More from Joseph Trevithick (Page 8)

There is growing, but still circumstantial evidence that a Syrian Airlines Il-76 Candid cargo plane currently at Russia's Khmeimim Air Base in Syria is one that appeared to go missing in the final chaotic moments of Bashar Al Assad's regime.
Il-76

The Mystery Of The Syrian IL-76 Cargo Jet That Went Missing As Assad Fled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 17, 2024

A video and pictures have emerged showing testing of Chinese high-flying and high-speed uncrewed air vehicles related to a design called MD-22, including aerial releases from a TB-001 drone and a high-altitude balloon.
Air-Launched Hypersonic Missiles

China Launches Hypersonic Test Planes From Drones, Balloons

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 16, 2024

Russian Forces Appear To Be Pulling Out Of Prized Syrian Air Base
An-124

Russian Forces Appear To Be Pulling Out Of Prized Syrian Air Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 13, 2024

The U.S. Army has finally test-fired its Dark Eagle hypersonic missile from its trailer-based launcher after attempting to do so for some two years.
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)

Army’s Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Finally Blasts Out Of Its Launcher

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 13, 2024

Federal, state, and local authorities have not been able to corroborate any claimed visual sightings of mysterious drones in the skies over New Jersey, according to a top White House spokesperson.
Unmanned

None Of The New Jersey Visual Drone Sightings Have Been Corroborated: White House

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 13, 2024

Apparent drones spotted in the skies over New Jersey, some as big as six feet across, look to be operating in a coordinated manner not consistent with hobbyists, according to state and local officials.
Unmanned

Drones Over New Jersey Show Signs Of Coordination, Elude Helicopters: State Officials

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

Any plans the Air Force might have for new hardened aircraft shelters or other physical defenses at bases are prominently absent from a new infrastructure modernization strategy rolled out today.
U.S. Air Force

Plans For New Hardened Aircraft Shelters Notably Absent From New USAF Base Modernization Strategy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

he U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy could soon be tasked with exploring whether extending the range of existing AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles is one path to help right-size stocks of those weapons.
U.S. Air Force

Extended Range AIM-120s, AIM-9s Eyed To Meet Future Air-to-Air Missile Demands

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2024

Mk 41 launcher MDA Guam
MIM-104 Patriot

Tilting Mark 41 Launcher Emerges During Guam’s First Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test

By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

Pictures and videos have now emerged of the aftermath of Israeli strikes on the Syrian port of Latakia overnight, which destroyed at least six Soviet-era Osa II class missile boats.
Israel

Israel Lays Waste To Syria’s Missile Boats (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

What will happen to highly strategic Russian air and naval bases in Syria is now very much now an open question following the downfall of long-time strongman Bashar Al Assad and his flight to Moscow.
Syria

Fate Of Russia’s Prized Syria Bases: What We Know

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

Ukraine’s Drone Boats Are Now Shooting Machine Guns At Russian Helicopters, Boats
Naval Gun Systems

Ukraine’s Drone Boats Are Now Shooting Machine Guns At Russian Helicopters, Boats

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 9, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin has raised the possibility of forward deploying new conventionally-armed Oreshnik missiles capable of carrying multiple warheads in neighboring Belarus in the latter half of next year.
MRBMs/IRBMs

Experimental Ballistic Missile Russia Used On Ukraine Could Be Headed To Belarus

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 6, 2024

The Pentagon has released a summary of a new classified strategy to guide efforts to protect American forces abroad and across the U.S. homeland from growing drone threats.
Unmanned

This Is The New ‘Counter-Drone Strategy’ Just Unveiled By Pentagon

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 5, 2024

Bell has released a rendering showing updated design concepts for vertical takeoff and landing-capable crewed and uncrewed aircraft that feature wingtip rotors that fold away during level flight.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Revised Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Concepts Emerge From Special Operations X-Plane Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 5, 2024

Recent satellite imagery shows a curious white-colored object at the end of the runway at a remote airstrip in northwestern China.
X-37B

Mysterious Object Appears At Remote Chinese Airfield Linked To Spaceplane Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 4, 2024

The Pentagon says more tests are required to verify that the 25mm automatic cannon mounted internally on the F-35A variant of the Joint Strike Fighter is indeed now an effective weapon.
F-35A

F-35A’s 25mm Gun Still Needs Tests To Verify It Works

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 4, 2024

South Korean military forces have descended on the country's parliament building and other parts of the capital Seoul following President Yoon Suk Yeol's unexpected declaration of martial law.
North Korea

Surprise Martial Law Declaration Throws South Korea Into Turmoil (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 3, 2024

A U.S. Air Force F-16C Viper fighter has conducted the first release of a test version of the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) missile.
F-16

Stand-In Attack Missile Released From Fighter For First Time In USAF Test

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 2, 2024

German firm Helsing says production of its HX-2 kamikaze drone, thousands of which are expected to be sent to Ukraine, is underway.
Loitering Munitions

AI-Enabled HX-2 Kamikaze Drones Now In Production For Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 2, 2024

One especially interesting detail about the Phoenix Ghost family of kamikaze drones has now emerged: the different types can be configured to launch attacks straight down while passing overhead rather than having to careen into their targets and detonate.
Loitering Munitions

Warheads In Phoenix Ghost Kamikaze Drones Blast Straight Down Like Air Burst Artillery Rounds

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 27, 2024

A mysterious Chinese vessel with a large open flight deck, which TWZ was first to report on, looks to have made its maiden voyage.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Wacky And Puzzling New Aircraft Carrier Has Set Sail

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 27, 2024

ideos purporting to show a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian oil refinery may actually have been of a wayward civilian An-2 biplane.
Special Operations Aviation

An-2 Biplane Caused Major Scare When Russians Thought It Was A Long-Range Kamikaze Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 27, 2024

Still unidentified drones continue to be spotted around air bases in the United Kingdom that host American forces.
U.S. Air Force

British Troops Reinforce USAF Airbases Amid Mysterious Drone Incursions: Reports (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 26, 2024

A human controller flying in an L-39 Albatros jet ordered a pair of L-29 Delfin jets with artificial intelligence (AI) driven flight technology acting as surrogates for advanced drones to engage simulated enemy fighters in a series of recent flight tests.
Loyal Wingman

Skunk Works Tests See AI-Enabled L-29 Jets Fly Mock Air-To-Air Mission On Orders From Aerial Controller

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 23, 2024

While it has turned out that the RS-26-based Oreshnik that Russia fired at Ukraine was not a conventionally-armed ICBM, it still highlights the very real interest in, if not more active development and even potential fielding of, a weapon of that kind globally.
Tactical Ballistic Missiles

Conventionally Armed ICBM Concept Highlighted By Unprecedented Russian Missile Attack On Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 22, 2024

Russian President Vladimir Putin says his country's forces fired a previously unknown medium-range hypersonic missile called Oreshnik at Ukraine earlier today.
Land-Based Ballistic Missile Defense

Russia’s Experimental Ballistic Missile Used To Strike Ukraine Is Based On The RS-26 Rubezh

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2024

Ukraine's domestically developed Dovbush T10 drone has taken on a new role acting as a mothership for first-person view (FPV) kamikaze quadcopters.
Loitering Munitions

Watch A Ukrainian Uncrewed Aerial Mothership Launch Kamikaze Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2024

The U.S. military has not seen demonstrable evidence of North Korea successfully testing a re-entry vehicle capable of bringing a nuclear warhead back down to Earth through the atmosphere, according to America's top officer in the Pacific region.
ICBMs

ICBM Reentry Vehicle Capability Still Unproven By North Korea, U.S. Military Says

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2024

The U.S. military risks going into a potential major fight with China with insufficient stocks of Patriot surface-to-air interceptors and other key munitions due to obligations in the Middle East and Ukraine, the top officer in the Pacific has warned.
Air-To-Air

Conflicts ‘Eating Into’ Critical Munitions Stockpiles Needed For China Fight, Top U.S. Officer In Pacific Warns

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2024

A Bayraktar TB3 uncrewed aircraft has successfully landed on and taken off from the Turkish Navy’s ‘drone carrier’ TCG Anadolu.
Unmanned

TB3 Operates From Turkey’s ‘Drone Carrier’ Amphibious Assault Ship For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 19, 2024

A unit charged with exploring how the U.S. Air Force will utilize its future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) is now set to get actual examples of the first tranche of those drones to experiment with.
Loyal Wingman

Extra Collaborative Combat Aircraft Purchases To Give USAF Test Unit A Boost

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 19, 2024

Flight testing of the U.S. Air Force's Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW) missile is now set to begin following the delivery of an initial test article.
F-35

First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 18, 2024

The US Army has been exploring options for years now for a highly computerized 30mm Precision Grenadier System (PGS) that soldiers could use to engage targets ranging from enemy personnel behind cover to light armored vehicles to drones in the sky.
Rocket And Grenade Launchers

One Of These Futuristic Grenade Launchers Could Succeed Where The Army’s ‘Punisher’ Failed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 17, 2024

The search for clues after a U.S. Air Force F-16 Viper fighter brought down a still-unidentified object over Lake Huron In February 2023 did result in the recovery of debris it has been disclosed. However, it remains unclear whether or not the wreckage was from that shootdown.
U.S. Air Force

Details About Search For Mystery Object Shot Down Over Lake Huron Disclosed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 15, 2024

The U.S. Air Force is accelerating work on low-cost air vehicles that could evolve into relatively cheap cruise missiles, and plans to scale up production of selected designs, with the help of the Pentagon's Replicator initiative.
U.S. Air Force

‘Cheap’ Cruise Missile Program To Speed Up With Replicator Initiative Help

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 15, 2024

Giant Uncrewed Submarine Put Forward By Chinese Shipbuilder, Possibly Linked To Existing Design
Diesel-Electric Submarines

Giant Uncrewed Submarine Put Forward By Chinese Shipbuilder, Possibly Linked To Existing Design

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 14, 2024

A new palletized ground-based launcher concept that can be loaded with up to two dozen 227mm guided artillery rockets at a time – four times what an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) can pack at once – recently broke cover.
MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS)

Mobile Launcher That Can Fire Four Times More Weapons Than HIMARS Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 13, 2024

U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Joint Strike Fighters took part in recent strikes on Iranian-backed Houthi militants in Yemen, the Pentagon has disclosed.
F-35C

F-35C Naval Joint Strike Fighters Fly Combat Missions Against Houthis In Yemen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 13, 2024

KC-135 AI Copilot testing
KC-135

KC-135 Tanker With Artificial Intelligence Copilot Set To Fly Next Year

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 12, 2024

Chinese Hypersonic Boost-Glide Vehicle Concept That Launches Its Own Weapons Emerges
Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons

Chinese Hypersonic Boost-Glide Vehicle Concept That Launches Its Own Weapons Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 11, 2024

Clearer views of a new Chinese trimaran uncrewed surface vessel (USV) have emerged, highlighting a number of interesting low-observable (stealthy) and other features.
China

China’s New Stealthy Trimaran Drone Ship: Our Best Look Yet (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 9, 2024

The curious North Korean Type 73 machine gun is getting new attention as a result of the Hermit Kingdom's expanding support for Russia's war in Ukraine, which now includes the deployment of thousands of troops.
Around The Globe

North Korea’s Wacky Type 73 Machine Guns May Be Entering The Fight In Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 9, 2024

The U.S. Navy recently used a drone control system now being installed on all its supercarriers to operate an actual uncrewed aircraft, a General Atomics Avenger, for the first time.
Avenger

MQ-20 Avenger First Drone Flown Using Navy’s Carrier-Based Control System

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 8, 2024

Massive Chinese Anti-Drone High-Power Microwave Weapon Emerges
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Massive Chinese Anti-Drone High-Power Microwave Weapon Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2024

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works advanced projects division has put forward a new vision for a stealthy pilot-optional aerial refueling tanker.
U.S. Air Force

Skunk Works’ Latest Stealthy Tanker Concept Revealed

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2024

A new large jet-powered Chinese armed drone said to have a 10-ton maximum takeoff weight, or a mockup thereof, has emerged, and the design looks to be at least configurable to be a swarm mothership.
Swarms

New Heavyweight Chinese Jet Drone Looks To Be A Swarm Mothership

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2024

The future outlook for the U.S. Air Force's top modernization efforts is even more uncertain after the service's civilian boss openly questioned the affordability of buying any combination of new stealth 'fighters,' advanced aerial refueling tankers, and highly autonomous drones.
NGAD

Crisis Brewing Over Air Force’s Future Air Dominance Plans Which It Cannot Afford

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2024

Full Retirement Of Ticonderoga Cruisers On Hold, Trio To Remain In Service Into 2029
U.S. Navy

Full Retirement Of Ticonderoga Cruisers On Hold, Trio To Remain In Service Into 2029

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 5, 2024

President Donald Trump's administration reportedly considered employing a secret Central Intelligence Agency system capable of "covertly (and nonviolently)" disabling ships, including very large ones, in some way, against Venezuela oil tankers.
South America

CIA Has Secret “Nonviolent” Way To Disable Large Ships: Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 4, 2024

The Army has racked up 170 kills with Coyote counter-drone interceptors in operational deployments globally.
U.S. Army

Army Coyote Drone Hunting Drones Have Scored 170 Combat Kills

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 1, 2024

Lasers, Microwaves, Missiles, Guns Not On The Table For Domestic Drone Defense
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Lasers, Microwaves, Missiles, Guns Not On The Table For Domestic Drone Defense

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Oct 31, 2024

The U.S. Navy plans to keep all 12 of its Flight I Arleigh Burke class destroyers in service beyond their originally 35-year expected service life.
U.S. Navy

Oldest Arleigh Burke Destroyers Get Reprieve, Service Extended Into 2030s

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 31, 2024

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has released a rare picture of an F-16I fighter armed with four Rampage missiles, an adaptation of a ground-launched precision-guided artillery rocket.
F-16

Israeli F-16I Shown Loaded-Up With Four Rampage Stand-Off Missiles (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 30, 2024

The U.S. Army pushed back the start of work on a new integrated active protection system (APS) and autoloader for its planned next-generation iteration of the M1 Abrams tank, or M1E3, into the current fiscal year.
Anti-Tank Missiles

Next-Gen M1 Abrams Tank’s Active Protection System, Autoloader Development Off To Delayed Start

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 29, 2024

An example of an entirely new class of Chinese vessel with a large open flight deck has emerged at a shipyard in the southeastern end of the country.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

New Chinese Mystery Flattop Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 29, 2024

A total of 44 U.S. Army helicopters suffered various degrees of damage during a burst of extreme weather at Fort Carson in Colorado earlier this year.
HH-60

Dozens Of AH-64, UH-60, and CH-47 Helicopters Were Damaged In Storm At Colorado Army Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 28, 2024

F-35 IDF
Around The Globe

Israel’s Retaliation Strikes On Iran Have Begun (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Oct 26, 2024

B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighter’s Missions On The Table Air Force Says
Loyal Wingman

B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighter’s Missions On The Table Air Force Says

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 26, 2024

We have now gotten our first look at the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle (XL-AUV) underwater thanks to the Autonomous Warrior 2024 maritime autonomous capabilities demonstration in Australia.
Royal Australian Navy

Our First Look At The Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Underwater

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 25, 2024

The U.S. Marines are testing a heavily automated targeting system that helps physically point standard infantry rifles in the direction of the target as a new option to help shoot down drones.
Assault Rifles

Marines Testing Counter-Drone Rifle Aiming System With Automatically Moving Stock

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 25, 2024

The expected size of the U.S. Air Force's B-21 Raider fleet could change as part of an ongoing force structure review, according to the bomber's manufacturer Northrop Grumman.
B-21

B-21 Raider Fleet Size Under Review

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 24, 2024

The U.S. Navy is asking for new ideas about how to increase the unrefueled range of its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft.
EA-18G

New Ways To Stretch F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Range Sought By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 23, 2024

The existence of a top-secret Israeli drone, referred to as RA-01 and used for covert missions, has emerged from an unauthorized disclosure of U.S. intelligence documents which have now been posted all over social media.
UCAVs

The Existence Of Israel’s Secret Stealth Drone Should Come As No Surprise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 22, 2024