Air (Page 8)

Updated on Jun 12, 2025

Rafale

Rafale Reemerges With Conformal Fuel Tanks

Posted on Jun 12, 2025

A Prediator-B drone, most likely operated by Customs and Border Protection, flew deep into Mexico on Wednesday.

Q-9

Department Of Homeland Security Predator B Drones Are Orbiting Over Los Angeles

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 11, 2025

More details have emerged about the problems the U.S. Navy is facing with its ill-starred podded Infrared Search And Track System, or IRST, an important capability planned for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The latest issues to be highlighted come after TWZ previously reported on delays caused by production quality issues with the system and a Pentagon assessment of “significant reliability problems during operational testing,” which emerged earlier this year.

F/A-18E/F

New Details On F/A-18 Super Hornet’s Troubled IRST Pod

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

APKWS rockets were kept from Ukraine to be used to defend US in the Middle East.

F-15

Counter-Drone Weapons Diverted From Ukraine To Middle East Amid Rising Tensions, Hegseth Confirms

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

The proven and in-production E-7 Wedgetail, based on the Boeing 737 and serving with multiple allies, was supposed to bridge the gap between the E-3's retirement and pushing the mission to space-based distributed satellite constellations. Now, if the administration gets its wish, that won't happen. The E-7 will be cancelled and the Navy's E-2D Hawkeye will step in to fill the gap.

E-2

E-2 Hawkeye Replaces USAF E-3 Sentry, E-7 Cancelled In New Budget

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2025

Gripen

Saab’s Gripen Tests AI In Long-Range Air-To-Air Engagements

Updated on Jun 11, 2025

An artist's rendering of the Long Range Standoff Weapon is shown.

B-21

First Glimpse Of Air Force’s New Stealth Nuclear Cruise Missile

Updated on Jun 11, 2025

Newly emerged video footage purportedly shows the destruction of a Ukrainian drilling rig in the Black Sea by a supersonic cruise missile launched by a Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bomber.

Tu-22

Russian Cruise Missile Strikes Ukrainian-Controlled Black Sea Drilling Platform

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 10, 2025

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has released photos showing two of its aircraft carriers operating simultaneously for the first time beyond the so-called First Island Chain in the western Pacific.

Flankers

Two Chinese Aircraft Carriers Are Operating Beyond The First Island Chain For The First Time

Posted on Jun 10, 2025

Newly released footage records the unique formation flight over Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Air Base last November, which brought together U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters and Soviet-era MiG-21 and MiG-29 jets. The four-ship took to the skies to mark the passing of Col. Gail Peck (ret.), the former commander of the legendary 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron “Red Eagles” that conducted highly classified missions using Soviet combat jets in the late 1970s and 1980s.

MiG-29

F-22s Fly Alongside MiGs To Commemorate Founder Of America’s Secret Soviet Fighter Squadron

Posted on Jun 9, 2025

F-16

Claims Swirl Around Russian Su-35S Flanker Shootdown

Posted on Jun 9, 2025

A new image appearing to show China’s ‘J-36’ 6th generation tactical jet parked on the ground has emerged online. If legitimate, this would be the best front view of the aircraft to date, notably providing clear proof of the canopy design and further confirmation of a side-by-side seating arrangement.

J-36

This Could Be Our Best View Yet Of China’s J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jun 6, 2025

The Submarine Dismantling Project (SDP) finally started at Rosyth in December 2016, around 15 years behind schedule.

Air

A Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Is Being Scrapped For The First Time

Posted on Jun 6, 2025

F-35A

German F-35s Will Be Armed With Stealthy Joint Strike Missiles

Posted on Jun 5, 2025

The U.S. Navy has quietly awarded Northrop Grumman a contract to strip useful parts from an ex-Royal Air Force (RAF) E-3D Sentry airborne early warning and control aircraft before disposing of it.

E-3

Plan To Turn Ex-RAF E-3 AWACS Into E-6B ‘Doomsday’ Jet Trainer Abandoned By Navy

Posted on Jun 5, 2025

The U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX sixth-generation combat jet program looks to have hit another setback, with the Pentagon reportedly prioritizing the Air Force’s F-47 stealth fighter, amid concerns about how to run the two efforts simultaneously. Already, the F/A-XX was in limbo, with a U.S. official telling TWZ last month that the future of the program was being reviewed. This came after reports that a contract award for the Navy’s new combat jet could be delayed by as much as three years. Navy officials, meanwhile, continue to stress the importance of the F/A-XX to their future plans.

F/A-18E/F

Pentagon Wants To Shift Funds From Navy F/A-XX To USAF F-47: Report

Posted on Jun 5, 2025

The U.S. Air Force says it has tested a modified 500-pound-class GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, optimized for use as an anti-ship munition as part of its Quicksink program.

F-15

Smaller Version Of Quicksink Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Tested By USAF

Posted on Jun 4, 2025

New satellite imagery and an official video has revealed more about the scale of destruction and damage inflicted on Russian airfields in Ukraine’s unprecedented covert drone attacks last weekend. Today, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, which carried out the drone attacks, published previously unreleased drone footage showing the attacks underway.

Tu-22

Confirmed Losses Of Russian Aircraft Mount After Ukrainian Drone Assault

Updated on Jun 4, 2025

Disruptor aircraft company Otto Aviation is aiming to achieve first flight with what could potentially be a revolutionary high-efficiency business jet-type aircraft with a tear-drop-shaped fuselage called the Phantom 3500 by the end of the decade, if not within the next two years or so.

Air

Otto Aviation’s Phantom 3500 Aims To Massively Disrupt Private Jet Market

Posted on Jun 3, 2025

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery that TWZ has exclusively obtained from ICEYE points to multiple Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers having been damaged or destroyed at Belaya Air Base.

A-50/A-100

Latest On Russian Aircraft Loss Assessments From Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Posted on Jun 3, 2025

Royal Navy wants to arm carriers with drones and long-range missiles

Loyal Wingman

Royal Navy To Arm Its Carriers With Long-Range Missiles

Posted on Jun 3, 2025

Hardened aircraft shelters are up for debate as Russia experienced a major attack from Ukrainian drones.

Unmanned

Mass Drone Attack On Exposed Russian Bombers Puts Spotlight On Hardened Aircraft Shelter Debate

Updated on Jun 3, 2025

The future of Russia's bomber fleet after Ukraine's mass drone attack.

Tu-160

What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia’s Bomber Force

Updated on Jun 2, 2025

A-50/A-100

Russian Strategic Bombers Destroyed In Unprecedented Wide-Scale Drone Attack (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jun 1, 2025

J-36

China’s J-36 Very Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet Photographed Head-On For First Time

Posted on May 31, 2025

Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claims it show down a Russian jet target drone converted to be a weapon.

Russian Air Force

Weaponized Russian Jet-Powered Target Drone Shot Down Over Black Sea: Ukraine

Posted on May 30, 2025

We now have a picture showing a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle down-range in the Middle East with an air-to-air loadout that includes six seven-shot 70mm rocket pods, as well as four AIM-9X and four AIM-120 missiles.

F-15

F-15E Armed With Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets Appears In Middle East

Posted on May 30, 2025

Boeing’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter has been pitched to Japan by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports. The idea of an export-configured F-47 was brought up by Trump when he announced Boeing’s win in the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) manned combat jet initiative. Meanwhile, Japan is apparently also looking at increasing its buy of F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, prompted by concerns over the timeline for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a sixth-generation combat jet being pursued jointly by Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

F-35

Trump Offers F-47 Sixth-Gen Fighter To Japan: Reports

Posted on May 30, 2025

Pilot-optional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters could be coming in the future as Lockheed Martin looks for ways to ensure the jets remain relevant for decades to come.

F-16

What We Just Learned A More Advanced “Ferrari” F-35 Could Include

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 30, 2025

The U.S. Army says it is on schedule to retire the last of its turboprop-powered intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft by the end of this year.

Airborne Radar

Army To Retire All Of Its Turboprop Surveillance Planes By The End Of The Year

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.'

Loyal Wingman

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.

Loyal Wingman

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