Air-To-Ground(Page 2)

Latest in Air-To-Ground

Israel has confirmed that its F-35 stealth fighters have flown airstrikes using external ordnance. The F-35’s so-called ‘beast mode,’ featuring heavier loads on underwing pylons, is well known by now, but as far as is known, has not been called upon operationally by any other countries. Meanwhile, Israel’s unique F-35I fleet — locally known as the “Adir” (Hebrew for mighty) — which features various local modifications, has frequently been at the forefront of demonstrating new capabilities.
Air

Israeli F-35s First To Use ‘Beast Mode’ In Combat

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 17, 2025

Improved versions of the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB) are reportedly among the weapons that will be sent to Ukraine after the United States after Washington decided to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The GLSDB had made its combat debut in Ukraine, but had reportedly performed poorly there, especially due to the effects of Russian electronic warfare, and was last used “months ago.”
Land

Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb Headed To Ukraine For Its Second Try At Combat: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 14, 2025

U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches Armed With Israeli Spike Missiles Now Flying in Iraq
Air

U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches Armed With Israeli Spike Missiles Now Flying in Iraq

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 7, 2025

Lockheed Martin has revealed more about its Common Multi-Mission Truck (CMMT, pronounced ‘comet’), a revised design based on its Speed Racer air vehicle, a missile-shaped uncrewed system you can read more about here. The CMMT is now said to be a family of systems, intended to yield low-cost air vehicles designed for a wide range of missions.
Air

Lockheed’s Low-Cost Cruise Missile ‘Truck’ Is Now In Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 5, 2025

A novel type of jet propulsion, a rotating detonation engine (RDE), has been successfully tested by Pratt & Whitney. The development is highly significant for the U.S. military, with RDE technology at the center of the project called Gambit, which aims to provide a propulsion system for a mass-producible, low-cost, high-supersonic, long-range weapon for air-to-ground strike.
Air

Rotating Detonation Engine For Future High-Performance Missiles Successfully Tested

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 4, 2025

AGM114R9X seen in action for the first time
Air

Bladed ‘Ginsu’ Hellfire Missile Seen In Action For First Time

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 1, 2025

Raytheon has revealed that’s working on a ground-launched version of its StormBreaker glide bomb, previously available only in air-launched form. The new development of the weapon should provide a follow-on to the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), which made its combat debut in Ukraine, but which has reportedly performed poorly, including due to heavy Russian jamming.
Air

Ground-Launched And Powered Air-Launched Versions Of StormBreaker Glide Bomb Are In Development

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 26, 2025

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon flies a presence patrol over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 11, 2025. As a highly maneuverable and agile platform with a proven record in air-to-air combat and air-to-ground attack, the Fighting Falcon is well-equipped to engage with threats to regional security and deter further aggression in the AOR. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jackson Manske)
Air

F-16s With Larger Laser-Guided Rocket Loads, Drone Kill Marking Emerge Over Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 2025

The U.S. Navy has released a picture of a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1Z Viper Attack helicopter with a previously unseen long-range missile armament.
Air

AH-1Z Attack Helicopter’s New Long Range Missile Seen For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 17, 2025

The first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons received by Ukraine fly on the Day of Ukrainian Air Force on August 4, 2024 in Unspecified, Ukraine. At the event for the Day of Ukrainian Air Force with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the first General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons received by Ukraine were demonstrated.
Air

New Shots Of Ukrainian F-16s Shine Light On Combat Missions

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

Beirut bunker buster CCTV on hezbollah bunker
Air

Unprecedented New View Of BLU-109 Bunker Buster Strike That Killed Hezbollah’s Leadership

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 7, 2025

The U.S. Air Force quietly fixed a problem with the integration of the 30,000-pound class GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bomb onto the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber last year. As part of the integration work, the service also conducted an important test of a new "smart fuze" for the MOP to help improve the weapon's effectiveness, even when the exact depth and positioning of the buried target are not definitively known.
Air

Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bunker Buster Grows More Potent

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 6, 2025

APKWS infrared seeker in the works.
Air

Infrared Seeker For APKWS Guided Rockets Is In The Works

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 4, 2025

A relatively low-cost cruise missile that the U.S. Air Force is now developing could transform into an air-launched counter-drone weapon.
Air

Cheap Cruise Missile Program Set To Evolve Into Air-To-Air Drone Interceptor

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 31, 2025

U.S. Navy officials have laid out several priorities they say are key to ensuring the service's carrier air wings will be able to succeed in future conflicts, especially a high-end fight in the Pacific.
Sea

Carrier Air Wing’s Key Priorities To Win In Future Pacific Fight Laid Out By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

U.S. Air Force F-16 Vipers have been using 70mm laser-guided rockets to down Houthi drones during operations in and around the Red Sea in the past year.
Air

F-16s Have Been Using Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot Down Houthi Drones

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 29, 2025

Cheap Cruise Missile Paired With Affordable Seeker From Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Eyed By USAF
Air

Cheap Cruise Missile Paired With Affordable Seeker From Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Eyed By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 22, 2025

Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles
Sea

Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 17, 2025

General Atomics has offered a look at a new air-to-surface missile it is developing.
Air

New Air-Launched Cruise Missile Teased By General Atomics

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 15, 2025

The arsenals of the U.S. Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II combat jets look set to grow with the addition of stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM).
Air

Stealthy AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles To Arm F-15EX, F-15E

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 9, 2025

More new variants of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb could be on the horizon for the U.S. military.
Air

Hints At More B61 Nuclear Bomb Variants In The U.S. Military’s Future

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 7, 2025

For the first time, Ukraine has released official video showing its Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack jets employing French-supplied Hammer rocket-boosted precision-guided munitions.
Air

Ukraine’s Su-25s Seen Launching Hammer Rocket-Boosted Bombs For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 2, 2025

A new targeted strike involving the use of the secretive AGM-114R9X Hellfire missile, which features an array of pop-out sword-like blades rather than a traditional high-explosive warhead, looks to have occurred in northwestern Syria.
Air

Secretive Bladed AGM-114R9X Hellfire Missile Looks To Have Reemerged In New Syria Strike

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 17, 2024

A recently released video from the cockpit of a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker provides an unprecedented close-quarters view of the fighter lobbing GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) toward a Russian target.
Air

Cockpit Video Of Ukrainian Su-27 Lobbing GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 13, 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.
Air

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 2, 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

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

SPEAR 3 air-to-surface mini cruise missile.
Air

UK’s New SPEAR 3 Mini Cruise Missile Succeeds In First End-To-End Test

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 18, 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.
Air

First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 18, 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.
Air

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 15, 2024

Mirage 2000 for ukraine
News & Features

French Mirage 2000s Destined For Ukraine Will Fly With Storm Shadow, MICA Missiles

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 23, 2024

B-2 MOP Yemen iran
Air

B-2 Spirits Just Sent A Very Ominous Message To Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 17, 2024

A new counter-drone focused variant of the 8x8 Stryker light armored vehicle armed with a laser directed energy weapon, laser-guided 70mm rockets, a 30mm automatic cannon, radars and other sensors has broken cover.
Land

Counter-Drone Stryker Armored Vehicle Armed With Lasers, Rockets, Guns Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 11, 2024

The Amiral Ronarc’h (hull number D 660) officially started sea trials earlier this week, setting sail from the Naval Group’s Lorient shipyard, in Brittany, northern France, on October 7.
Sea

France’s Radical-Looking New Frigate Has Gone To Sea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 11, 2024

KOSTYANTYNIVKA, UKRAINE - OCTOBER 5: Ukrainian servicemen examine the wreckage of a downed Russian aircraft, likely a Sukhoi S-70 "stealth" heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which crashed in a residential area, setting a house on fire on October 5, 2024 in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine.
Air

Russia’s S-70 Hunter Drone Was Armed When Shot Down By Friendly Fighter Over Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 7, 2024

Imagery said to show the aftermath of a highly targeted air strike on a car in Lebanon has prompted questions about whether a previously unknown miniature munition designed to produce extremely little collateral damage may have been employed.
Air

Was A Mini “Sword Bomb” Just Used To Strike A Car In Lebanon?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 27, 2024

AGM-154 JSOW for Ukraine's F-16
News & Features

Biden Surging $8B In Aid To Ukraine That Includes AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapons For F-16s

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 26, 2024

An F-35 Lightning II test pilot conducts flight test Sept. 10 to certify the carrier variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). As part of ongoing integration efforts, the Pax River F-35 Integrated Test Force (Pax ITF) team flew two days of test flights to evaluate flutter, loads, and flying qualities with two AGM-158 loaded on external stations. LRASM is a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets. The Pax River ITF’s mission is to effectively plan, coordinate, and conduct safe, secure, and efficient flight test for F-35B and C variants, and provide necessary and timely data to support program verification / certification and fleet operational requirements.
Air

F-35 Shown Carrying Stealthy Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 24, 2024

JSOW Ukraine
Air

AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon To Equip Ukraine’s F-16s: Report

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 21, 2024

AGM-158 XR
Air

Everything We Just Learned About The Supersized AGM-158 XR Stealth Cruise Missile

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 16, 2024

Russia putting tires on top of bombers and other aircraft was about confusing seekers with image-matching capability on incoming munitions, a senior U.S. military technologist has confirmed.
Air

Russia Covering Aircraft With Tires Is About Confusing Image-Matching Missile Seekers U.S. Military Confirms

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 13, 2024

The U.S. Marine Corps legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets are getting a major boost in stand-off strike capability in the form of AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) cruise missiles
Air

Marine Legacy F/A-18 Hornets Getting Major Firepower Boost With JASSM Cruise Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 12, 2024

Defense contractor Anduril has unveiled Barracuda, a new family of what it is calling "expandable autonomous air vehicles" that are scalable, highly modular, and already being flight-tested. The company is heavily focused now on "M" versions configured as relatively low-cost air-breathing precision munitions that could be launched from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, as well as maritime and ground platforms.
Air

Anduril Introduces Barracuda-M That Aims To Disrupt The Cruise Missile Market

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 12, 2024

Storm Shadow
News & Features

Increasing Indications Storm Shadow Missiles Will Be Cleared For Use Inside Russia

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 12, 2024

A video has emerged showing a Ukrainian Su-24M Fencer swing-wing combat jet carrying what is said to be new air-launched guided munition.
Air

Mystery Munition Appears Under Ukrainian Su-24 Fencer Attack Jet’s Wing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 6, 2024

Above All Else JASSM Would Give Ukraine A Steady Supply Of Cruise Missiles
Air

Above All Else JASSM Would Give Ukraine A Steady Supply Of Cruise Missiles

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 3, 2024

New ‘Cheap’ Cruise Missile Concept Flight Tested By Silicon Valley-Backed Start-Up
Air

New ‘Cheap’ Cruise Missile Concept Flight Tested By Silicon Valley-Backed Start-Up

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2024

An F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Lt. Col. Mike May from the 85th Test and Evaluation squadron sits on the ramp at Eglin Air Force Base on October 2, 2019 with a JASSM-ER. The 85th TES released the extended range missile as part of an operational test sortie.
Air

JASSM Stealth Cruise Missiles Now On The Table For Ukraine: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

The Ukrainian Air Force has released a video offering the best look to date of one of the country's MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters employing French-made AASM-250 Hammer precision-guided bombs.
Air

Best Look Yet At Ukrainian MiG-29 Releasing Hammer Rocket-Assisted Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

France will have sent Ukraine 600 Hammer bombs by the end of the year.
Air

Ukrainian MiG-29’s Special Pylon For Hammer Rocket-Boosted Bombs Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

Ukrainians F-16s will immediately be able to get more out of stocks Western munitions that have already been deliverd, as well as other benefits.
Air

F-16s Will Let Ukraine Get More Out Of Western Munitions: USAF’s Top Officer In Europe

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

The US Air Force says a program to explore low cost 'air vehicle' concepts that could be turned into cruise missiles or used for other purposes is as much about shaking up industrial base and supply chain status quos.
Air

Shaking Up U.S. Industrial Base Key To ‘Cheap’ Cruise Missile Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 29, 2024

A new picture offering the best look to date at a Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter armed with GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs has disclosed the use of a special pylon with a mysterious feature in front.
Air

First Look At Mystery Weapon Pylon Ukrainian MiG-29s Use To Carry Small Diameter Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

Italy has announced plans to equip the F-35B stealth fighters operated by its naval air arm with the Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile (JSM), among other weapons. Details of the armament for the Italian Navy’s short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs comes as the aircraft take part for the first time in the large-scale Pitch Black drills in Australia, aboard the aircraft carrier Cavour.
Air

Italy’s Carrier-Capable F-35B Stealth Fighters To Get New Advanced Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 16, 2024

Russia has, for the first time, published footage showing what it says is the carriage and launch of the guided, glide version of its huge FAB-3000 aerial bomb — a weapon that weighs over 6,600 pounds in its basic version. The weapon is among the more recently announced additions to the family of UMPK munitions, which add a pop-out wing kit and a guidance package to a range of existing freefall weapons, as you can read more about here.
Air

Russia’s Giant 6,000lb Glide Bomb Seen Launched From Su-34 For First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 15, 2024

The US Air Force has revealed that development of a new relatively low-cost stand-off precision-guided munition is for Ukraine.
Air

Air Force’s Cheap And Fast To Produce Long-Range Missile Is Being Built For Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 12, 2024

Piggyback bomber at a Nazi airfield In WWII.
Air

Recalling The Nazis’ Bizarre Piggyback Bombers 80 Years After They Went To War

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 30, 2024

A video has emerged showing a Ukrainian MiG-29 toss-bombing a munition, a critical tactic that helps limit the exposure of the launching platform to enemy defenses.
Air

Watch A Ukrainian MiG-29 Toss A Bomb Across The Front Lines

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 28, 2024

A claim has emerged that Russia has begun using 3,000-kilogram (6,600-pound) class FAB-3000 M54 bombs with pop-out wing kits against targets in Ukraine.
Air

Is This Our First Look At Russia’s New Monster Glide Bomb Striking Ukraine?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 21, 2024

The Defense Innovation Unit and the US Air Force have picked four different companies design, build, and flight test new low-cost cruise missile concepts.
Air

‘Cheap’ Long-Range Cruise Missile Designs To Be Tested By Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 3, 2024

The US Air Force has awarded its first contract for the purchase of production Joint Strike Missiles which are set to give its F-35A Joint Strike Fighters a new and capable stand-off strike option against targets on land and at sea.
Air

USAF F-35s Are Officially Getting Joint Strike Cruise Missiles That Fit In Their Bays

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 1, 2024

Ukraine is one of three countries, along with Bulgaria and Japan, that will recieve a new tranche of Small Diameter Bombs under a $6.9 billion contract with Boeing.
News & Features

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Says It’s Using Air-Launched Small Diameter Bombs

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 24, 2024

Su-34 launches new glide bombs
Air

Russia’s Small Diameter Bomb-Like Weapon Seen In Action For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 23, 2024

ADM-160 MALD seen on MIG-29 in Ukraine for the first time.
Air

ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Spotted On Ukrainian MiG-29

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 21, 2024

Recent imagery provides our best views so far of Russia’s modern Kh-38M air-to-ground missile, apparently employed in the war in Ukraine. Previously, various videos had been released showing airstrikes that purportedly involved Kh-38Ms, but new photos show, in some detail, the missile carried under the wing of Su-34 Fullback strike fighters, seemingly taking part in combat sorties.
Air

Our Best Look At Russia’s Kh-38 Missile Now Being Used In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 14, 2024