Air (Page 24)

Latest in Air

F-35B from VMX-1 in formation.
Air

The Marine Unit Charged With Digitally Connecting Everything Over The Battlefield

By James Deboer

Posted on May 17, 2024

Ukraine has launched large-scale drone attacks against Russia.
Unmanned

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Launches Massive Drone Attack On Russia

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 17, 2024

The War Zone has now obtained additional high-resolution imagery better showing the extent of the destruction at Russia's Belbek Air Base from recent Ukrainian strikes.
Russian Air Force

MiG-31 Foxhounds Confirmed Destroyed In New Imagery Of Belbek Air Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 17, 2024

A Navy Growler electronic attack jet now sports a Hind helicopter "kill mark"
Mi-24

Navy EA-18G Growler Sports Puzzling Mi-24 Hind Kill Mark Overseas

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 16, 2024

NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory banks low over the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., upon arrival Nov. 8, 2007.
Air

NASA’s DC-8 Flying Lab Flies Into Retirement, Making The Type Nearly Extinct

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 15, 2024

The Viper Demo team has painted their jet in the YF-16's scheme to commemorate the type's 50th anniversary.
F-16

Viper Demo Team Secretly Painted Jet In YF-16 Scheme To Celebrate Type’s 50th Anniversary

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 15, 2024

An uncrewed version of the UH-72B Lakota helicopter is among the types now in the running to become of the Marine Corps' next logistics drones.
Unmanned

UH-72 Lakota Drone In The Running To Haul Cargo For The USMC

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

Congress says the Navy's CMV-22B Ospreys can only fly 30 minutes from a divert airfield, limiting their ability to provide carrier onboard delivery services.
V-22

Navy CMV-22B Ospreys Only Allowed To Fly 30 Minutes From A Divert Airfield: Congress

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 14, 2024

Members of Congress are pushing to block the US Air Force from retiring more than half of its F-15E Strike Eagles.
F-15

Move To Block F-15E Strike Eagle Cuts Being Made In Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

T-6 ejection seat mishap
F-16

T-6 Pilot Dies In Ejection Seat Accident

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 14, 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.
Su-34

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 14, 2024

The history and legacy of the Navy's F-16N
F-16

Live Fast, Die Young: The Story Of The Navy’s F-16N

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 14, 2024

LMADIS CUAS
Unmanned

Every Marine A Drone Defender Under Three Part Counter-UAS Plan

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on May 13, 2024

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has released a new rendering of a stealth tanker concept amid uncertainty about the U.S. Air Force's future tanker plans.
U.S. Air Force

New Skunk Works Stealthy Tanker Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 13, 2024

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) visits Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, May 10. Throughout the ship’s seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Carney successfully destroyed Houthi-launched weapons, including land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and unmanned systems.
Unmanned

USS Carney Destroyed 65 Houthi Targets During Its Cruise

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 13, 2024

Green berets on Shemya
Special Operations Aviation

American Special Operations Forces Are At A Crossroads

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 12, 2024

A B-2 Spirit taxis at Whiteman Air Force Base
B-2

Damaged B-2 Won’t Be Repaired, Fleet To Shrink To 19 Jets (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

After an extraordinary career spanning more than 80 years of service, and plenty of wartime missions, the South African Air Force (SAAF) is preparing to retire its last C-47 Dakotas. The decision is yet to be formally announced by the SAAF but looks set to confirm the fate of the service’s Dakotas, which have now been grounded for around two years.
Air Forces

South Africa’s C-47 Dakotas Set For Retirement After 80 Years Of Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 10, 2024

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which won the contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s highly specialized Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft last month, has acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The likelihood is that these will be converted as the successors to the Air Force’s aging 747-200-based E-4B Nightwatch ‘doomsday planes,’ although at this stage we still don’t know how many of the new SAOC aircraft will be fielded.
E-4

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 9, 2024

The famed Little Bird helicopters used by the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are seeing a 'resurrection' after the Army's cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but their future is still murky.
160th SOAR "Nightstalkers"

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 9, 2024

We now have our first look at a mini-cruise missile U.S. Special Operations Command is developing that could arm AC-130J gunships and other aircraft.
AC-130

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 9, 2024

STRAIT OF SAN JUAN DE FUCA, Wash. (May 6, 2024) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) transits the Strait of San Juan de Fuca escorted by U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and U.S. Coast Guard screening escort vessels. Joint operations, such as this one which involved the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy, ensure the U.S. military is ready to meet its security commitments at home and abroad including commitments to our allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gwendelyn Ohrazda/Released)
A-10

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 9, 2024

KH-101s are now being fired at Ukraine with two warheads onboard.
Russian Air Force

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Unmanned Long-Endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft crew chiefs, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prep an ULTRA aircraft for taxi across the flightline before an early morning takeoff at an undisclosed location, May 7, 2024. ULTRA is an unmanned aerial system capable of flight times up to 80 hours, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to combatant commanders, with a smaller operational footprint than other UAS in its class.
U.S. Air Force

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2024

An annual special operations capability demonstration has included paragliding Marines on a mock drone hunt.
Special Operations Aviation

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Rogue 1 the marines' new drone.
Loitering Munitions

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 8, 2024

US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.
MC-130

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles
F/A-18E/F

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 7, 2024

161013-N-OI810-093 WATERS SURROUNDING THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 13, 2016) Petty Officer 1st Class (AW/SW) John Diwa, from Dededo, Guam, installs inboard and outboard bearings on a main tire mount of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, in the hangar bay of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during Exercise Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters near the Korean Peninsula, consisting of routine carrier strike group (CSG) operations in support of maritime counter-special operating forces and integrated maritime operations. USS Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burke/Released)
F/A-18E/F

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

By Eric Tegler

Posted on May 7, 2024

The Air Force new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker buster bomb could be a future addition to the B-2 bomber's arsenal.
B-2

B-2 Spirits Could Get New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 7, 2024

USMC is wanting to incorporate drones across its forces.
Unmanned

‘Robot Marines’ In Every Formation: Corps’ Robotics Chief Casts Vision

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on May 7, 2024

A US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter has suffered a mishap at an airport in Georgia today, May 6, 2024.
F-22

F-22 Raptor Ends Up On Its Side During Air Guard Exercise (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2024

Russian 'turtle tank' seen operating with additional cage armor and an attached mine roller
Unmanned

New Russian Turtle Tank With Cage-Like Armor Emerges On Ukrainian Battlefield

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 6, 2024

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon
Unmanned

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2024

In a most unusual development in the Black Sea ‘drone war,’ Ukraine appears to have begun arming uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), better known as drone boats, with heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. The adaptation seems to have been made to provide the USVs with protection against the Russian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that are increasingly being used to counter them, although many questions remain about how these newly added weapons are intended work.
Air-To-Air

Ukrainian Drone Boats Now Armed With Adapted Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2024

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine
U.S. Air Force

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 4, 2024

Boeing Pitches F-15EX For Saudi Arabian Fighter Competition
F-15

Boeing Pitches F-15EX For Saudi Arabian Fighter Competition

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 3, 2024

The Marine Corps is now flight testing a new secretive stand-off missile for its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.
AH-1

Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 3, 2024

Israeli forces are shooting down large numbers of their own drones in friendly fire incidents, underscoring challenges the U.S. military will also have to contend with as uncrewed aerial systems become an ever more ubiquitous component of operations.
Unmanned

Israel Is Shooting Down A Lot Of Its Own Drones

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 2, 2024

The future of the Harvest Hawk armament kits for Marine Corps KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft are increasingly uncertain as focus shifts to planning for future high-end conflicts.
KC-130

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 1, 2024

Footage has been published, apparently for the first time, showing a Chinese H-6 bomber dropping one of the shadowy air-launched ballistic missiles known by the designation 2PZD-21. The missile is part of a growing armory of Chinese aero-ballistic missiles and is widely understood to be a ‘carrier-killer’ weapon designed to be used as part of the country’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy. However, many questions remain about the role of the weapon and its capabilities.
H-6 Bomber

China’s H-6K Bomber Seen Firing Air-Launched Ballistic Missile For First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 1, 2024

Marines Osprey
MV-22

How The Marines Plan To Fly The MV-22 Osprey Into The 2060s

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2024

A 49th Wing F-16 Viper takes off Jan. 19, 2022, at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. Holloman is the Air Force’s premiere training base for F-16 Viper and MQ-9 Reaper aircrew. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adrian Salazar)
F-16

F-16 Crashes Near Holloman Air Force Base In New Mexico (Updated)

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Apr 30, 2024

The Kaman Corporation has announced the first flight of its KARGO UAV, a rotary-wing drone intended for autonomous, expeditionary resupply. The design is aimed for the U.S. Marine Corps, for which Kaman previously developed the K-MAX unmanned helicopter. The KARGO UAV is now competing in the Marines’ Medium Autonomous Resupply Vehicle — Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) program, with a winner due to be selected this summer.
Helicopters

Kaman’s Kargo Logistics Drone For The Marines Now In Flight Test

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2024

F-35 has gotten its name from Poland.
F-35A

Poland’s Future F-35s Have Been Officially Named “Husarz”

By Oliver Parken

Updated on Apr 30, 2024

Yak52 engages orlan drone
Ukrainian Air Force

Ukraine May Now Be Using WWI-Style Air Combat Tactics Against Drones

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 29, 2024

SAOC will replace the E-4B, now we have a better idea of what it will look like.
E-4

E-4B Doomsday Plane Replacement Concept Art Has Some Interesting Features

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 29, 2024

China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, appears poised to leave port to begin its first at-sea trials. The development comes soon after five aircraft mockups appeared on the deck of the flattop, as you can read about here. Once the Fujian goes to sea, it will mark a hugely important step in the development of China’s naval aviation, with the carrier being the first of its kind to be fully locally designed and also its first to launch aircraft via catapults rather than by a ‘ski jump’ takeoff ramp.
Naval Aviation

China’s New Aircraft Carrier Pulls Away From Its Pier Ahead Of Sea Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 29, 2024

SNC has won the competition to deliver new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) 'doomsday planes' to succeed the Air Force's E-4B Nightwatch jets.
E-4

Job Of Building The Air Force’s Next Doomsday Planes Falls To Sierra Nevada Corp. (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 28, 2024

General Atomics has now confirmed that its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone design for the US Air Force is based on its XQ-67A.
U.S. Air Force

XQ-67 Confirmed To Be A Prototype For General Atomics’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 26, 2024

Ukraine appears to have converted a light aircraft to serve as a remote bomber.
Unmanned

Ukraine Appears To Be Using Light Planes Converted Into Reusable Bomber Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 26, 2024

A US Marine Corps CH-53K recently carried the stripped-down hulk of an F-35C fighter from one base to another and refueled in mid-air along the way.
KC-130

Check Out This Marine CH-53K Carrying An F-35C While Refueling From A KC-130T

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 26, 2024

The Ukrainian Air Force is using iPads, or similar tablets in the cockpits of its Soviet-era jets to enable rapid integration of modern Western air-to-ground weapons — something that TWZ predicted back in 2022. This has been confirmed by Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante. While many questions remain about the tablet and how it works, there’s now more footage showing it fitted in cockpits.
MiG-29

Ukrainian Fighter Jets “Using iPads” To Control Western Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 25, 2024

A senior U.S. official has strongly implied that Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs sent to Ukraine have performed so poorly for a variety of reasons that they have been removed from service.
Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)/Stormbreaker

Have Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs Been ‘Thrown Aside’ By Ukraine?

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 25, 2024

Balloon Russia Ukraine

Ukraine’s Explosive-Laden Balloon Operations Against Russia

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 25, 2024

Eglin UFO Case
U.S. Air Force

Eglin AFB Pilot Likely Saw A Lighting Balloon, Not A UFO Pentagon Concludes

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 25, 2024

The US Air Force has chosen Anduril and General Atomics to move ahead in Increment 1 of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program.
U.S. Air Force

General Atomics, Anduril Move Ahead In Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Program (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Apr 24, 2024

Ukraine will receive Paveway IV precision-guided bombs as part of the latest package of weapons being supplied by the United Kingdom to assist in the war with Russia. At this stage it’s unclear which aircraft will be armed with the dual-mode Paveway bombs, but the move ensures the United Kingdom remains very much at the forefront of delivering advanced and novel military equipment to Ukraine.
Air-To-Ground

Dual-Mode Paveway IV Guided Bombs Headed To Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 24, 2024

Additional details about a breakthrough autonomous dogfight in September 2023 underscore significant challenges still to be addressed.
U.S. Air Force

Next Big Challenge For AI Dogfighting Is Keeping Track Of Enemies Up Close

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 24, 2024

South Korean F-4E launches an AGM-142 'Pop-eye' missile
F-4

F-4 Phantoms Conduct Final Popeye Missile Firing Before South Korea Bids Them Farewell

By Oliver Parken

Updated on Apr 23, 2024

H-20_CONCEPT_ART_PLAAF
J-20

China’s H-20 Stealth Bomber “Not Really” A Concern: U.S. Official

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 23, 2024

General Atomics' Mojave short takeoff and landing drone armed with a pair of Minigun pods recently conducted a first-of-its-kind live-fire demonstration.
Aircraft gun systems

Minigun-Armed Mojave Drone Now Blasting Targets At 6,000 Rounds Per Minute

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 23, 2024

A picture has emerged purportedly showing a Chinese H-6 bomber carrying a large mystery payload underneath its fuselage.
H-6 Bomber

Black Mystery Craft Spotted Slung Under Chinese H-6 Bomber

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 23, 2024

Russian troops used smoke to try and hide its attack in Luhansk Oblast.
Unmanned

Russian Troops Deploy Huge Smokescreen To Hide From Marauding Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 22, 2024