Air (Page 17)

Latest in Air

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Solutions Aim To Keep Fourth-Generation Aircraft Lethal And Survivable

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Solutions Aim To Keep Fourth-Generation Aircraft Lethal And Survivable

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

We have gotten our best look at a Ukrainian 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) mobile short-range air defense system (SHORADS) armed with the Soviet-era R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared-guided air-to-air missile. While other such systems have typically integrated Western missile armament on existing Ukrainian ground-based air defense systems — known as ‘FrankenSAMs’ — this one is notable for combining a Soviet-era SHORADS vehicle with Soviet-era missiles.
Air-To-Air

Ukraine’s SA-8 Gecko ‘FrankenSAM’ Adapted To Fire Air-To-Air Missiles Seen In New Detail

By Thomas Newdick

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

Hysteria about drones over New Jersey obscures the fact that there is a real national security concern.
U.S. Air Force

Coast Guard Ship Stalked By Unidentified Aircraft, Iran Drone Mothership Claim Shot Down By DoD

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

T-7 at Edwards AFB undergoing testing.
T-7

Inside T-7 Red Hawk Test Operations At Edwards AFB

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Dec 11, 2024

V-BAT Drone Has Proven Its Ability To Operate In Heavily-Contested Skies

V-BAT Drone Has Proven Its Ability To Operate In Heavily-Contested Skies

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Dec 11, 2024

A U2 Dragon Lady Pilot is integrated into his spacesuit for a flight to the Edge of Space. This photoshoot was done by Blair Bunting, a commercial photographer from Phoenix, AZ.
U-2

Dressing For Success At 70,000-Feet Aboard The U-2 Dragon Lady

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 11, 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

Imagery has appeared showing Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter fitted with a new type of thrust-vectoring engine nozzle. The radical-looking design is intended to improve the low-observable features of the Felon, although the future of the new engine nozzle is far from certain.
Su-57

Su-57 Felon’s Two-Dimensional Thrust-Vectoring Engine Nozzle Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

Mk 41 launcher MDA Guam
Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles

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

By Geoff Ziezulewicz, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

North Korea is set to receive MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighter aircraft from Russia in return for Pyongyang having sent thousands of troops to fight in Moscow’s war in Ukraine. This is the assessment of the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), after much speculation about the nature of the support that might be headed to North Korea to reward that country for its growing military backing of Russia. The prospect of fighter aircraft being transferred by Russia is something that TWZ has discussed in the past.
MiG-29

Russia Giving North Korea MiG-29s And Su-27s Isn’t That Straightforward

By Thomas Newdick

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.
Russian Air Force

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 10, 2024

The United Kingdom has taken an important step toward its Tempest next-generation fighter, with the start of a trials campaign for the Flight Test Aircraft (FTA), nicknamed Excalibur, which will serve as a flying laboratory for the new combat aircraft. Based on a Boeing 757 airliner, the FTA joins a growing band of dedicated trials aircraft that are being used to prove out technologies for current and future-generation fighter programs, also in the United States and China.
Airborne Radar

UK’s 757-Based ‘Excalibur’ Avionics Testbed For Tempest Future Fighter Emerges

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2024

The entire fleet of U.S. V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has been temporarily grounded after a mishap involving an AFSOC CV-22 last month at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

V-22s Grounded Again After Special Operations Osprey Mishap

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2024

F-35 CCA under trump admin
F-35

Former Trump Acting SECDEF Talks About The Future Of Big Ticket Defense Programs

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 6, 2024

Gen. Bussiere said the number and speed of delivery of the B-21 is a “valid discussion” to have “based on the age of the B-1 and B-2” and the advancing strategic capabilities of Russia and China.
B-21

B-21 Raider Numbers Could Be Boosted With Existing Production Capacity

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 6, 2024

5 inch Mark 45 deck gun firing.
Unmanned

USS Carney’s Red Sea Operations Highlight 5-inch Deck Gun’s Anti-Air Capability

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

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

Ngad punted to trump adminstration
NGAD

Future Of NGAD Fighter Punted To Trump Administration

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

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

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

Russian fighter base in Syria
Russian Air Force

Russia’s Prized Bases Along The Mediterranean In Syria Could Be At Risk

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 3, 2024

Russian and Syrian airstrikes are slowing the advance by anti-government rebels.
Russian Air Force

Airstrikes Slow Advance Of Anti-Assad Forces In Syria

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 2, 2024

The last of the classic Cold War-era MiG-21 Fishbed fighters in Europe have ben stood down from operational duties. Assigned to NATO, the Croatian Air Force was the last European operator of the MiG-21, a type that originally entered service back in 1959 and which had been a presence over the continent ever since then, in the hands of over a dozen different nations.
MiG-21

Final MiG-21 Fishbeds Stand Down From Active Duty In Europe

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 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

Additional photos provide a much more detailed look at the mysterious Chinese flattop that TWZ was first to report on, and which recently went to sea, apparently for its first trials. While the function of this vessel remains unknown, the recently published photos do confirm that it’s intended to operate rotary-wing aircraft (perhaps in addition to fixed-wing drones), but there are no obvious signs of catapults or arrester cables of the kind that would be used for operating heavier fixed-wing types. There is also no indication that the vessel has a floodable well-deck like those found on many amphibious warfare ships.
Unmanned

Detailed Deck View Emerges Of China’s Mysterious Aircraft Carrier-Like Ship

By Thomas Newdick

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

Mystery drones have flown over USAF bases in the UK for an eighth day.
B-52

Drone Incursions Over USAF Bases In UK Enter Second Week

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 27, 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

The Royal Australian Air Force, or RAAF has experimented with a new rapidly laid temporary surface, making it easier to conduct expeditionary aircraft operations, something that is of increasing relevance across the Indo-Pacific region. The trial, which used a temporary surface known as Dura-Base, involved an RAAF F-35A stealth fighter at RAAF Base Tindal, in Australia’s Northern Territory.
F-35A

Australian F-35 Tests Expeditionary Base Concept

By Thomas Newdick

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

The German arm of the European missile house described its RCM² remote carrier (RC) as a multidomain platform that is able to perform both kinetic strike and electronic warfare (EW) jamming and decoy roles in highly contested and denied airspace.
Unmanned

This Is MBDA’s Latest Vision For Its Cruise Missile-Like RCM² ‘Remote Carrier’

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 27, 2024

SUMY, UKRAINE - NOVEMBER 26: A destroyed car stands in a parking lot after a Russian missile attack on November 26, 2024 in Sumy, Ukraine. According to the acting mayor of Sumy, Artem Kobzar, the Russian army attacked the city with a missile. As a result of the strike, a residential multi-storey building was damaged and a parking lot was destroyed.
Ukrainian Air Force

Russia Launched The Largest Drone Attack On Ukraine Of The War

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 26, 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

An AH-64 helicopter hovers during a military drill July 28, 2003 in Yeounchun, South Korea. About 37,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea under a security alliance forged after the 1950-53 Korean War.
AH-64

AH-64 Apache To Be Tested With Wing-Mounted AESA Radar

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 25, 2024

Mystery drones have appeared once again near US bases in the UK.
U.S. Air Force

Mysterious Drones Have Descended Again On U.S. Air Bases In The United Kingdom (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 25, 2024

The U.S. Army has received the first of its new High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft, based on the Bombardier Global 6500 bizjet. Set to supersede a varied fleet of turboprop intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms, HADES will fly higher, faster, and farther, and for longer periods, while carrying a bigger sensor payload.
Airborne Sensors

Army Gets Its First HADES Airborne Reconnaissance Jet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 25, 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

An unspecified number of drones were spotted over RAF Lakenheath in England
Royal Air Force

Multiple Drone Incursions Just Occurred Over USAF Fighter Base In England

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 22, 2024

Anti-aircraft missile system S-400 parade on Dvortsovaya (Palace) Square during the Victory Day ceremony devoted to the 71th anniversary of the end of World War II in St.Petersburg on May 9, 2016.
Air

North Korea Getting New Air Defenses In Return For Supporting Russia In Ukraine: Official

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 22, 2024

Ukraine claims Russia fired an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the city of Dmipro.
Ukrainian Air Force

Russia’s Unprecedented Ballistic Missile Attack On Ukraine: What We Know

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick

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

Pictured is an RAF Chinook (27(R) Squadron) flying in formation with a Puma (230 Squadron) over RAF Cosford. After a 3-year Covid-enforced break, the RAF Cosford Air Show will take place on 12 June 2022. The last RAF-organised air show, it attracts 50,000 people to the airfield and incorporates a flying display, static aircraft displays, STEM displays and vintage villages. The highlights of the flying will be the RAF Red Arrows, BBMF, Typhoon display team, Belgian F16 and French Rafale. The RAF F35B displayed at the air show for the first time.
Royal Air Force

British Defense Cuts Hit All Three Services Hard

By Thomas Newdick

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

Picatinny Arsenal drone sighting
Unmanned

Army Arsenal Seeking Info On Mysterious Drone Flights Over Installation

By Howard Altman

Updated on Nov 20, 2024

29 November 2023, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Sassnitz: A fiber optic cable is pulled ashore from the cable-laying ship "Pleijel" at the entrance to the port of Sassnitz. After several weather-related delays, an 800-kilometre-long undersea cable from Scandinavia landed in Sassnitz on the island of Rügen on Wednesday. the yellow cable, which is about the thickness of a broomstick, will soon be connected to the GlobalConnect fiber optic network. Including land and sea routes, the cable for the digital high-speed highway is a total of 2600 kilometers long, as GlobalConnect announced. Work began in fall 2021.
Air

Sabotage Claims Swirl Around Severed Baltic Sea Cable Incidents

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 19, 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

A Turkish Air Force F-4E Phantom II, adorned with a striking Turkish flag livery, soars in a low-altitude maneuver over Eskisehir to commemorate 50 years of service in the Turkish Air Force in Eskisehir, Turkiye on November 16, 2024.
F-4

F-4 Phantoms Tear Through Turkey To Mark 50 Years Of Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 18, 2024

SPEAR 3 air-to-surface mini cruise missile.
F-35B

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.
F-35

First Stand-In Attack Missile Delivered To USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 18, 2024

F-15E Drone hunting Iranian attack
F-15

F-15E Pilot Recounts Having To Switch To Guns After Missiles Ran Dry During Iranian Drone Barrage

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 15, 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

North Koran drones
Loitering Munitions

North Korea’s Kim Orders Mass Production Of Kamikaze Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 15, 2024

GREMLIN AARO
Unmanned

Military’s UFO-Hunting Aerial Surveillance System Detailed In Report

By Howard Altman

Updated 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

SB>1 Defiant at the Army Aviation Museum at Fort Novosel.
Future Vertical Lift

SB>1 Defiant High-Speed Helicopter Put To Rest In A Museum

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 13, 2024

Flight Test Boss Details How China Threat Is Rapidly Changing Operations At Edwards AFB

Flight Test Boss Details How China Threat Is Rapidly Changing Operations At Edwards AFB

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Nov 13, 2024

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) Gray Eagle STOL drone has undertaken its first experimental operations from a warship, taking off from the deck of the South Korean amphibious assault ship Dokdo. Gray Eagle STOL — which we have discussed in depth in the past — incorporates technology first demonstrated on the company’s Mojave, which was specifically developed with the ability to perform short takeoffs and landings, including from rough fields, with minimal support. The latest development adds to the aviation-capable warships that the wider family of Q-1 lineage drones have now operated from.
Republic of Korea Air Force

Gray Eagle STOL Drone Flies From South Korean Amphibious Assault Ship

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 13, 2024

Boeing is pushing ahead with plans for future upgrades to the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter. While the scope of what is tentatively known as the modernized Apache have been scaled back somewhat compared to how it once looked, the company is considering the lessons of the war in Ukraine as it seeks to optimize the AH-64 so that it can continue to serve the U.S. Army into the 2060s.
AH-64

Boeing’s Plan For Modernized AH-64 Apaches Serving Into The 2060s

By Thomas Newdick

Posted 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

France will have sent Ukraine 600 Hammer bombs by the end of the year.
MiG-29

Ukraine Will Have Received 600 French Hammer Bombs By End Of Year

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 13, 2024

The W5000, the world's largest unmanned cargo plane, is shown at The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on November 12, 2024.
Unmanned

China’s New W5000 Cargo Drone Is The Biggest Yet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 12, 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