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Espionage

Latest in Espionage

On the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk basic trainer, an aircraft that generations of British military pilots learned to fly, it’s worth recalling perhaps the most unusual episodes of its career. Between 1956 and 1989, a handful of these propeller-driven trainers kept watch on Warsaw Pact forces in the divided and heavily fortified city of Berlin — a front line of the Cold War.

The Tiny Chipmunk Trainer Was The Cold War’s Most Unlikely Spyplane

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 24, 2026

Iran's nuclear scientists were assassinated in their homes using an undisclosed weapon.

Top Iranian Nuclear Scientists Killed By Secret Israeli Weapon: Report

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jun 20, 2025

As Israel's campaign of strikes on Iran continues, a question emerges about whether some level of additional action may be required on the ground to meet the stated goal of preventing the regime in Tehran from being able to acquire nuclear weapons.

Loose Nukes In Iran Is A Scenario U.S. Special Operators Have Been Training For

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 18, 2025

The use of Signal to communicate details about a looming airstrike against the Houthis raised questions about why officials didn't use goverment systems.

Signal For Secure Comms: Convenience Over Security Without The Record-Keeping

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 28, 2025

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is reportedly flying unarmed MQ-9 Reapers inside Mexican airspace to snoop on drug cartels.

CIA MQ-9 Reapers Are Covertly Spying On Mexican Drug Cartels: Reports

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 18, 2025

Royal Navy warships tracked a suspected Russian spy ship as it sailed through waters close to the UK. Yantar, believed to be used by the Russian Navy for intelligence gathering, was shadowed by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne. Somerset covertly launched her Merlin helicopter, which used its powerful sensors to locate the Russian ship as it made its way north towards the English Channel. The Type 23 frigate closed in on Yantar’s location and intercepted it in the entrance to the Channel – south of the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France. The Plymouth-based warship took over monitoring duties from NATO allies after they shadowed Yantar in waters close to France. Somerset used her cutting-edge radars and sensors to report on every move during the operation, as she maintained a close distance to Yantar through the Channel and the Strait of Dover. Patrol ship Tyne was also monitoring the Yantar – last in waters around the UK in November when its activities were monitored by several Royal Navy units.

Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Surfaced Next To Russian Spy Ship To Send A Clear Message

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 23, 2025

Iran has developed a reputation for launching some unconventional naval vessels, some of them downright bizarre — at least when compared with their equivalents elsewhere in the world. Its latest offering, the Zagros, is very much in keeping with this trend: a surveillance ship based on a corvette hull, an unorthodox approach for a type of vessel that’s normally converted from a commercial hull.

Iran Unveils New Spy Ship Based On Corvette Hull

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 16, 2025

Taiwan suspects China of latest attack on undersea cables.

Taiwan Coast Guard Blames Chinese-Owned Ship For Cutting Undersea Communications Cable

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 6, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is planning to retire its remaining RQ-4 Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance drones by the end of the 2027 Fiscal Year. The service says it has become clear that the RQ-4s would be overly vulnerable in any future conflict against a peer or near-peer adversary, but it’s not clear what aircraft (or other assets) might fill the resulting capability gap. This only adds to the growing evidence that a top-secret, high-flying, stealth spy drone, commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or variants or derivatives thereof, is getting close to entering service, if it isn’t already being employed operationally on some level.

Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

Videos have emerged showing the possible remains of a spy balloon that fishermen recently recovered off the coast of Alaska.

Our First Look At Possible Spy Balloon Wreck Found By Alaskan Fishermen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 6, 2024

Fishing boat catches suspected spy balloon off Alaska

Alaskan Fisherman Catch Possible Spy Balloon, FBI To Examine Wreckage: Report

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 2, 2024

Captain Maxim Kuzminov, Pilot Of A Russian Military Mi-8 Helicopter In Kyiv

Russia’s Spy Chief Says Recently Gunned-Down Pilot Defector Was A “Moral Corpse”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 20, 2024

A Chinook Helicopter flies over a military camp, as part of a rehearsal for the flyby performance for Taiwan’s Double-Ten National Day Celebration, amid rising tensions between Beijing and Taipei and threats from China, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, 28 September 2021. The 18-meter wide and 12-meter long Taiwan flag, according to state media Central News Agency, will be carried by two CH-47 Chinook helicopters flag flying over the Presidential Office, in addition to a parade displaying the island’s missile systems which will showcase the armed forces' ability to resist threats from China. (Photo by Ceng Shou Yi/NurPhoto)

Taiwanese Pilot Planned CH-47 Defection To China: Reports

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Dec 12, 2023

U-2 retirement moves forward with secretary of defense waiver sent to congress.

U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

A new report claims that Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has delivered a new secret intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to the US Air Force.

Secret Skunk Works Spy Drone Delivered To Air Force: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 3, 2023

Ukrainian Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov has been named Ukraine's new presidential chief of staff.

Exclusive Interview With Ukraine’s Spy Boss From His D.C. Hotel Room

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 22, 2023