Navy is envisioning a future force of carrier-based uncrewed aircraft capable of attacking enemy forces at least 1,000 nautical miles away from the ship.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Navy Wants 1,000 Mile Combat Radius For Carrier Based Tactical Drone Fleets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 16, 2026

Anduril's YFQ-44A Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone has live-fired a munition for the first time in a test conducted from Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

YFQ-44A Fury ‘Fighter Drone’ Has Fired Its First AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 15, 2026

The Pentagon has reached new framework agreements with three defense contractors as part of a strategy to acquire thousands of lower-cost air-launched cruise missiles in the coming years.
U.S. Air Force

USAF Plans To Buy 28,000 Low-Cost Cruise Missiles In Five Years Advance With New Deals

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 15, 2026

Trump’s Threat To Strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain Bunker’s “Front Door” Underscores Targeting Challenges
Iran

Trump’s Threat To Strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain Bunker’s “Front Door” Underscores Targeting Challenges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 14, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron says Ukraine is in line to get a license to produce Aster 30 missiles domestically.
Land-Based Ballistic Missile Defense

Ukraine Getting License To Build Aster 30 Anti-Missile Interceptors

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 13, 2026

The U.S. Army has announced that its future fleet of ME-11B High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft will be based at Fort Hood in Texas.
Q-1

New Jets, Drones Will Transform Fort Hood Into Army’s Aerial Intel Hub

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 13, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has officially decided that the B-21 Raider will be flown by a crew consisting of two pilots, just like the B-2 is today.
B-21

USAF Decides Against Flying B-21 Raiders With Just One Pilot

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 10, 2026

The U.S. Navy is evaluating new ways to ensure it can still conduct carrier landing touch-and-go training, at least in the virtual realm, as it moves ahead with plans to replace its T-45 Goshawk fleet.
U.S. Navy

Carrier Qualifications Still Happening For A Few Navy Fighter Pilots In Training

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 10, 2026

Why Does The F-47’s Design Look So Different Than What Many Expected?
F-47

Why Does The F-47’s Design Look So Different Than What Many Expected?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 9, 2026

President Donald Trump has left Turkey on an older VC-25A Air Force One jet. The U.S. Air Force’s new VC-25B Bridge aircraft had brought Trump to that country yesterday for the NATO Summit, but left without him on board earlier today.
Air Force One

Trump Unexpectedly Swaps New Air Force One Jet For Old In Sudden Trip To British Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 8, 2026

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) says low availability of unnamed "legacy" aircraft has created hurdles for flight testing of the new AGM-181A Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear-armed cruise missile. The B-52 is the only platform known to be involved in this effort.
B-52

Poor B-52 Readiness Creating Testing Challenges For New AGM-181A Nuclear Cruise Missile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 7, 2026

Satellite imagery shows China has built what looks to be a new pattern of hardened structures with retractable roofs at a key missile test and training base in Inner Mongolia.
China

Mysterious Rectangle ‘Silos’ Spotted At Sprawling Chinese Missile Test Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 7, 2026

North Korea's newest warship, the Kang Kon, has an unexpected feature: the ability to deliver a broadside of machine gun fire.
Frigates

North Korea’s Frigate Bristles With A Comical Number Of Machine Guns

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 6, 2026

China has fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) – either a JL-2 or a JL-3 – out into the Western Pacific for the first time in years, if not decades.
Boomers (SSBNs)

China’s Submarine-Launched Ballistic Missile Test In The Pacific Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 6, 2026

NASA-affiliated aircraft, including F-5 Tiger IIs jets, will kick off roughly seven hours of flyovers above Washington, D.C., to mark the Fourth of July.
NASA

This Is The Massive Aerial Armada That Is About To Fly Over The Capital

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 3, 2026

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) says concerns it raised last year about the U.S. Navy's E-130J Phoenix II program "have morphed into realities."
Nuclear Command And Control

Navy’s New ‘Doomsday Plane’ Delayed As Watchdog Says Developmental Concerns Are Now Realities

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 2, 2026

The U.S. Navy has confirmed that it is at least exploring an alternative to the still-in-development AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile-Extended Range (AARGM-ER).
AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)

Navy Already Looking For Alternatives To Its Brand New AARGM-ER Radar Busting Missile (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 2, 2026

President Donald Trump is flying on the U.S. Air Force's new VC-25B Bridge jet for the first time.
Air Force One

VC-25B Bridge Aircraft Makes First Flight As Air Force One With Trump Aboard

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 1, 2026

We now have our first look at a Chinese modular, road-mobile, electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) catapult actually launching a drone.
China

China’s Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Aircraft Catapult Seen In Action For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 30, 2026

Integration of the AGM-158C offers a huge boost in capability for the B-2, creating a penetrating fleet-killing platform that could be especially valuable in a future high-end fight in the Pacific against China.
B-2

Air Force Discloses B-2 Can Launch Stealth Anti-Ship Missiles In Surprise Announcement

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 30, 2026

The images of T-1 Nimitz still underscore just how big even the demonstrator design is compared to other aircraft in the Navy's carrier air wings.
MQ-25

MQ-25 Stingray Demonstrator Goes Aboard USS Nimitz For 250th U.S. Anniversary Celebrations

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 29, 2026

The U.S. military has now confirmed the acceptance of at least six F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the U.S. Marine Corps without radars.
F-35

It’s Official: F-35s Are Now Being Delivered Without Radars (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 26, 2026

The Pentagon and the U.S. Air Force have fully abandoned plans to cancel the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft program. However, there is now a debate about how to fund the effort, at least for the coming year.
E-7

In An Ironic Turn Of Events, White House Wants To Raid Navy E-2 Account To Pay For USAF E-7s

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

USAF Wants Air-To-Air Missile With A Whopping 1,000-Mile Range
U.S. Air Force

USAF Wants Air-To-Air Missile With A Whopping 1,000-Mile Range

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 25, 2026

The U.S. Navy continues to make use of MQ-1 Predators as test and training assets, eight years after the U.S. Air Force retired the iconic drones.
Q-1

Pocket Fleet Of Unseen MQ-1 Predators Still Flying In Specialized Role

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 24, 2026

Aurora Flight Sciences is now putting the wings on the X-65 experimental drone, which is designed to maneuver with bursts of air rather than traditional control surfaces.
Unmanned

DARPA X-Plane Designed To Maneuver With Just Bursts Of Air Finally Gets Its Wings

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 23, 2026

The very first P-8A Poseidon aircraft is now assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 30 (VX-30), the “Bloodhounds."
P-8

First P-8 Poseidon Ever Built Starts New Career Supporting Pacific Missile Tests

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 22, 2026

L3Harris wants to demonstrate the ability of the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft to team up with uncrewed platforms.
Loyal Wingman

RC-135 Rivet Joints Could Control Drones To Drastically Expand Collection Capabilities

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

There are growing signs that President Donald Trump's next trip on an Air Force One jet will be aboard the so-called VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft converted from an ex-Qatari VVIP Boeing 747-8i, not a VC-25A.
Air Force One

No, A VC-25A Air Force One Jet Isn’t Being Retired Just Yet

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has awarded contracts for the production of General Atomics YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drones., setting it up for a split fleet of operational CCAs.
Collaborative Combat Aircraft

USAF Orders Both General Atomics’ FQ-42 And Anduril’s FQ-44 Into Production

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

The Senate Armed Services Committee is "concerned" about the U.S. Air Force's current plan to retire its E–11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft in Fiscal Year 2028.
E-11

Senators Want Answers On USAF Plans To Cut E-11 BACN Combat Communications Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie
B-52

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base In California (Updated)
B-52

B-52 Bomber Crashes At Edwards Air Force Base In California (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 15, 2026

The U.S. military wants to see if it can enhance the capabilities of the 2,000-pound-class Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision-guided bomb as a bunker-busting munition.
Bunker Busters

Bunker Busters With Winged JDAM-ER Kits Could Allow For Near Horizontal Strikes On Fortified Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 15, 2026

Boeing has decided not to pursue a bid for the U.S. Navy's Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition.
T-45

Boeing Drops Out Of Navy’s T-45 Jet Trainer Replacement Competition

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

Members of Congress are again moving to block the U.S. Air Force from retiring all of its U-2S Dragon Lady spy planes. This time, legislators also want to compel the service to "fully restore" a quartet of the iconic aircraft through depot maintenance.
U-2

Four U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would Save The Dragon Lady Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

Boeing’s 757 Flying Test Bed was recently spotted carrying a stealthy underwing infrared sensor pod under its fuselage.
F-22

F-22’s ‘Catfish’ 757 Testbed Spotted Carrying Raptor’s New Infrared Sensor Pod

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions
C-17

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

There's an unusual twist here with the specific plane that NASA is now eyeing: it currently belongs to the U.S. Air Force and is part of a "classified military program." There is a strong possibility that the aircraft in question is a mysterious 737 that the service acquired in 2020, and that has been the subject of much speculation as to its purpose ever since.
U.S. Air Force

Is This Secretive Air Force 737 About To Become NASA’s Next ‘Vomit Comet’? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed a Saronic Corsair was the uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that rescued the crew of a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache out of the Gulf of Oman overnight.
U.S. Navy

This Is The Corsair Drone Boat That Plucked The Downed Apache Crew Out Of The Gulf Of Oman

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

AH-64 went down into the gulf of Oman with drone boat recovering the crew.
Iran

AH-64 Apache Crew Rescued By Drone Boat After Going Down Near Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the so-called VC-25B Bridge aircraft is now wearing its new red, white, and blue livery and undergoing final preparations for its official delivery.
Air Force One

VC-25B Air Force One “Bridge” Aircraft Now Wears Trump’s Preferred Red, White, and Blue Paint Job

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker appeared in the United Kingdom this weekend with a new large antenna on top of the rear of the fuselage.
KC-135

KC-135 Tanker Spotted With New Satellite Communications Antenna

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 8, 2026

A thermal image purportedly showing a previously unseen advanced aircraft design shows some interesting similarities to a "Christmas Tree" fighter design concept crafted decades ago by Darold Cummings, one of the top minds behind Northrop's YF-23 Black Widow.
F-47

Area 51 Mystery Aircraft Prompts Interest In “Christmas Tree” Stealth Fighter Concept

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 5, 2026

Faced with mounting losses fighting Iran, the Air Force is bying unused Reapers from General Atomics.
Q-9

USAF Scrambling To Buy What Few MQ-9 Reapers It Can Find After Epic Fury Losses

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 5, 2026

Modularity is a key area of interest as the U.S. Air Force formulates its latest set of requirements for a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper, according to Gen. John Lamontagne, the service's Vice Chief of Staff.
Q-9

USAF Wants “MQ-9 Next” Reaper Replacement To Be Modular, Cheap

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 4, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is aiming to put in an order for new anti-drone 5.56x45mm ammunition for its M4 carbines and M27 rifles by the end of the year.
M16/AR15/M4 Pattern

Anti-Drone 5.56mm Rifle Rounds That Break Into Multiple Projectiles Sought By Marines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 4, 2026

A new type of submarine that appears to lack a traditional sail has emerged in China. The same shipyard launched a smaller 'sailless' submarine — a technology demonstrator — eight years ago.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

New Large Chinese Submarine With Very Unique Feature Just Caught On Satellite Imagery

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 3, 2026

Iran launched new attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain.
Iran

Iran Launches New Attacks On Kuwait, Bahrain (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 3, 2026

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has confirmed that it has no plans for a direct replacement for the U-28A Draco, which is primarily used for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Any Plans For Direct U-28 Draco Special Ops Surveillance Plane Replacement Abandoned

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is already moving to lay the groundwork for the fielding of the replacement for its GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb.
U.S. Air Force

Next Generation Penetrator Bomb Slated To Replace MOP Has Been Designated GBU-76

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 2, 2026

The primary mission of the MQ-1 Predator is interdiction and conducting armed reconnaissance against critical, perishable targets. When the MQ-1 is not actively pursuing its primary mission, it provides reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition in support of the Joint Forces commander.
Q-1

Is The U.S. Flying MQ-1 Predator Drones Again?

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 1, 2026

The U.S. Space Force has awarded SpaceX a $4.16B deal to help accelerate work on what could be a game-changing space-based air moving-target indicator (AMTI) sensor network.
Orbital Systems

Pentagon’s Plans To Track Aircraft From Orbit Accelerated With New $4B SpaceX Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 29, 2026

Members of Congress are moving to push the U.S. Navy to develop a containerized version of its High-Energy Laser with Integrated Optical Dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system.
Lasers

Containerized Variant Of Navy’s Drone-Swatting HELIOS Laser Being Pushed By Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 29, 2026