More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 3)

The U.S. military was totally unaware of the unprecedented Israeli airstrike on a Hamas compound in Doha, Qatar, earlier this month, one of its senior leaders has confirmed. In the aftermath of the raid, there had been questions as to why the various highly advanced air defense systems and sensors, both American and Qatari, that would normally provide prior alert to an impending attack on Qatar had apparently not functioned as expected. Now we have a better understanding of what happened, from a U.S. perspective.
Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles

New Info On How U.S. Military Was Caught Off Guard By Israeli Strike On Qatar

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

Renderings from General Atomics offer new looks at how its air-launched LongShot drone might be employed from F-15 fighters, as well as B-52 bombers and C-17 cargo aircraft.
C-17

F-15 Depicted Launching LongShot Air-To-Air Missile Carrier Drone In New Renderings

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

A long-range kamikaze drone that U.S. firm Kratos is working on together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is set to make its maiden flight early next year.
Unmanned

Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone Kratos Is Developing With Taiwan To Fly Next Year

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 24, 2025

The crew of a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle attempted to take down a long-range kamikaze drone with a Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) precision-guided bomb after running out of missiles in the frantic midst of an all-out Iranian barrage aimed at Israel.
F-15

F-15Es Tried To Shoot Down Iranian Kamikaze Drones With Laser Guided Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 24, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is currently looking toward a single next-generation airlifter to supplant both the C-17A Globemaster III and the C-5M Galaxy, starting in the mid-2040s.
C-130

C-17 and C-5 Cargo Planes Will Be Replaced With One Aircraft: USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 23, 2025

When Anduril's YFQ-44A drone flies for the first time, it will do so in a semi-autonomous fashion as part of a broader plan to get the design to an actual operational state as fast as possible.
U.S. Air Force

Anduril’s Fury Will Take Off For The First Time At The Touch Of A Button

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 22, 2025

Boeing has started production of the first F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter for the U.S. Air Force, ahead of an expected first flight in 2028.
F-47

First F-47 6th Generation Fighter Now Being Built

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 22, 2025

Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Air Combat Drone That Puts A Premium On Stealth
Stealth

Skunk Works Unveils Vectis Air Combat Drone That Puts A Premium On Stealth

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 21, 2025

What looks to be a previously unseen low-observable flying-wing drone variant with a ‘cranked kite’ planform has emerged in a satellite image from China’s secretive test base near Malan in the country's far western Xinjiang province.
Unmanned

Large Stealth Flying Wing Appears At Chinese Test Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 18, 2025

Plane spotters in Fort Worth, Texas, caught a glimpse of something rare yesterday, one of the U.S. Air Force's four E-4B Nightwatch jets flying completely stripped of paint and with much of its skin covered in a green zinc chromate coating.
E-4

Rare ‘Naked’ E-4B ‘Doomsday Plane’ Spotted Flying In Texas

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 18, 2025

Taiwan has officially rolled out a new anti-ballistic missile system called Chiang Kung, or Strong Bow, which it says is now in production.
Land-Based Ballistic Missile Defense

Taiwan Just Unveiled Its Own High-Altitude Anti-Ballistic Missile System

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 17, 2025

U.S. military aircraft employed GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) and laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets as part of the operation to strike Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year.
F-22

Pentagon Moves To Replace Weapons It Used In Operation Midnight Hammer

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 17, 2025

The Chinese aviation industry has been developing an expanding array of flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, including as uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and high-altitude intelligence-gathering platforms, often in cooperation with state-run research institutions.
Unmanned

New Chinese Flying Wing Drone Design Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

The last MC-12W Liberty turboprop surveillance aircraft under U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command's (AFSOC) umbrella have been retired.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Last Special Operations MC-12W Surveillance Planes Retired

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

We now have our first look at the U.S. Air Force's two flying B-21 Raider stealth bombers together at Edwards Air Force Base.
B-21

Two B-21 Raider Stealth Bombers Photographed Together For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Has Flown (Updated)
Air

Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Has Flown (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 11, 2025

Japan's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has released new pictures from testing of a prototype electromagnetic railgun aboard the testbed warship JS Asuka earlier this year.
Naval Gun Systems

Japanese Warship Fires Railgun At Target Vessel For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 11, 2025

We now have our first full look at a modified 2,000-pound-class GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, optimized for use as an anti-ship munition as part of the U.S. Air Force's Quicksink program.
U.S. Air Force

USAF’s Quicksink Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Seen In Detail Like Never Before

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

A member of Congress has shared a video claiming to show an attempt by U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones to intercept an unidentified object in the air off the coast of Yemen last year.
Yemen

Revelation That MQ-9 Reapers Are Now Engaging Aerial Targets Comes From UAP Hearing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

Israel has carried out precision strikes targeting the top leadership of the terrorist group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha.
Israel

Israel Executes Unprecedented Strike On Hamas Leadership In Qatar (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 9, 2025

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing
MQ-28

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 8, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract for the development and production of a new Next Generation Penetrator (NGP) bunker buster bomb.
Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP)

GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator’s Replacement Prototypes Just Ordered By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 8, 2025

The U.S. Navy has taken an important step forward toward acquiring new carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type drones with contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Carriers

Navy Carrier-Based ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Development Suddenly Pushes Forward (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

The Pentagon says two Venezuelan jets flew close to the USS Jason Dunham.
South America

Venezuelan F-16s Approach U.S. Navy Warship (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

China officially unveiled a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) called the JL-1 at its sprawling military parade in Beijing yesterday.
H-6 Bomber

China’s JL-1 Air Launched Ballistic Missile’s Official Debut Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

We now have our first look at a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike actually firing air-to-air optimized variants of the laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket.
F-15

F-15E Strike Eagle Fires Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets In New Images

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

A very large directed energy laser weapon was among the new capabilities officially rolled out for the first time at a massive military parade in China.
Lasers

China’s Imposing LY-1 High-Power Laser Weapon Unveiled At Huge Military Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover
ICBMs

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

Afghan-Specific Version Of M1117 Armored Car Looks Bound For Second Life In Ukraine
Air

Afghan-Specific Version Of M1117 Armored Car Looks Bound For Second Life In Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 2, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's top officer in the Pacific says a key takeaway from China's huge military parade tomorrow will be that "we are not deterred."
U.S. Air Force

Top USAF General In Pacific “Not Deterred” By Drones, Missiles To Be Showcased At Huge Chinese Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 2, 2025

Kratos has confirmed it is working together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on a derivative of its jet-powered MQM-178 Firejet target drone called the Chien Feng IV.
Unmanned

Taiwan Teams Up With Kratos On Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 29, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is hoping to finally kick off flight testing of the new AN/APQ-188 radar for the B-52 shortly.
B-52

B-52 Radar Upgrade Flight Testing Expected To Finally Begin Soon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

Individuals training to become U.S. Navy tactical jet pilots are no longer required to take off and land from aircraft carriers before being winged as Naval Aviators.
T-45

Carrier Qualifications Axed From Graduation Requirements For New Navy Fighter Pilots (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Successor Sought By Navy
U.S. Navy

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Successor Sought By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time
Loyal Wingman

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

USAF Hopeful Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Will Fly Before Year End
B-21

USAF Hopeful Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Will Fly Before Year End

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) recently awarded a contract for new rifles chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round to Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT).
Assault Rifles

New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

Ice buildup in the landing gear of a U.S. Air Force F-35A was the root cause of a crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in January, according to a recently released report on the mishap.
F-35A

Dramatic F-35 Crash At Alaskan Air Base Caused By Iced-Up Landing Gear

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

A short-range air defense (SHORAD) vehicle that can be loaded with up to 96 small interceptors at a time has been spotted amid ongoing preparations for a huge Chinese military parade in the country's capital, Beijing, next week.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Check Out China’s Short-Range Air Defense Vehicle Capable Of Packing A Whopping 96 Mini Interceptors

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commonly referred to as the service's "Air Boss," is still "eagerly awaiting" a new F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter despite the uncertainty now swirling around that program.
F/A-XX

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Selection Could Still Happen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

Naval aviators need to be able to trust any future drone wingmen as much as their human counterparts, a U.S. Navy strike fighter tactics instructor has told TWZ.
Loyal Wingman

Navy Fighter Pilots Need To Gain Trust In Pilotless Wingmen By Actually Flying With Them

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has shared new insights with TWZ into its proposal to replace the U.S. Navy’s T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
T-45

Everything We Just Learned About SNC’s Freedom Jet Trainer Aiming To Replace Navy T-45s

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The U.S. Navy says the impacts from a fire that burned for approximately 12 hours aboard the USS New Orleans earlier this week are limited to forward areas of the ship, though a full assessment of the damage is still ongoing.
U.S. Navy

New Details On Status Of USS New Orleans After Fire

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has rolled out a new pitch for a successor to the Navy's T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
T-45

SNC’s Freedom Jet Enters Race To Replace Navy’s T-45 Goshawk Trainer

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2025

Ukraine is hoping to see production of its Flamingo ground-launched long-range cruise missile, which just broke cover this past weekend, ramp up significantly by the end of the year.
Ukraine

Ukraine Aims To Build Thousands Of Flamingo Long-Range Cruise Missiles A Year

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2025

The Pentagon has created a new task force to deal with the threat from small drones.
Unmanned

Fiber Optic FPV Drones Featured In Navy Electronic Warfare Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 20, 2025

A bevy of previously unseen missiles has been capturing particular attention as China prepares for a huge military parade on September 3, 2025.
Land-Based Ballistic Missile Defense

All The New Chinese Missiles Spotted During Its Massive Military Parade Rehearsal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 19, 2025

The U.S. Army has opened the door to potentially acquiring new types of 70mm rockets that are similar, but different from the Hydra-70 family it employs today.
Laser Guided Rockets

Army Open To 70mm Rocket Alternatives To Shore-Up Stockpile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 19, 2025

Pickle Fork-Like Stealthy Drone With Buddy Refueling Capability Being Developed By Kratos (Updated)
Unmanned

Pickle Fork-Like Stealthy Drone With Buddy Refueling Capability Being Developed By Kratos (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 19, 2025

A new cruise missile called Flamingo, which reportedly has a range of 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers), has emerged in Ukraine and is said to have already been used to strike targets in Russia.
Ukraine

New Ukrainian Cruise Missile With Claimed 1,800-Mile Range Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 18, 2025

New views of Chinese ‘loyal wingman’ type drones, or at least mockups thereof, that are set to make their debut at a major upcoming military parade have emerged.
Unmanned

Glimpses Of China’s New Air Combat Drones Emerge Ahead Of Massive Military Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 17, 2025

A pair of B-2 bombers touched down at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska yesterday, and more may now be headed in the same direction.
B-2

B-2 Bombers Arrive At Alaskan Airbase Putin Will Land At (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

A surge in Russian use of ballistic missiles with enhanced maneuvering capabilities has cut into the effectiveness of Ukraine's Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has confirmed.
MIM-104 Patriot

Ukraine’s Patriots Now Struggling To Intercept Enhanced Russian Ballistic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

Taiwan's armed forces have developed a launch system for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles concealed inside what otherwise looks to be a civilian truck.
Taiwan

Hellfire Missile Launcher Disguised As Civilian Truck Breaks Cover In Taiwan

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 14, 2025

Our Best Look At DARPA’s Defiant Uncrewed Surface Ship
U.S. Navy

Our Best Look At DARPA’s Defiant Uncrewed Surface Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 13, 2025

The Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade the country's 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration.
F-16

Poland’s F-16s Are About To Become Much More Potent

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 13, 2025

A small U.S. Army quadcopter carrying a Claymore mine recently knocked down another small uncrewed aerial system in a test.
Unmanned

Claymore Mine-Armed Drone Tested by U.S. Army

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 13, 2025

More MQ-58 Variants In The Works After Marines Move To Make Valkyrie A Full Program Of Record
XQ-58

More MQ-58 Variants In The Works After Marines Move To Make Valkyrie A Full Program Of Record

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 12, 2025

A recently released picture of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Bainbridge offers a good look at new launchers for Coyote counter-drone interceptors installed on the ship.
Maritime Surface-To-Air Missiles

Coyote Loitering Drone Interceptors Have Arrived On U.S. Navy Destroyers

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 11, 2025

A B-2 bomber left a smiley face made out of bomb craters on the 'runway' of a mock airfield during a test some two decades ago.
B-2

B-2 Bombed A Smiley Face Of Craters Into The Ground Because It Ran Out Of Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 8, 2025

For all the new capabilities the B-21 Raider will bring as an individual aircraft, the U.S. Air Force's top bomber officer says he is most excited about the sheer numbers of those aircraft that are set to enter service in the coming years.
B-2

For B-21, Quantity Is Its Most Critical Quality Top Bomber Officer Says

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 7, 2025

Cybertrucks Wanted By Air Force As Missile Targets
Land

Cybertrucks Wanted By Air Force As Missile Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 7, 2025

A new variant of the AGM-114 Hellfire missile with a warhead that can be set to focus its blast in different directions depending on the target is in the works for the U.S. special operations community.
AGM-114 Hellfire

AGM-114 Hellfire Missile Getting Articulated Warhead Capable Of Blasting In Different Directions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 6, 2025

A fuel venting issue has emerged in some of the U.S. Air Force's new F-15EX Eagle II fighters, which has reportedly left them sidelined.
F-15

F-15EX Fuel Venting Troubles Emerge, Boeing Testing Fixes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025