Air (Page 15)

Latest in Air

U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler from Electronic Attack Squadron 135
EA-18G

EA-18G Growler Crashes Into San Diego Bay (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 12, 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.
F-16

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

Russia's Sukhoi Su-57 stealth fighter jet begins preparations and adaptive flight training for the upcoming 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2024, on November 7, 2024 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province of China. The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held in Zhuhai from November 12 to 17.
Su-57

Algeria Says It’s The Su-57 Felon’s First Export Customer

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth utilized a Silver Bullet Command and Control module on his first overseas trip.
C-17

C-17’s ‘Silver Bullet’ Airstream Trailer Pod Used By Secretary Of Defense Hegseth On First Overseas Trip

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

Mystery Tiltrotor Aircraft Emerges
Future Vertical Lift

Mystery Tiltrotor Aircraft Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 12, 2025

An E/A-18G Growler. (U.S. Navy)
EA-18G

How The EA-18G Growler’s Next-Generation Jamming Pod Went To War On Its First Cruise

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

Updated on Feb 11, 2025

Three nozzle binding mishaps on KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers have cost the AIr Force nearly $23 million
KC-46

Tankers Flood Airspace Off The California Coast For China-Focused Air Combat Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 11, 2025

Members of Marine Aerial Refueler Squadron-234, (VMGR-234) provide aerial refueling to French Mirage 2000 Fighters from a K C-130J over Djibouti, May 24, 2021. VMGR-234 supports Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) with aerial refueling operations, extending the reach of fixed and rotary wing aircraft.
Rafale

French Fighters Downed “Nearly A Dozen Drones” In Red Sea Combat

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 11, 2025

The Philippine Mars flying boat made its final flight today.
Military Aviation History

The Last Mars Flying Boat Just Made Its Final Flight

By Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 11, 2025

The Ukrainian Air Force has shared some rare views of S-300V1 surface-to-air missile systems firing their 26-foot-long 9M83 interceptors.
Ukrainian Air Force

Rare Look At S-300V1 Surface-To-Air Missile Systems In Action In Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 10, 2025

New imagery has appeared showing the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter carrying external air-to-air missiles, mirroring the so-called ‘beast mode’ that we’ve seen on U.S. fifth-generation fighters.
J-20

China’s J-20 Fighter Is Now Flying In ‘Beast Mode’

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Feb 10, 2025

Russian troops built a mesh net 'tunnel' to protect against Ukrainian FPV drones.
Unmanned

Russians Erect Mesh Net ‘Tunnel’ Over A Mile Long To Counter Ukrainian FPV Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 10, 2025

Indian drone maker NewSpace Research and Technologies has officially unveiled a new jet-powered loyal wingman-type drone called Abhimanyu.
Loyal Wingman

Indian Naval Collaborative Drone Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 10, 2025

Russian and American fighter jets join India's biggest air show The Aero India 2025 for the first time in New Delhi, India on February 10, 2025. For the first time in history, the air show is witnessing "the participation of two of the world's most advanced fifth-generation fighter aircraft - the Russian Su-57 and the American F-35 Lightning II," the Indian Defense Ministry said.
F-35A

F-35 And Su-57 Face Off In India

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 10, 2025

Beirut bunker buster CCTV on hezbollah bunker
Israeli Air Force

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 Russians say they thwarted a plot to blow up FPV drone operators with explosive-laden goggles.
Unmanned

Explosive-Laden Goggles Sent To Russian FPV Drone Operators

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 7, 2025

A video showing testing of the Chinese GL-6 hard-kill active protection system underscores how systems like this to provide a valuable additional layer of defense against uncrewed aerial threats, including highly maneuverable first-person view (FPV) kamikaze drones, something TWZ has previously explored in an in-depth feature.
Unmanned

Chinese Tank’s Active Protection System Seen Intercepting Drone-Fired Rocket Propelled Grenade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 7, 2025

Iran has finally shown a drone taking off and landing on – in the latter case with the help of arresting gear – the deck of the country's unusual new 'drone carrier,' the Shahid Bagheri. Newly emerged imagery also shows various drones and crewed helicopters on the flight deck, which has a ski jump at the bow end, including the appearance of 'drones' styled after the infamous Qaher 313.
Unmanned

Iran’s Wacky Aircraft Carrier Has Entered Service

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2025

The F-15EX, the Air Force’s newest fighter aircraft, arrives to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida March 11. The aircraft will be the first Air Force aircraft to be tested and fielded from beginning to end through combined developmental and operational tests. The 40th Flight Test Squadron and the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron personnel are responsible for testing the aircraft.
F-15

F-15EX Nails Pentagon Test Campaign, Survivability Concerns Remain

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 6, 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.
B-2

Massive Ordnance Penetrator Bunker Buster Grows More Potent

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 6, 2025

A Mirage 2000-5 jet fighter takes off at the aerial military base 126 - Capitaine Preziosi aka Solenzara base, in Ventiseri, on the French Mediterranean island Corsica, for a mission in Libya on March 24, 2011. Blasts and anti-aircraft fire rattled the Libyan capital for the sixth day as France hailed the allied air raids against Moamer Kadhafi's forces and promised they would go on indefinitely.
French Air Force

First Mirage 2000 Fighter Has Arrived In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 6, 2025

New information about serious and potentially dangerous deficiencies with the emergency ejection system on the U.S. Air Force's new T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer has been released.
T-38

New Details About T-7A Red Hawk Jet Trainer Ejection System Woes Emerge

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 5, 2025

Airbus Defense and Space has begun a risk-assessment study for France’s future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), to be based on an Airbus A321 airliner platform. Billed as a “flying frigate” by the company, the new MPA is intended to replace the French Navy’s Dassault Atlantique 2 fleet but arrives at a time when NATO nations are increasingly adopting the in-production Boeing P-8 Poseidon for their maritime patrol requirements.
Maritime Patrol

Airbus A321 Airliners To Be Modified Into “Flying Frigate” Patrol Jets By France

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 5, 2025

Rivet joint flew off Mexico.
RC-135

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Just Flew Unprecedented Mission Off Mexico

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 4, 2025

The U.S. Marine Corps transition to the VH-92A Patriot as its only helicopter for use in the "Marine One" role shuttling the president, the vice president, their families, and their closest advisors around at home and abroad, is still underway and now we know it won't be done till 2030, at the earliest.
VH-3

VH-92 Patriot Fully Taking Over Marine One Duties Has Slipped To End Of Decade

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 4, 2025

APKWS infrared seeker in the works.
Infrared Search And Track

Infrared Seeker For APKWS Guided Rockets Is In The Works

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 4, 2025

HELIOS laser fired from the USS Preble.
Unmanned

Navy HELIOS Laser Aboard USS Preble Zaps Drone In Latest Test

By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 4, 2025

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet from the "Mighty Strikes" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 94, flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility while conducing a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Oct. 2, 2020. VFA-94 is assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), the flagship of Nimitz Carrier Strike Group.
F/A-18E/F

F/A-18’s Infrared Search And Track System Has “Significant Reliability Problems”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 3, 2025

Maj. Garret Dover prepares to taxi in an F-35A of the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, a tenant unit at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., takes off on a test flight at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, Feb 17, 2016. Six operational test and evaluation F-35s and more than 85 Airmen of the 31st TES travelled to Mountain Home AFB to conduct the first simulated deployment test of the F-35A, specifically to execute three key initial operational capability mission sets: suppression of enemy air defenses, close air support and air interdiction.
P-8

Escalating Trade War Raises Questions Over Canada’s F-35 Future

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 3, 2025

A newly released U.S. Marine Aviation Plan shows the service is now looking at a successor to its MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotors actively enough to give it a name: the Next Generation Assault Support (NGAS) aircraft.
CV-22

Hunt For A MV-22 Osprey Successor For The Marines Has Begun

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 3, 2025

While the 1950s was a time of truly unusual and fast-paced innovation in military aerospace, one of the more bizarre projects was for a nuclear-armed, liquid-fueled development of the Sidewinder air-to-air missile.
AIM-9 Sidewinder

The Navy Nearly Built A Nuclear Armed “Super Sidewinder” Air-To-Air Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 1, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned virtually all helicopter flights around Reagan National Airport and parts of the surrounding Potomac River. This comes in the tragic collision of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines CRJ700 airliner above the river on Tuesday night.
UH-60

Nearly All Helicopter Traffic Around Reagan National Airport Has Been Shut Down

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 1, 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.
U.S. Air Force

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 31, 2025

12th Army Aviation Battalion UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters fly in formation over the Potomac River in Washington to help kick off the 39th Annual Army Ten-Miler, Oct. 8, 2023. The role of the 12th Aviation Battalion is to conduct air movement and engineer technical rescue operations for senior leaders of the Army, Department of Defense, and U.S. Government while maintaining a continuous alert posture in support of the Joint Task Force - National Capital Region to sustain a rapid response, readiness, and support force capability. The Army Ten-Miler, the world's third largest 10-mile road race, promotes the Army, builds esprit de corps, supports Army fitness goals, and enhances community relations. (U.S. Army photo by Bernardo Fuller)
UH-60

Ex-Military Helicopter Pilots Explain The Challenges Of Flying Over The Capital

By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 31, 2025

The crew of a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter involved in a mid-air collision over the Potomac River last night were training for what is known as a continuity of government mission.
UH-60

Mid-Air Collision Shines Light On Doomsday Plans For Nation’s Capital

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

Several investigations are underway into a mid-air collision that killed 67 people.
UH-60

“Elevation Issue” With UH-60 That Collided With CRJ700 Over Potomac Being Investigated: SECDEF

By Howard Altman, Geoff Ziezulewicz, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jan 30, 2025

A caucasian uniformed pilot in the cockpit of a small, modern private single engine propeller aircraft landing at night with runway lights visible.
H-60

Here’s What Air Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems Can And Can’t Do

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

A commercial airliner collided with a Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River.
H-60

Chilling Air Traffic Control Audio From H-60 Collision With CRJ700 Over Potomac River (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 30, 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.
Loyal Wingman

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

Ukraine's Magyar Birds drone unit is now using a system to counter Russian fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones.
Unmanned

Ukraine Discloses New Method To Defeat Russian Fiber-Optic-Controlled FPV Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 30, 2025

A U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter has completed initial ground runs with two of the new T901 Improved Turbine Engines. Developed under the Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP), the T901 was planned to power the now-canceled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) but will instead now make its way into the UH-60 and the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter.
UH-60

UH-60 Black Hawk Begins Ground Tests With Far More Powerful T901 Engines

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 29, 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.
F-16

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

F-35 Alaska
F-35A

F-35 Caught On Video Tumbling Vertically Into The Runway At Alaskan Air Base

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 29, 2025

Airbus and Navantia will explore the integration of the Sirtap drone on the LHD Juan Carlos I. Both companies have signed an agreement on board the Navy's flagship to study the possible use of the RPAS from its deck.
Unmanned

Spain Wants To Convert Its Aircraft Carrier For Drone Operations

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 28, 2025

The first supersonic flight of the Boom Supersonic XB-1.
U.S. Air Force

Boom! The XB-1 Demonstrator Jet Has Gone Supersonic

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 28, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has dramatically plussed-up contracts with General Electric and Pratt & Whitney, both of which now have a ceiling of $3.5 billion, to continue work on prototype next-generation jet engines.
NGAD

Billions For Next Generation Fighter Jet Engines Greenlit By Air Force

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 28, 2025

An Air Force C-32A VIP transport jet, on a special mission for President Donald Trump, had to delay its landing at Joint Base Andrews because F-16C Vipers were scrambled to intercept a drone.
C-32

C-32 Forced To Delay Landing After F-16s Scrambled To Intercept Drone Near Capital

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 27, 2025

A newly emerged photo of the still-mysterious Chinese tailless combat aircraft, likely from the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, which first appeared last month, provides a better view of the rear aspect of the jet. This would appear to confirm that the aircraft’s outer wing sections, as we had previously suggested, act as moving control surfaces.
J-XDS

China’s Mysterious Tailless Stealth Fighter Has Swiveling Wingtips

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 27, 2025

One of Ukraine’s Cold War-era Leopard 1 main battle tanks survived as many as a dozen hits from Russian first-person view (FPV) attack drones, according to Ukrainian sources. The incident underscores the proliferation of this particular threat on the battlefield but also points to the effectiveness of the ‘up-armored’ version of the venerable Leopard 1, examples of which have received a variety of different protective measures in Ukrainian service.
Unmanned

Ukrainian Leopard 1 Tank Survived A Dozen Drone Strikes: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 24, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's XQ-67A drone is set to receive modifications and upgrades to demonstrate its ability to perform certain missions as part of a program called Demon Ape.
Loyal Wingman

XQ-67 Getting Overhauled With New Capabilities As Part Of Demon Ape Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 24, 2025

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated
Loyal Wingman

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 23, 2025

South Korea's domestically developed Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) completed its first flight test in December 2024, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on January 15, 2025.
Helicopters

This Is South Korea’s New Heavily Armed Marine Attack Helicopter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 23, 2025

F-35Bs on san clémente island for austere operations training during Steel Knight exercise.
C-17

We Went With Marine F-35Bs As They Fought A Mock War From A Pacific Island

By James Deboer

Updated on Jan 22, 2025

F-22 Raptor To Get Distributed Infrared Search And Track System
F-22

F-22 Raptor To Get Distributed Infrared Search And Track System

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 22, 2025

NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) has confirmed to TWZ that four Dutch F-35A stealth fighters are now also participating in Baltic Sentry, a mission intended, among other things, to ensure the security of critical undersea infrastructure in the region. The jets were already in the region as part of the alliance’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
F-35A

F-35s Now Helping Prevent Baltic Seafloor Cable Sabotage

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 22, 2025

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

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 22, 2025

The kit used by Air Force EOD techs was on displace in a recent photo staged during a controlled detonation.
U.S. Air Force

This Shot Of USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal Techs In The Middle East Goes Hard

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 22, 2025

An intense video has emerged in Russia, showing a portion of a Ukrainian drone strike, including the interception of one of the drones by what seems to be a Pantsir short-range air defense system. Footage showing the successful interception of Ukraine’s long-range one-way attack drones by Russian ground-based air defenses is not generally common and this one reinforces the challenge posed by these relentless Ukrainian attacks against Russian infrastructure and military facilities.
Unmanned

Extremely Low Altitude Shootdown Of Ukrainian Drone By Russian SAM Caught On Video

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 21, 2025

NASA’s new flying laboratory, an ex-commercial Boeing 777 airliner, has arrived in Waco, Texas, for modifications ahead of its entry to service. The aircraft will replace the agency’s now-retired Douglas DC-8.
Testbeds

NASA’s ‘New’ Boeing 777 Undergoes Modifications For Its Future Flying Laboratory Role

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 21, 2025

Drone scare New Jersey
Unmanned

FBI’s New Jersey Drone Scare Investigation Has No Suspects

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 21, 2025

After spending years charting a way forward to a family of unmanned surface vessels in a specific array of sizes and configurations, the Navy is eyeing a major course alteration that would see it pursuing a simpler and more interchangeable design.
Unmanned

Navy To Simplify Drone Ship Plans, Focus On Containerized Payloads That Look Alike

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Jan 17, 2025

A French Navy Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft was illuminated by the fire-control radar of a Russian long-range air defense system, while flying over the Baltic Sea earlier this week, according to France’s Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu.
Maritime Patrol

France Decries Russian S-400 Radar Locking Onto Its Maritime Patrol Aircraft Over Baltic Sea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 17, 2025

Littoral Combat Ship Can Now Rapidly Shoot Down Aerial Drones With Hellfire Missiles
AGM-114 Hellfire

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jan 17, 2025

An F-15E on a flight line in San Antonio, Texas. The aircraft was recently upgraded with Eagle Passive/Active Warning and Survivability System, advanced electronic warfare system.
F-15

F-15E Strike Eagle With New EPAWSS Electronic Warfare Suite Heads To Frontline Unit

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 17, 2025