News & Features (Page 10)

Latest in News & Features

Plane spotters in Fort Worth, Texas, caught a glimpse of something rare yesterday, one of the U.S. Air Force's four E-4B Nightwatch jets flying completely stripped of paint and with much of its skin covered in a green zinc chromate coating.
News & Features

Rare ‘Naked’ E-4B ‘Doomsday Plane’ Spotted Flying In Texas

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 18, 2025

NATO is testing an airship to see if it can provide maritime domain awareness.
Europe

Bus-Sized Uncrewed Airship Being Tested By NATO As Maritime Surveillance Platform

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 18, 2025

Spain recently launched the first of its new F110 class frigates, also known as the Bonifaz class. This impressive warship is notable for its combination of high-end anti-submarine warfare and anti-air warfare functions on what is a relatively small hull. As such, it makes a very interesting comparison with the U.S. Navy’s troubled Constellation class, which has grown in weight, amid questions about the level of capabilities that it offers.
NATO

All You Need To Know About Spain’s New F110 Frigate

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 17, 2025

Taiwan has officially rolled out a new anti-ballistic missile system called Chiang Kung, or Strong Bow, which it says is now in production.
China

Taiwan Just Unveiled Its Own High-Altitude Anti-Ballistic Missile System

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 17, 2025

AIM-120 AMRAAM
Eastern Europe

Poland Investigating Whether Its F-16’s AIM-120 Missile Destroyed A Home

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 17, 2025

U.S. military aircraft employed GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) and laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets as part of the operation to strike Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year.
Iran

Pentagon Moves To Replace Weapons It Used In Operation Midnight Hammer

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 17, 2025

The Chinese aviation industry has been developing an expanding array of flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, including as uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) and high-altitude intelligence-gathering platforms, often in cooperation with state-run research institutions.
China

New Chinese Flying Wing Drone Design Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

Peru has received approval to buy 12 F-16C/D Block 70 jets, which would make it the fourth South American operator of the Lockheed Martin fighter. If the acquisition goes ahead, it will also confirm the Peruvian Air Force’s move away from Russian-made combat aircraft, which currently make up a significant proportion of its fleet. These aircraft are now increasingly hard to support and, in general, Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has had a serious impact on its arms exports.
South America

F-16 Cleared To Be Peru’s Next Fighter

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump claims third drug boat attack in a message to Maduro.
South America

Trump Says Another Drug Running Boat Has Been Destroyed

Howard Altman Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 16, 2025

13 September 2025, Puerto Rico, Ceiba: US Marines park a Lockheed Martin F-35B fighter aircraft at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. The transfer of US fighter aircraft to the outlying area is linked to the increasing tensions between the United States and Venezuela. Photo: Kendall Torres Cortés/dpa (Photo by Kendall Torres Cortés/picture alliance via Getty Images)
South America

Historic Shuttered Navy Base Back In Action For Caribbean Counter-Drug Mission

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

Image of a Royal Air Force Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, seen here flying over RAF Lossiemouth. In a training flight conducted over the Moray Firth a Poseidon (P-8A) aircraft operated by 120 Sqn, based at RAF Lossiemouth, dropped a recoverable exercise variant of the Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo, simulating an attack on a submarine. At just under 3m long and 32cm in diameter, the Mk 54 torpedo is small and light enough that five can be carried in the Poseidon's internal weapons bay. the high-explosive warheads on the live torpedoes pack a devastating punch sufficient to destroy enemy submarines that the Poseidon crew can locate and track using state-of-the-art equipment. The successful release of a torpedo is the latest milestone in the rapid development of the Poseidon in RAF service. Five Poseidon MRA1s are based at RAF Lossiemouth with a further four set to be delivered by the end of this year. The station, which is situated in close proximity to one of the aircraft's most frequent area of operations, is benefiting from a multi-million pound investment programme bringing significant economic benefits to the Highlands & Islands and Morayshire communities. The Poseidon is fitted with advanced, state-of-the-art, Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare sensors which will provide global protection to UK, NATO and our Allies' submarines and warships in an increasingly dangerous world.
NATO

British P-8 Poseidon Flies Unusual Overland Mission Along Polish Border

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

The last MC-12W Liberty turboprop surveillance aircraft under U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command's (AFSOC) umbrella have been retired.
News & Features

Last Special Operations MC-12W Surveillance Planes Retired

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

The U.S. Army’s Typhon ground-based missile system has, for the first time, been deployed in Japan, in what’s being seen as a clear message to China. The system, which can fire Tomahawk cruise missiles and SM-6 multi-purpose missile, is a growing feature of U.S. military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, with a first live-fire exercise having taken place in Australia in July, as you can read about here.
China

Army Deploys Typhon Missile System To Japan For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 15, 2025

F-35B Puerto Rico
South America

F-35s Arrive In Puerto Rico For Counter-Drug Operation

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 14, 2025

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

Royal Danish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons fly off the wing of a U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress, assigned to the 20th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, during a Bomber Task Force Europe 25-1 mission over the U.S. European Command area of responsibility, Nov. 15, 2024. Multinational exercises enhance interoperability with NATO forces, strengthening the collective ability to respond to global threats.
NATO

Fighters, Frigate To Help Defend Poland From Drones Under New NATO Operation

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

We now have our first look at the U.S. Air Force's two flying B-21 Raider stealth bombers together at Edwards Air Force Base.
News & Features

Two B-21 Raider Stealth Bombers Photographed Together For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

The Department of Defense needs to mass produce its own shahed-136 clone.
Drones

U.S. Needs To Be Building Tens Of Thousands Of Shahed-136 Clones Right Now

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Sep 12, 2025

An Italian Air Force F-2000 Eurofighter Typhoon flies a routine presence patrol mission over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 6, 2025. Close collaboration with partner nations improves interoperability, ensuring rapid crisis response and sustained operations to protect vital mutual interests in the AOR.
NATO

Drone-Killing APKWS Laser-Guided Rockets Eyed For Eurofighter Typhoon

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 12, 2025

Poland is closing airspace and said the Russian drone incursion was a test.
Germany

Poland Says Russia’s Mass Drone Incursion Was “A Test”

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 11, 2025

The last of the venerable Sukhoi Su-22 Fitter swing-wing strike aircraft in Europe have been officially withdrawn from service. At one time, the Su-22 was a backbone of Warsaw Pact offensive airpower on the continent, with the final examples having been flown by the Polish Air Force, which had flown these impressive jets since the first example was delivered more than 40 years ago.
Cold War

Poland’s Su-22 Fitter Swing-Wing Strike Jets Pass Into History

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 11, 2025

Japan's Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has released new pictures from testing of a prototype electromagnetic railgun aboard the testbed warship JS Asuka earlier this year.
Japan

Japanese Warship Fires Railgun At Target Vessel For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 11, 2025

We now have our first full look at a modified 2,000-pound-class GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition, or JDAM, optimized for use as an anti-ship munition as part of the U.S. Air Force's Quicksink program.
News & Features

USAF’s Quicksink Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Seen In Detail Like Never Before

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

New satellite images provided by Planet Labs shows the precision of the Israeli strike on the Hamas Qatar compound.
Israel

Aftermath Of Israeli Strike On Qatar Compound Targeting Hamas Seen In New Satellite Imagery

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

An air-to-air view of an F-15 Eagle sent to identify an aircraft which is possibly hauling drugs as detected by the Southern Regional Operations Center. The F-15 is part of Coronet Night Hawk, an all-guard mission using F-16s or F-15s on 24-hour alert status.
South America

Deploying Fighter Jets To Hunt Drug Smugglers In The Caribbean Isn’t New

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Sep 10, 2025

A RAAF P-8A Poseidon supports sea trials for the NUSHIP Hobart in the Gulf St Vincent off the coast of Adelaide.
South China Sea

P-8 Poseidon Officially Selected By Singapore As Its Next Maritime Patrol Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

Authorities in Poland say they have assessed that the incursions were not accidental. Polish and Dutch fighters shot down several of the intruding uncrewed aircraft.
NATO

After Unprecedented Night Of Downing Drones Over Poland, NATO Reports No Posture Changes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 10, 2025

A member of Congress has shared a video claiming to show an attempt by U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones to intercept an unidentified object in the air off the coast of Yemen last year.
Yemen

Revelation That MQ-9 Reapers Are Now Engaging Aerial Targets Comes From UAP Hearing

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

Israel has carried out precision strikes targeting the top leadership of the terrorist group Hamas in the Qatari capital Doha.
Israel

Israel Executes Unprecedented Strike On Hamas Leadership In Qatar (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 9, 2025

Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems have teamed up to develop a range of uncrewed air systems (UAS), all based on a common design, for which concept artwork has now been presented. The effort sees two of the world’s biggest defense companies joining forces, and entering a growing field of less expensive and more expendable drones and munitions.
Drones

Lockheed Martin Joins Forces With BAE Systems On New Ultra-Adaptable Drone

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 9, 2025

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing
Drones

MQ-28 Ghost Bat With Aerial Refueling Capability Hinted At By Boeing

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 8, 2025

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine visited Puerto Rico amid growing tensions with Venezuela.
South America

Top U.S. Military Leaders Visit Puerto Rico As Caribbean Operations Aimed At Venezuela Heat Up

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 8, 2025

An AH-64Ev6 Apache from the 12th Combat Aviation Brigade fires the SPIKE NLOS missile in Ustka, Poland on Aug. 27. This historic event marked the first employment of the missile in the European theater, significantly increasing the U.S. Army's lethality and combat capability.
NATO

U.S. Army AH-64 Apaches Fire Spike-NLOS Missiles In Europe For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 8, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has awarded a contract for the development and production of a new Next Generation Penetrator (NGP) bunker buster bomb.
News & Features

GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator’s Replacement Prototypes Just Ordered By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 8, 2025

Europe. Germany. Rheinland. Area of Bonn. District of Ahrweiler. Bad Neuenahr. Regierungsbunker. Secret Bunker Buit By The Government of Bonn As An Emergency Site of the Constitutional Bodies of the Federal Republic of Germany. Control of A Huge Armored Door Europa. Germany. Rhineland. Bonn Area. Ahrweiler District. Bad Neuenahr. Regierungsbunker. Secret Anti-atomic Bunker Built By The Bonn Government As An Emergency Location For The Constitutional Bodies of the German Federal Republic. Controls of A Huge Armored Door. (Photo by: Giulio Andreini/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 6, 2025

The U.S. Navy has taken an important step forward toward acquiring new carrier-based Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) type drones with contracts to Anduril, Boeing, General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman.
Drones

Navy Carrier-Based ‘Loyal Wingman’ Drone Development Suddenly Pushes Forward (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

F-22s over alaska
China

Homeland Needs To Be Able To Survive A “Punch In The Nose” According To Former NORAD Chief

Howard Altman Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 5, 2025

An official familiar with operations confirmed to us that U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered 10 F-35 Joint Strike fighters to head to Puerto Rico to take part in ongoing counter-narcotics opertions(
South America

F-35s Deploying To Caribbean Amid Growing Tensions With Venezuela (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

Yesterday’s “show of force” by a pair of Venezuelan F-16s close to a U.S. Navy destroyer has put the spotlight very much back on the intriguing history of the South American nation’s Viper fleet. While you can catch up with our initial reporting on the incident, which involved the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Jason Dunham, here, it’s an opportune time to review why a country now so hostile to the United States flies F-16s.
South America

The Unlikely Saga Of Venezuela’s F-16s

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 5, 2025

The Pentagon says two Venezuelan jets flew close to the USS Jason Dunham.
South America

Venezuelan F-16s Approach U.S. Navy Warship (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Sep 5, 2025

China officially unveiled a nuclear-capable air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) called the JL-1 at its sprawling military parade in Beijing yesterday.
China

China’s JL-1 Air Launched Ballistic Missile’s Official Debut Is A Big Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

Ukraine TB2 drone.
Russia

Ukraine’s TB-2 Bayraktar Drones Are Striking Russian Forces Again After A Long Hiatus

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

South Korea has presented, for the first time, imagery of its Hycore hypersonic cruise missile, showing the future weapon during its flight testing. The Hycore is part of a fast-growing arsenal of advanced weapons that Seoul is developing, primarily to counter North Korea. As well as the hypersonic cruise missile, South Korea is notably also working on an air-launched ballistic missile (ALBM) and increasingly capable sea-based ballistic missiles, including for launch submarine launch.
South Korea

South Korea’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile Emerges In New Test Photos

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

Evidence has emerged that Ukraine has topped up its hard-worked fleet of MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters from a somewhat surprising source: Azerbaijan. While the number of aircraft involved is not considerable, any addition to the MiG-29 fleet will be welcome for the Ukrainian Air Force, which has also received Fulcrums donated by Poland and Slovakia and which has suffered steady attrition since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Ukraine

Ukraine Now Flying Former Azerbaijani MiG-29 Fulcrum

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

We now have our first look at a U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike actually firing air-to-air optimized variants of the laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket.
News & Features

F-15E Strike Eagle Fires Drone Killing Laser-Guided Rockets In New Images

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 4, 2025

The massive military parade in Beijing yesterday has provided us with a much closer look at some of the country’s new air combat drones, the gradual emergence of which, in the run-up to the event, prompted much discussion. Of these drones, one, in particular stands out, this being a stealthy tailless design that is also notably large, and which is overall indicative of high performance.
China

China Unveils Large Unmanned Stealth Fighter Design During Military Parade

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

A very large directed energy laser weapon was among the new capabilities officially rolled out for the first time at a massive military parade in China.
Lasers

China’s Imposing LY-1 High-Power Laser Weapon Unveiled At Huge Military Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the deadly attack on a suspected Venezuelan drug smuggling boat is only the beginning.
South America

Deadly Airstrike On Cartel Boat Signals Major Shift In U.S. Drug Interdiction Strategy (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover
China

China’s New DF-61 Intercontinental Ballistic Missile Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 3, 2025

The U.S. struck a Venezuelan cartel drug boat with drugs on board in the south Caribbean
South America

U.S. Strikes Venezuelan Drug Boat In The Southern Caribbean (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Sep 2, 2025

The Marines and Navy are conducting amphibious landing training in Puerto Rico as tensions with Venezuela mount.
South America

U.S. Amphibious Landing Exercise Underway In Puerto Rico As Tensions With Venezuela Mount

By Howard Altman

Posted on Sep 2, 2025

The U.S. Air Force's top officer in the Pacific says a key takeaway from China's huge military parade tomorrow will be that "we are not deterred."
China

Top USAF General In Pacific “Not Deterred” By Drones, Missiles To Be Showcased At Huge Chinese Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 2, 2025

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29
Ukraine

First Look At Ukraine’s New Glide Bomb On A MiG-29

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Sep 2, 2025

An informational brochure titled "Protect Your Family from Atomic Bomb Fallout" features an abstract illustration insinuation an explosion on the cover, circa 1961. (Jim Heimann Collection/Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Labor Day Edition Part 2

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 1, 2025

Yak52 drone hunters
Russia

This Is How Ukrainian Yak-52 Crews Hunt Russian Drones

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 30, 2025

Get smart bunkerU
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Labor Day Edition Part 1

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 30, 2025

The Pentagon has created a new task force to speed up delivery of counter-small drone systems, but regulatory impediments remain.
Drones

New Pentagon Task Force Aims To Accelerate Drone Defense At Home And Abroad

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 29, 2025

Kratos has confirmed it is working together with Taiwan’s National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) on a derivative of its jet-powered MQM-178 Firejet target drone called the Chien Feng IV.
Taiwan

Taiwan Teams Up With Kratos On Jet-Powered Kamikaze Drone

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 29, 2025

A second Ukrainian military unit is now operating M1 Abrams tanks, most likely donated by Australia.
Russia

M1 Abrams Tanks Now Being Operated By A Second Ukrainian Unit

Howar Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is hoping to finally kick off flight testing of the new AN/APQ-188 radar for the B-52 shortly.
News & Features

B-52 Radar Upgrade Flight Testing Expected To Finally Begin Soon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

Russia reportedly carried out its first drone boat attack on a Ukrainian Navy ship.
Russia

Russia Just Made Its First Successful Drone Boat Attack On A Ukrainian Naval Ship

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

UK MOD invites industry to attend the industry day to provide feedback on the proposed NIGHTFALL requirement.
NATO

Tactical Ballistic Missile Sought By United Kingdom

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 28, 2025

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Successor Sought By Navy
News & Features

Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Successor Sought By Navy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time
Drones

YFQ-42 ‘Fighter Drone’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Has Flown For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025