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Indo-Pacific (Page 2)

Latest in Indo-Pacific

New Stryker drone division for the pacific.
Indo-Pacific

Army’s Newest Unit Aims To “Overwhelm” Adversary With Drones In Pacific Fight 

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

New footage confirms the R6000 uncrewed tiltrotor has moved into a new and more demanding phase of flight testing.
China

China’s Big R6000 Tiltrotor Drone Has Entered Full Flight Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

The use of high-altitude balloons is becoming ever-more routine for U.S. Army units in the Pacific.
Indo-Pacific

Army Wants More Sensor-Laden Surveillance Balloons Over The Pacific

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 28, 2026

South Korea has confirmed plans to develop a new class of nuclear-powered submarines, the Jang Bogo N Project. These will put South Korea in an exclusive class of nations operating nuclear-powered subs, with currently only China, France, India, Russia, the United Kingdom, and United States having them in active service.
South Korea

South Korea Getting Nuclear Submarines Is A Huge Deal

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 26, 2026

Less than a year after we got our first proper look at China’s wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft, dubbed the ‘Bohai Sea Monster,’ the aircraft has appeared again, with evidence that it has a combat role, likely including launching weapons. We can also confirm that, contrary to some earlier assessments, the craft is powered by four turboprop engines, rather than turbofans. The possibility of propeller engines is something that we had raised in previous coverage.
South China Sea

China’s “Bohai Sea Monster” Reappears With Apparent Weapons Hardpoints

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 25, 2026

During his recent trip to China, President Donald Trump's motorcade included a pair of heavily-laden SUVs with huge custom tops, a configuration that does not appear to have previously emerged in any context.
China

Mysterious Chinese SUV With Massive Roof Featured In Trump Motorcade In Beijing

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on May 15, 2026

The commander of U.S. Central Command dismissed reports Iran retains most of its missiles and launchers.
China

CENTCOM Commander Dismisses Reports That Iran Retains Most Of Its Missile And Drone Arsenal (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on May 15, 2026

NSM sinks target ship in Luzon strait.
Japan

Missiles Clobber Target Ship In Highly Strategic Luzon Strait

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2026

China is America's military equal now and in any future fight, warns a top Marine general.
China

China is America’s Military Equal Now And In Any Future Fight, Marine General Warns

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Alexander PalafoxCayetano, a New York native, a transmission system operator with 1st Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, enters a building during urban lane training as part of service level training exercise 3-26 at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California, April 6, 2026. Service level training exercise assesses Marine Air Ground Task Forces abilities to plan, coordinate and execute large-scale operations by integrating command and control, maneuver, sustainment and live-fire events in realistic training environments.  (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Parker Peichel)
Indo-Pacific

Marines Offer Glimpse Of New Plan For Its Future Ground Combat Forces

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 29, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump downplayed China's concerns over how the war is affecting its oil supplies.
China

Trump Downplays Chinese Concerns Over Iran War’s Impact On Its Oil Supplies (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 15, 2026

South Korea today rolled out the first series-produced example of its homegrown KF-21 fighter. This major milestone in the program also underscores just how quickly the program has progressed, with the rollout coming a little over five years since the first prototype of the fighter was unveiled. The development schedule is especially impressive when compared with other new-generation fighter programs, although Seoul has taken some notable shortcuts to meet this aggressive timeline.
South Korea

First Series-Produced KF-21 Fighter Rolled Out In South Korea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

As part of its seemingly never-ending search for new fighters, the Indian Ministry of Defense says it wants to team up with one of the two rival European next-generation combat aircraft programs.
India

India Joining One Of Europe’s Fighter Programs Is Anything But Easy

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

Japan's ugly EC-2 surveillance aircraft.
Japan

Japan’s EC-2 Electronic Warfare Jet, Arguably The World’s Ugliest Aircraft, Just Flew For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 17, 2026

The latest addition to the legendary X-plane family is Bell Textron’s demonstrator for the Speed and Runway Independent Technologies (SPRINT) program. The chosen X-76 designation (for the year 1776) is intended to reflect the 250th anniversary of the United States. Meanwhile, there is much hope that HSVTOL could eventually provide the U.S. military, and potentially other operators, with a high-speed, runway-independent special operations airlifter.
Indo-Pacific

Bell’s X-76 Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Is DARPA’s Newest X-Plane

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 9, 2026

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing arrive for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 10, 2026. The 125th Fighter Wing accelerated its readiness timeframe ahead of a mission conversion deadline by deploying eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft, establishing joint-component interoperability with two active-duty U.S. Air Force units under the ACE concept.
China

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot And F-35 Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Military 

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

A top U.S. Space Force general sees a clear need to be able to attack threats in space, not just to protect friendly satellites, but to challenge China's dramatically expanded surveillance capabilities in orbit.
China

China’s Growing Armada Of Spy Satellites Is Pushing Space Force To Go On The Offensive

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

What looks to be a new 155mm naval gun has been installed on a Chinese weapons trials ship.
China

China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

DOW making naughty or nice list of defense contractors.
Indo-Pacific

Pentagon Is Making A Naughty Or Nice List Of Defense Contractors

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 11, 2026

The head of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has downplayed the current significance of Chinese efforts to develop new long-range strike aircraft with more global reach.
China

China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

China is testing nuclear warheads: US
China

China Secretly Testing Nuclear Weapons And Covering Its Tracks, U.S. Alleges (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025. The F-15EX, from the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is one of the first F-15EXs in the Air Force, and is going through developmental and operational test series at Eglin to prepare the platform to be delivered to the warfighter.
Indo-Pacific

F-15EX Buy Dropped By Indonesia

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

One of the most enigmatic weapons in the arsenal of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), the PL-17 very long-range air-to-air missile, appears to have been shown for the first time at close quarters.
China

China’s Massive PL-17 Air-To-Air Missile Seen Up Close

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 28, 2026

Australia has taken the next step in its wide-ranging program to overhaul its air force with the arrival of its first MC-55A Peregrine. The platform, configured for “airborne intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare” (AISREW), is a highly modified version of the Gulfstream G550 business jet, an increasingly popular choice for adaptation for these kinds of specialist missions.
Australia

Australia Just Took Delivery Of One Of Its Most Powerful Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 22, 2026

A new long-range anti-ship cruise missile in development in Japan can be seen executing a series of barrel rolls in an official video clip.
Japan

Japan’s New Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Barrel Rolls To Evade Defenses

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jan 19, 2026

A Transporter erector launcher carrying the Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missiles, capable of carrying an 8-9 ton warhead and destroying underground bunkers, are featured during a ceremony marking the 76th Armed Forces Day held at Seoul Air Base. South Korea showcased its largest ballistic missile for the first time as it marked Armed Forces Day in an apparent warning against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The ground-to-ground missile, dubbed a monster for its size, had been shrouded in secrecy due to its strategic importance. It is known to be able to carry a warhead weighing about 8 tons and capable of destroying underground bunkers. The transporter erector launchers crawled across the air base, each of them carrying a massive canister, apparently housing the "high-power" and "high-precision" missile known to be able to target anywhere in North Korea.
South Korea

Ballistic Missile With Absolutely Massive Bunker-Buster Warhead Fielded By South Korea: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 19, 2026

China has converted a cargo ship to a arsenal ship and drone carrier.
Indo-Pacific

Chinese Cargo Ship Converted To Launch Advanced Combat Drones Emerges (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jan 2, 2026

China’s latest live-fire drills around Taiwan appear to have prompted the movement of the island’s secretive Hsiung Feng IIE (HF-2E) land-attack cruise missile. While the development of this important weapons is understood to date back at least to the early 2000s, it has only very rarely been seen since then, which makes its public appearance now all the more interesting.
China

Secretive Taiwanese Land Attack Cruise Missile Seen On The Move

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 31, 2025

New imagery of Chinese catapult-capable low-observable combat drones, or possibly mockups thereof, together with some unusual trucks, may point to plans to launch them from the ground, as well as ships.
China

Is This China’s Truck-Mounted Electromagnetic Catapult?

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 30, 2025

TAIWAN - DECEMBER 29: (----EDITORIAL USE ONLY - MANDATORY CREDIT - TAIWAN'S MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE/HANDOUT' - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS----) A screen grab from a video shows fighter jet as Taiwanâs Ministry of National Defense said the islandâs armed forces conducted rapid response exercises on Monday in response to aircraft and naval activity by Chinaâs Peopleâs Liberation Army in Taiwan on December 29, 2025. In a statement posted on social media, the ministry said the armed forces closely monitored the situation and carried out joint sea and air operations involving all service branches.The ministry said Taiwanâs Coast Guard also remained on high alert as part of the response. No further details on the scale or duration of the activities were immediately provided. China launched joint military drills Monday around Taiwan in a stern warning against 'Taiwan Independence' separatist forces and external interference, according to state-run media.The Eastern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) dispatched fighter jets, bombers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in coordination with long-range rocket forces to conduct drills code-named 'Justice Mission 2025' in the Taiwan Strait and areas to the north, southwest, southeast and east of Taiwan Island, Xinhua news agency reported, citing Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the theater command.
China

China Launches Snap “Warning” Drills Around Taiwan Simulating A Total Blockade

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 29, 2025

The Chinese military has published a video showing what it says is the launch of a YJ-20 hypersonic anti-ship missile from one of its Type 055 ‘super destroyers.’
China

YJ-20 High-Speed Anti-Ship Missile Seen In Action On China’s Type 055 Super Destroyer

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 29, 2025

Type 076 seen carrying loyal wingman drone mockup or prototype.
China

Chinese Loyal Wingman Drone Design Appear Set For Deck Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Dec 27, 2025

China has shown an cargo ship packed with launchers, radar, and close-in-weapon systems.
Indo-Pacific

Chinese Cargo Ship Packed Full Of Modular Missile Launchers Emerges

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 25, 2025

Shenyang J-35
China

Chinese Fighter Jet Exports Set To Grow Significantly

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 24, 2025

INDOPACOM will hire contractor amphibious aircraft for new pilot program in Pacific.
Indo-Pacific

Pentagon To Contract Fleet Of Seaplanes For The Pacific

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 23, 2025

The latest Chinese military aircraft to appear in flight test is a tactical transport aircraft, known, unofficially for now, as the Y-30. Not perhaps as headline-grabbing as China’s string of new crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft designs, the transport is nonetheless highly significant, reflecting the People’s Liberation Army’s growing ambitions to be able to conduct out-of-area operations.
China

China’s ‘Y-30’ Turboprop Airlifter Spotted For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

Indian Air Force (IAF) SEPECAT Jaguar fighter jets take part in an air refueling exercise during the joint exercise 'Ex Garuda-VII' between IAF and FASF in the air near Jodhpur in India's desert state of Rajasthan on November 9, 2022.
India

India Can’t Give Up Its Jaguar Strike Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

We have got what could be our first look at China’s CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone in flight. While it’s far from the biggest Chinese drone of this configuration, it’s still of impressive size and, as we have noted in the past, appears to be tailored for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR), as well as strike missions as an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
China

China’s Stealthy CH-7 Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

China's heavyweight jet-powered Jiutian drone, said to have a maximum takeoff weight of around 17.6 tons (16 metric tons), has flown.
China

China’s High-Flying Swarm Mothership Drone Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

Japan and South Korea scrambled jets to respond to a joint Russian-Chinese bomber patrol.
Japan

Joint Chinese-Russian Bomber Patrol Sends Japanese, South Korean Fighters Scrambling

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

An AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile is launched from an MQ-28A Ghost Bat during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
Australia

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Has Fired An AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

The U.S. Navy has recovered an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that crashed within half an hour of each other in the South China Sea on Oct. 26.
Indo-Pacific

Navy Recovers Crashed Super Hornet, Seahawk From Bottom Of South China Sea

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

A Royal Thai Air Force F-16 touches down during Exercise Thai Boomerang 2015.
Indo-Pacific

Thai F-16s Bomb Targets Along Disputed Cambodian Border

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 8, 2025

A Royal Australian Army Tiger helicopter performs during the Australian International Airshow at the Avalon Airfield near Lara southwest of Melbourne on February 24, 2015. Some 180,000 patrons were expected through the gates over the duration of the event.
Australia

Australia’s Unwanted Tiger Attack Helicopters May Go To Ukraine: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) provided an apparent first look at three new types of air-launched weapon, intended to arm the KPAF’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft, and potentially others. The event also yielded a better look at the country’s ‘copycat’ drones, the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 that are almost exact visual copies of the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively.
North Korea

Analyzing North Korea’s New Air-Launched Guided Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

SBX has no radome in Pearl Harbor.
Indo-Pacific

The Massive SBX-1 Looks Straight Out Of Star Wars Without Its Dome

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 28, 2025

Japan's plans to place SAMS on an island near Taiwan has China outraged.
Japan

Japan’s Plan To Put SAMs On Strategic Island 70 Miles From Taiwan Could Be Just The Beginning

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

J-36 shows its new thrust vector nozzles
China

China’s J-36 Tailless Stealth Jet’s New Thrust Vectoring Nozzles Seen From Behind

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 24, 2025

The Navy's USNS Salvor is on scene to try and find two aircraft that crashed off the USS Nimitz last month.
Indo-Pacific

Navy Salvage Ship Trying To Fish Crashed Super Hornet And Seahawk Out Of South China Sea

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 20, 2025

Images show that a large tiltrotor drone called the R6000, being developed by United Aircraft in China, has now entered flight testing.
China

China’s Large R6000 Uncrewed Tiltrotor Is Now In Flight Testing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 18, 2025

China's first super-sized Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has left port for its first sea trials.
China

China’s Type 076 Supersized Amphibious Assault Ship Heads To Sea On Its Maiden Voyage

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 14, 2025

Japan’s Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has offered the first look at damage to a target ship after it was hit by projectiles fired from a prototype electromagnetic railgun in testing earlier this year.
Japan

Railgun Damage To Japanese Target Ship Seen For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 13, 2025

The planned delivery of three AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Army has taken an unusual turn. The Antonov Airlines An-124 cargo aircraft carrying the rotorcraft to India returned to the United States with the Apaches still onboard, with a Boeing spokesperson telling TWZ that it was looking into “logistical issues” that they said had interrupted the transportation.
India

AH-64 Apaches Make Mysterious Return To U.S. On Their Delivery Flight To India

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 10, 2025

China's growing weapons programs puts pressure on intelligence community.
China

Can U.S. Intel Keep Up With China’s Tsunami Of Weapons Developments?

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

China has now formally commissioned its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, into service.
China

China Commissions Newest Aircraft Carrier With Its Electromagnetic Catapults Front And Center

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2025

A key aspect of the Trump administration's Golden Dome missile defense initiative is ensuring America's ability to launch retaliatory nuclear strikes, the nominee to become the next head of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) has stressed.
China

Golden Dome Missile Shield Key To Ensuring Nuclear Second Strike Capability: U.S. Admiral

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 6, 2025

Chinese drone test ship seen in action.
China

Chinese ‘Mini Drone Carrier’ Seen Being Used As Test Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 5, 2025

We now have the first known commercial satellite imagery of the two Chinese sixth-generation stealth fighter designs that emerged nearly a year ago.
China

China’s New Tailless Stealth Fighters Both Appear At Secretive Test Base

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Nov 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has come out in support of a future fleet of South Korean nuclear-powered submarines.
South Korea

South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Ambitions Take Major Step Forward

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 31, 2025

Satellite imagery shows China has been building at least two facilities featuring hardened shelters with retractable roofs along its heavily disputed border with India.
China

China Building SAM Sites That Allow Missiles To Be Fired From Within Bunkers

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 29, 2025

Second J-36 prototype has major alterations compared to the first.
China

China’s Massive J-36 Stealth ‘Fighter’ Gets Major Design Tweaks With Second Prototype

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 28, 2025

Nimitz hornet and seakhawk crash
Indo-Pacific

“Bad Fuel” May Have Caused Back-To-Back Nimitz Aircraft Crashes: Trump

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 27, 2025

South Korea has launched its biggest and most ambitious submarine yet, the Jang Yeong-sil, as the first of the second batch of its locally designed and built KSS-III program.
South Korea

South Korea Has Launched Its Most Advanced Submarine Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 23, 2025

Singapore today launched the first of its drone motherships, or Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCV). The largest and most complex ship in the Republic of Singapore Navy, the Victory is the first of a planned six of these vessels. These will replace the existing Victory class missile corvettes (MCV), which entered service in 1989, and will form the cornerstone of its fleet modernization effort.
South China Sea

Singapore Launches Its Biggest And Most Capable Warship Ever

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 21, 2025