Air (Page 8)

Posted on May 29, 2025

Israel has used a new air defense laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones in the current conflict in the Middle East, it has been confirmed. What is described as an adapted version of the Iron Beam system made its combat debut last October and the definitive version should be fielded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later this year, joining an already formidable, layered air defense network.

Israeli Air Force

Israel’s Iron Beam Laser Air Defense System Has Downed Enemy Drones

Posted on May 29, 2025

Saab of Sweden is pitching its GlobalEye multi-sensor surveillance plane to Canada, which is searching for a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability. While the GlobalEye will face stiff competition from the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, which had been selected by the U.S. Air Force and NATO, among others, the Swedish solution will be combined with a Canadian-made Bombardier Global 6000/6500 airframe.

E-7

Saab GlobalEye Set To Challenge Boeing E-7 As Canada’s New Radar Plane

Posted on May 28, 2025

Starfighters international are working to secure F-4s from South Korea for space launch duties.

F-4

F-4 Phantoms Sought By Private Space Launch Company Starfighters International

Updated on May 28, 2025

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded General Atomics a contract for work on what is described as a "hybrid-electric propulsion ducted fan next-generation intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance/strike unmanned aerial system," or GHOST.

Avenger

Hybrid-Electric GHOST Strike-Recon Drone In The Works For USAF

Posted on May 28, 2025

Ukraine is pushing back on a Russian claim that Vladimir Putin's helicopter came under fire on May 20.

Helicopters

Claims Swirl Over Supposed Ukrainian Attack On Putin’s Helicopter

Posted on May 28, 2025

Announced today, the Quarterhorse Mk 1 first took to the air last week at Edwards Air Force Base, California, when it “achieved stable flight and landed smoothly,” according to the company. “Mk 1's flight validated our rapid, iterative approach to airplane development and advanced our mission to radically accelerate aviation,” Hermeus added.

Air Forces

First Flight For Quarterhorse Prototype That Aims To Lead To A Reusable Hypersonic Jet

Posted on May 28, 2025

Aircraft like the KJ-3000 help Chinese forces extend and support anti-access and area denial bubbles, including around the mainland, Taiwan, and the hotly contested South China Sea, as well as project power further afield.

Airborne Radar

China’s New KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning Radar Jet Seen In Detail In New Image

Posted on May 27, 2025

The Aerial Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (AARV), which was a two-seat scout. It was envisaged as a successor to the U.S. Army’s Hughes OH-6 Cayuse and Bell OH-58 Kiowa. These had been procured under the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program and saw extensive use in Vietnam.

Helicopters

These Heavily Armored Helicopters Were Pitched To The Army During The Cold War

Posted on May 24, 2025

Adding APKWS II to the F-15E's arsenal is an unsurprising development that would turn the Strike Eagle into a counter-drone and counter-cruise missile arsenal ship.

F-15

F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting

Posted on May 23, 2025

Air

Aftermath Of Disastrous North Korean Frigate Launch Seen In Satellite Image (Updated)

Updated on May 23, 2025

Area 51

World’s Most Secretive 737 Just Made A Very Rare Appearance

Updated on May 23, 2025

Myanmar rebels claim they shot down a government Mi-17 helicopter with an FPV drone.

Mi8/Mi-17

Mi-17 Appears To Have Been Downed By FPV Drone In Myanmar

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 22, 2025

A front view rendering of PA-Ng, dated 2022.

UCAVs

French Navy Offers Sneak Peek Of Its Future Carrier Air Wing

Posted on May 22, 2025

Russia is introducing new nuclear-tipped air-to-air missiles as part of an overall expansion of its nuclear forces, according to an assessment from the Pentagon’s Defense Intelligence Agency, or DIA. While nuclear-armed air-to-air missiles were part of the Soviet Union’s armory during the Cold War, their current status within the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), is little-known, which makes the disclosure from this U.S. intelligence agency all the more intriguing.

Russian Air Force

Russia Fielding New Nuclear-Armed Air-To-Air Missiles: U.S. Intel

Posted on May 21, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is planning to return its F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath in England and consolidate its fleet stateside. Currently, the F-15Es in the United Kingdom are the only permanently forward-deployed examples of the aircraft, which remain the service’s first choice for a wide variety of critical missions around the globe.

F-15

F-15E Strike Eagles To Leave England For Good

Posted on May 21, 2025

The head of the U.S. Navy Reserve says that acquiring new C-130J Hercules aircraft is a top priority, particularly because of the critical organic aerial refueling capacity they could provide in a future Pacific fight.

KC-130

Buying KC-130Js Key To Navy’s Ability To Fight In Pacific: Reserve Boss

Posted on May 21, 2025

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 20: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office at the White House on May 20, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Trump announced his plans for the "Golden Dome," a national ballistic and cruise missile defense system. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Air-Launched Ballistic Missiles

Trump’s Golden Dome Missile Shield: What We Just Learned And Its Implications

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 21, 2025

Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David Allvin today discussed the potential of a new version of the prolific F-16, a so-called Block 80, as a way of increasing the combat mass of the service in the future. While the Air Force doesn’t at this point have a plan to start buying Vipers again, it’s certainly interesting that the topic is up for discussion, especially with the service looking hard at how it will balance its next-generation fighter requirements, while introducing the F-47 crewed stealth fighter and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones.

F-16

Air Force Chief Responds To Possibility Of Buying New ‘Block 80’ F-16s

Posted on May 20, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is now actively exploring what it would take to turn an already heavily-modified 747-8i airliner from Qatar into a platform that can meet extremely stringent requirements to serve in the Air Force One role.

Air Force One

Plans To Modify Qatari 747 Into Air Force One Now Being Drawn Up By USAF

Posted on May 20, 2025

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jordan Green, 67th Fighter Generation Squadron crew chief, marshals an F-15E Strike Eagle during an elephant walk at Kadena Air Base, Japan, May 6, 2025. Directly after, the 18th Wing generated real-time sorties to strengthen Kadena’s readiness to defend Japan. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman James Johnson)

F-15

Additional F-15E Strike Eagles Arrive In Diego Garcia

Updated on May 19, 2025

We now have our first look at an actual prototype of General Atomics' YFQ-42A 'fighter drone.'

Our First Look At The YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft

Updated on May 19, 2025

Russia has followed Ukraine’s lead in adapting the propeller-driven Yak-52 primary training aircraft as an ad-hoc drone-killer. The Yak-52B2 includes a sensor turret to help detect long-range one-way attack drones and has a shotgun mounted under the wing for shooting them down. While it appears that Ukrainian Yak-52s have had some success in the counter-drone role, the appearance of the Yak-52B2 provides more evidence of the pressure that Ukrainian drone strikes are placing on Russia’s traditional air defenses.

Russian Air Force

Russia Testing Shotgun-Armed Yak-52 Trainer Aircraft To Down Ukrainian Drones

Posted on May 19, 2025

The first production example of the new B61-13 nuclear bomb has been completed roughly a year ahead of schedule, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

B-2

Far More Powerful B61-13 Guided Nuclear Bomb Variant Joins U.S. Stockpile

Posted on May 19, 2025

F-15s deploy to Diego Garcia to protect B-52s.

F-15

F-15s Deploy To Protect Diego Garcia

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on May 17, 2025

Air Force Munitions

Long-Range ‘Deep Precision Strike’ Missile To Be Developed By UK And Germany

Posted on May 16, 2025

As the dust settles, for now, on the latest clashes between India and Pakistan, it’s clear that the nations’ respective air forces played a very active role in the fighting. At this stage, details of what happened are still extremely hard to come by, with seemingly endless claims and counterclaims, especially around possible shootdowns, and very little in the way of verifiable facts about how the air-to-air engagements played out. However, many observers are already pointing to the potentially significant impact of the Pakistan Air Force’s Chinese-made Chengdu J-10C multirole fighters, as well as their vaunted PL-15 air-to-air missiles.

Indian Air Force

China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality

Posted on May 15, 2025

F-35

Trump Wants A Twin-Engine “F-55” Version Of The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter

Posted on May 15, 2025

FLRAA

MV-75 Official Designation Given To Future U.S. Army Tiltrotor Assault Aircraft (Updated)

Posted on May 14, 2025

The future of the Navy NGAD crewed aircraft program remains in limbo.

Fate Of Navy’s F/A-XX Future Fighter Is In Limbo (Updated)

Posted on May 14, 2025

F-35 was nearly downed by Houthi air defenses.

F-16

How The Houthis’ Rickety Air Defenses Threaten Even The F-35

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 14, 2025

F-47 has a range of 1,000+ nautical miles.

F-47

F-47 Now Has An Officially Stated Combat Radius Of 1,000+ Nautical Miles

Posted on May 14, 2025

A U.S. F-35 stealth fighter had to take evasive action to avoid being hit by a Houthi SAM, a U.S. official told The War Zone.

F-35

F-35 Had To Maneuver To Evade Houthi Surface-To-Air Missile: U.S. Official

Posted on May 14, 2025

Ukraine has, apparently for the first time, released a video showing its use of the Soviet-era S-200 (SA-5 Gammon) long-range surface-to-air missile, a weapon that was apparently reinstated to service only after the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

Air

Our Best Look At Ukraine’s Reactivated S-200 Long-Range Surface-To-Air Missiles In Action

Updated on May 13, 2025

Air-Launched ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Being Eyed By Air Force

Updated on May 13, 2025

Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) Lt General Rajiv Ghai with Air Marshal AK Bharti, Vice Admiral AN Pramod during a press conference on 'Operation Sindoor' at National Media Centre, on May 12, 2025 in New Delhi, India. Senior officers from the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force addressed the nation, revealing details of Operation Sindoor, a coordinated military strike carried out on May 7 targeting terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and Punjab province. Officers confirmed that over 100 terrorists were killed during the operation. The strikes were launched in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.

Indian Air Force

Claims Swirl As India And Pakistan Assess Results Of Latest Conflict

Updated on May 13, 2025

Air Force One

Turning Qatar’s Gifted 747 Into Air Force One Will Be Anything But Free

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 12, 2025

KC-130

Starlink-Equipped Navy C-130s Offer Communication Boost For Pacific Missile Tests

Posted on May 12, 2025

Ukraine’s military intelligence service has released details of a new Russian cruise missile, the S8000 Banderol, which it claims makes extensive use of components sourced from foreign manufacturers, including in the United States. Unusually, the missile was apparently developed for launch from drones and has reportedly already been used in combat in the war in Ukraine.

Russian Air Force

New Small Russian Cruise Missile Captured By Ukrainian Intelligence

Updated on May 12, 2025

Air-To-Air

Chinese-Made PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Components Came Down Intact Inside India

Updated on May 9, 2025

The U.S. Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones are being developed around fundamentally different understandings of maintenance, logistics, and sustainment, with a heavier focus on commercial-off-the-shelf components, than the service’s existing crewed and uncrewed platforms.

USAF Wants Collaborative Aircraft Fleet To Stress Parts Commonality For Forward Operations

Posted on May 9, 2025

Two new drone designs, Apollo and Athena, are in development at Kratos with a particular focus on collaborative operations with other crewed and uncrewed aircraft, and an eye toward sales in Europe.

Two Secretive Loyal Wingman Drones Aimed At European Market In Development From Kratos

Updated on May 9, 2025

The U.S. Army has incorporated special operations-specific requirements into the design of its Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) tiltrotor, which has led to an unspecified increase in gross weight.

160th SOAR "Nightstalkers"

Army’s Future Tiltrotor Gets Heavier So It Can Rapidly Convert Into Special Ops Variant

Posted on May 9, 2025

Satellite imagery indicates that there are now 10 U.S. heavy bombers – six stealthy B-2s and four B-52s – on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

B-2

B-52s Join B-2s On Diego Garcia,10 Bombers Now At Indian Ocean Island

Updated on May 8, 2025

Pakistan claims it downed more than two dozen Israeli-made Harop drones as the conflict with India intensifies.

Air

Israeli-Made Harop Attack Drones Launched By India By The Dozens, Pakistan Claims

Updated on May 8, 2025

Unmanned

We Talk About The U.S. Army’s New Black Widow Short-Range Recon Drone With Red Cat

By Jamie Hunter, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 8, 2025

Reports of the air war that’s been taking place between India and Pakistan in recent days suggest what may well be the most intense series of aerial engagements for decades. While it’s still very hard to obtain confirmed details of this combat, which some sources state has involved more than a hundred fighters simultaneously, we do, at least, know what kinds of air-to-air missiles (AAMs) are available to the Indian and Pakistan Air Forces.

Indian Air Force

The Air-To-Air Missiles That Equip India And Pakistan’s Fighters

Posted on May 8, 2025

AC-130

Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile-Armed AC-130J Gunships Could Be On The Horizon

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Posted on May 8, 2025

L3Harris Sky Warden test aircraft for the OA-1K Skyraider II program for the Air Force Special Operations Command.

OA-1K Skyraider II Walk-Around Tour With Its Test Pilot

By Jamie Hunter, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 7, 2025

Loitering Munitions

Stealthy Special Operations Speedboats Are Getting Kamikaze Drone Launchers

Updated on May 7, 2025

The air war currently unfolding between India and Pakistan is exceedingly murky, but one aspect that seems almost certain is the use of the Chinese-made PL-15 active-radar-guided air-to-air missile (AAM) by Pakistan. So far, Pakistan claims to have shot down five Indian aircraft and at least one Indian official has reportedly confirmed the crash of three aircraft but cautioned that the reasons were not clear. Unverified imagery suggests that one of the Indian Air Force’s prized Rafale multirole fighters may have been shot down. Regardless, the fighting between the two nuclear-armed states is the most intense for decades, now with the growing risk of the situation spiraling further out of control.

Rafale

China’s PL-15 Air-To-Air Missile Appears To Have Been Used In Combat For The First Time

Updated on May 7, 2025

Hornet crashed aboard the USS Harry S Truman

F/A-18E/F

Super Hornet Crashes Landing On USS Truman, Its Second F/A-18 Loss In A Week

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC)

Updated on May 7, 2025

The Black Arrow, which is intended to carry a range of different payloads and not just a kinetic warhead, arrives at a time when the Pentagon is looking at harnessing the potential of lower-cost weapons that can be readily produced at scale to meet the likely demands of future conflicts.

AC-130 Gunship-Launched Black Arrow Small Cruise Missile Has A 400-Mile Range

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2025

AeroVironment has rolled out a new long-range loitering one-way attack drone called Red Dragon that the company designed to operate with very "limited user interaction."

Loitering Munitions

Red Dragon Highly-Autonomous One-Way Attack Drone Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2025

Raytheon has begun test flights of its compact PhantomStrike radar, which features an active electronically scanned array (AESA) and gallium nitride (GaN) technology. Most significantly, the manufacturer claims that PhantomStrike — which has already been ordered by Poland — brings all the benefits of an AESA antenna at a much lower price point than other radars in its class.

PhantomStrike Low-Cost Lightweight AESA Radar Flies For First Time

Posted on May 6, 2025

Light Air Support

Can The OA-1K Skyraider II Actually Be Useful In A Pacific Fight?

Posted on May 6, 2025

A CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft assigned to the 20th Special Operations Squadron approaches the air-refueling receptacle of an MC-130 Commando II during a night flight at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, Sept. 12, 2024. The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that combines a helicopter's vertical takeoff, hover, and vertical landing qualities with the long-range, fuel efficiency, and speed characteristics of a turboprop aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gracelyn Hess)

AC-130

Electronic Warfare Lessons From Ukraine Informing Air Force Special Operations Future

Updated on May 5, 2025

XQ-58

Kratos Close To “A Couple” Final Versions Of XQ-58 Valkyrie For The Marines

Posted on May 5, 2025

Small missile for CCA and fighter aircraft sought by USAF.

F-35

Air Force Looking For Cheap Air-To-Air Missile Half The Size Of AMRAAM

Posted on May 5, 2025

AIM-9 Sidewinder

AIM-9 Sidewinder-Armed Ukrainian Drone Boat: What We Know

Posted on May 5, 2025

The planned live-fire sinking of a decommissioned warship at the Balikatan exercise in the Philippines was struck a blow after the ship in question sunk before navies had a chance to pummel it with weapons. The World War II-era corvette BRP Miguel Malvar (PS-19) was being positioned at the start of the exercise, which continued regardless, including other live-fire events.

Air

Ship Sinks Just Before Being Pummeled With Weapons In Pacific Exercise

Updated on May 5, 2025

Su-30

Two Russian Su-30 Flankers Downed By AIM-9s Fired From Drone Boats: Ukrainian Intel Boss

Posted on May 4, 2025

Procurement of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle for the U.S. Army may end, with the drone being among the platforms that the service could lose under a wide-ranging force-structure overhaul. The development comes as the drone’s manufacturer continues to develop modernized versions of the Gray Eagle, as well as add new equipment and capabilities.

Air

Stop Buying MQ-1C Gray Eagle Drones Army’s Top Leadership Decrees