More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 3)

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

Updated on Feb 24, 2026

KC-130

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Updated on Feb 15, 2026

U.S. Air Force

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

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

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

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

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

Arleigh Burke Class

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted on Feb 9, 2026

Drones

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

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

Nuclear Policy

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

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

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

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)

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

Posted on Feb 4, 2026

F-35C

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

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

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

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

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

Posted on Feb 2, 2026

MQ-25

MQ-25 Stingray Has Begun Taxi Tests (Updated)

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

Posted on Jan 30, 2026

RQ-170

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

Posted on Jan 29, 2026

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

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

F/A-XX

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

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

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

NASA

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

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

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is in the process of taking back responsibility for the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) mission, better known by the nickname Looking Glass.

E-6

New E-4C Doomsday Plane Could Take On Airborne ICBM Launcher Role

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

Navy’s Avenger Class Mine Hunters Have Left The Middle East For Good

Posted on Jan 26, 2026

U.S. Coast Guard

Department Of Homeland Security’s New Gulfstream Jet Emerges

Updated on Jan 23, 2026

A new defense spending bill making its way through Congress would add $240 million to the U.S. Army's budget for the purchase of more MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones.

Q-1

MQ-1C Drones The Army Has Called “Obsolete” Added In New Budget Plan By Congress

Posted on Jan 22, 2026

President Donald Trump climbed into a heavily armored Cadillac Escalade presidential limo after arriving in Davos in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum this morning.

Secret Service

Secret Service’s New Cadillac Escalade Presidential Limousine Emerges (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jan 22, 2026

President Donald Trump has brought up the possibility of changing the designation of the U.S. Air Force's F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter if the program gets to a point where "I don't like it."

F-47

Possible Change To F-47 6th Generation Fighter’s Designation Raised By Trump

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

A new draft defense spending bill making its way through Congress seeks to boost funding for the U.S. Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft to $1.1 billion for the current fiscal year.

E-7

E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet The Pentagon Tried To Cancel Gets Over $1B In New Defense Bill

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have negotiated a draft defense spending bill that includes nearly $900 million for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet program.

F/A-XX

F/A-XX Naval Fighter Rescued From Purgatory In New Defense Spending Bill

Posted on Jan 20, 2026

Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

Japan’s New Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Barrel Rolls To Evade Defenses

Updated on Jan 19, 2026

The U.S. Army has confirmed to TWZ that it plans to start fielding its new MV-75 tiltrotors in 2027.

Future Vertical Lift

Army Punches Its MV-75 Tiltrotor Program Into Overdrive

Posted on Jan 16, 2026

Navy’s New Frigate Program Makes Big Bet On Containers Loaded With Missiles

Posted on Jan 16, 2026

The U.S. military is looking at replacing all of the different versions of the famous Minigun in service today with a new standardized type that would be designated the GAU-24/A.

Machine Guns

New Common Minigun Variant To Replace All Existing Versions Eyed By U.S.

Posted on Jan 15, 2026

U.S. forces were prepared to destroy three airfields if it appeared that fighters belonging to the Venezuelan Air Force were attempting to scramble and intercept the force sent to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.

South America

U.S. Was Primed To Destroy Three Venezuelan Airfields If Fighters Attempted To Launch