News & Features (Page 11)

Latest in News & Features

Ukraine is developing its own air defense missile systems.
Russia

Ukraine Is Working To Develop Its Own Air Defense Systems

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

Chinese HIMARS mock-up revealed.
Taiwan

China Has Modified These Trucks As HIMARS Lookalikes

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

USAF Hopeful Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Will Fly Before Year End
News & Features

USAF Hopeful Second B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber Will Fly Before Year End

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 27, 2025

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) recently awarded a contract for new rifles chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round to Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT).
News & Features

New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

A suspected Ukrainian drone explosion in Estonia highlights growing concerns about long-range weapons raising the danger of collateral damage outside the war zone.
Eastern Europe

Stray Drone Striking Estonia Highlights Dangers Of Rapidly Expanding Long-Range War

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 26, 2025

Ice buildup in the landing gear of a U.S. Air Force F-35A was the root cause of a crash at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska in January, according to a recently released report on the mishap.
News & Features

Dramatic F-35 Crash At Alaskan Air Base Caused By Iced-Up Landing Gear

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

A short-range air defense (SHORAD) vehicle that can be loaded with up to 96 small interceptors at a time has been spotted amid ongoing preparations for a huge Chinese military parade in the country's capital, Beijing, next week.
China

Check Out China’s Short-Range Air Defense Vehicle Capable Of Packing A Whopping 96 Mini Interceptors

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 26, 2025

Washington has approved the transfer of thousands of Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) to Ukraine, which will provide the country with a powerful new and relatively low-cost standoff strike capability, it has been reported. However, it’s unclear whether Kyiv will be able to use the new air-launched weapon to strike targets deep within Russia, with unnamed U.S. officials telling the Wall Street Journal that these are off-limits, at least for the U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
Ukraine

Ukraine Will Receive First Of Thousands Of New U.S. Made Standoff Missiles In The Coming Weeks

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Daniel Cheever, commonly referred to as the service's "Air Boss," is still "eagerly awaiting" a new F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based fighter despite the uncertainty now swirling around that program.
Drones

F/A-XX Next Generation Naval Fighter Selection Could Still Happen

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 25, 2025

The Israeli Ministry of Defense has said it will seek to buy two more Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers from the United States, as it invests in its fleet of inflight refueling tankers, heavily utilized in the recent campaign against Iran, as well as for other long-range combat missions. While Israel has already committed to buying four KC-46s, it currently relies on a dwindling fleet of veteran Boeing 707 tankers. The 12-day war against Iran earlier this year, in particular, led to questions about Israeli Air Force (IAF) aerial refueling capacity and the U.S. government was forced to deny that it had provided additional tanker support for the operation.
Israel

Israel Wants More KC-46 Pegasus Tankers To Boost Overworked Aerial Refueling Fleet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 24, 2025

GREAT FALLS, MONTANA, 2014 - Missile combat crew member 1st Lt. Katie Grimley slides a large floppy disk into a 60's era communication module inside the launch control center of a missile alert facility at Malmstrom Air Force Base. The U.S. govt. is embarking on a $400 billion modernization to its nuclear weapons arsenal. (Photo by Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times 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 Aug 23, 2025

Naval aviators need to be able to trust any future drone wingmen as much as their human counterparts, a U.S. Navy strike fighter tactics instructor has told TWZ.
Drones

Navy Fighter Pilots Need To Gain Trust In Pilotless Wingmen By Actually Flying With Them

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

Columbia lost a UH-60 to a drone attack.
South America

Colombian Black Hawk Downed By Drone Is A Glimpse Of What’s To Come (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has shared new insights with TWZ into its proposal to replace the U.S. Navy’s T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
News & Features

Everything We Just Learned About SNC’s Freedom Jet Trainer Aiming To Replace Navy T-45s

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

Newly published footage shows an ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy (MALD) fitted to a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 Flanker fighter. The video confirms that the store is used by both this and Ukraine’s MiG-29 Fulcrum jets and also that it is carried on the same specially adapted underwing pylon that is used for various Western-supplied guided munitions.
Ukraine

Ukraine Shows Off ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy On Su-27

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 22, 2025

The U.S. Navy says the impacts from a fire that burned for approximately 12 hours aboard the USS New Orleans earlier this week are limited to forward areas of the ship, though a full assessment of the damage is still ongoing.
Japan

New Details On Status Of USS New Orleans After Fire

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 22, 2025

The Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has rolled out a new pitch for a successor to the Navy's T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.
News & Features

SNC’s Freedom Jet Enters Race To Replace Navy’s T-45 Goshawk Trainer

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2025

A former high-ranking FAA and White House official offers his take on the Jersey Drone scare.
Drones

What Were The New Jersey Drones? Former High-Ranking FAA Official Gives His Take

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 21, 2025

Ukraine is hoping to see production of its Flamingo ground-launched long-range cruise missile, which just broke cover this past weekend, ramp up significantly by the end of the year.
Ukraine

Ukraine Aims To Build Thousands Of Flamingo Long-Range Cruise Missiles A Year

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2025

S-97 Raider clone flying in China
China

China Has Cloned Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider High-Speed Helicopter

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 21, 2025

Destroyers heading to Venezuela
POTUS

U.S. Navy Destroyers, Submarine, Amphibious Ships Being Sent Toward Venezuela

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 21, 2025

The U.S. Navy's San Antonio class amphibious warfare ship USS New Orleans suffered a fire today while it was anchored off White Beach in Uruma City on the Japanese island of Okinawa.
Japan

Fire Aboard USS New Orleans Burned For 12 Hours Before Being Extinguished (Updated)

Howard Altman Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 20, 2025

The use of a laser directed energy weapon to take down what was thought to be a cartel drone crossing the border near Texas highlights the challenges the U.S. faces in protecting its skies.
Ukraine

Fiber Optic FPV Drones Featured In Navy Electronic Warfare Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 20, 2025

A recently emerged image shows a very large, low-observable, flying-wing aircraft flying in China. While the identity of the aircraft cannot be definitively established, it matches, in many respects, the appearance of the huge drone that TWZ was first to identify in satellite imagery dating from earlier this summer, and which you can read more about here.
China

Large Stealth Flying Wing Aircraft Photographed Over China

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 20, 2025

F-22 Raptor stealth fighters are among a new wave of aviation assets heading to the Middle East.
Russia

No U.S. Peacekeeping Forces On The Ground In Ukraine, Air Support Possible: Trump

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 19, 2025

The U.S. Army has opened the door to potentially acquiring new types of 70mm rockets that are similar, but different from the Hydra-70 family it employs today.
News & Features

Army Open To 70mm Rocket Alternatives To Shore-Up Stockpile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 19, 2025

Pickle Fork-Like Stealthy Drone With Buddy Refueling Capability Being Developed By Kratos (Updated)
Drones

Pickle Fork-Like Stealthy Drone With Buddy Refueling Capability Being Developed By Kratos (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 19, 2025

A new cruise missile called Flamingo, which reportedly has a range of 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers), has emerged in Ukraine and is said to have already been used to strike targets in Russia.
Ukraine

New Ukrainian Cruise Missile With Claimed 1,800-Mile Range Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 18, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is in a risky spot as he meets with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House.
Russia

Zelensky In Risky Spot As He Meets With Trump In White House (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 18, 2025

An apparently previously unknown tiltrotor aircraft has appeared in China and is already undergoing flight testing. While the program remains mysterious, it’s further evidence of growing Chinese interest in this class of aircraft. Although previous such Chinese projects have typically been pitched for civilian missions, tiltrotors have clear military applications as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to expand its reach across the Indo-Pacific region.
Indo-Pacific

China’s First Crewed Tiltrotor Aircraft Is Flying

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 18, 2025

New views of Chinese ‘loyal wingman’ type drones, or at least mockups thereof, that are set to make their debut at a major upcoming military parade have emerged.
China

Glimpses Of China’s New Air Combat Drones Emerge Ahead Of Massive Military Parade

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 17, 2025

1960s INTERIOR OF MANNED SPACECRAFT CENTER CONTROL ROOM HOUSTON TEXAS USA (Photo by H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/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 Aug 15, 2025

The recent use of a laser directed energy weapon to take down an aerial object in Texas highlights policy challenges in protecting U.S. skies.
Iran

FAA Insider Opens Up About Drone Incursions Over Military Bases

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

The meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is now underway.
Russia

Trump-Putin Summit In Alaska Is Underway (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

A pair of B-2 bombers touched down at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska yesterday, and more may now be headed in the same direction.
Russia

B-2 Bombers Arrive At Alaskan Airbase Putin Will Land At (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

Ukraine has carried out an audacious drone strike on the Caspian Sea port of Olya, in Russia’s Astrakhan region, hitting one cargo vessel that Kyiv says was being used to transport arms from Iran. U.K.-based maritime security firm Ambrey confirmed to TWZ that this is the first time that a direct attack of this kind had been made on Olya and that it had resulted in one ship sunk. It also appears to be the first time that Ukraine has successfully targeted any kind of vessel in the Caspian Sea area.
Russia

Ukraine Sinks Russian Cargo Ship In Caspian Sea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 15, 2025

A surge in Russian use of ballistic missiles with enhanced maneuvering capabilities has cut into the effectiveness of Ukraine's Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has confirmed.
Russia

Ukraine’s Patriots Now Struggling To Intercept Enhanced Russian Ballistic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 15, 2025

The U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B stealth jet that was forced to make an emergency diversion to Japan last week is still there, the U.K. Ministry of Defense has told TWZ.
United Kingdom

UK F-35B Still Stranded In Japan Is Awaiting Spare Parts

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

Taiwan's armed forces have developed a launch system for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles concealed inside what otherwise looks to be a civilian truck.
Taiwan

Hellfire Missile Launcher Disguised As Civilian Truck Breaks Cover In Taiwan

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 14, 2025

Taiwan is testing a new external electronic countermeasures pod, reportedly due to be integrated on its F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter (IDF). The multirole combat aircraft has undergone a comprehensive upgrade in recent years, but until now has not had anything approaching a comprehensive electronic warfare self-protection capability. This requirement is now even more urgent, as the threat from the China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to grow.
Taiwan

Electronic Warfare Pod For Taiwan’s F-CK-1 Fighter Is In Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 14, 2025

Our Best Look At DARPA’s Defiant Uncrewed Surface Ship
Drones

Our Best Look At DARPA’s Defiant Uncrewed Surface Ship

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 13, 2025

A Customs and Border Protection MQ-9 flew deep into Mexico today.
Drones

U.S. MQ-9 Drone Just Flew A Mission Deep Into Mexico

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 13, 2025

The Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade the country's 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration.
NATO

Poland’s F-16s Are About To Become Much More Potent

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 13, 2025

South Korea is looking to develop a new air-launched ballistic missile, joining a group of nations that are looking to introduce this capability, or which already have systems of this kind in operational service. If successful, the program would likely see the weapon fielded on South Korea’s locally developed KF-21 fighter jet, which you can read more about here.
North Korea

South Korea Has An Air-Launched Ballistic Missile Program

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 13, 2025

A small U.S. Army quadcopter carrying a Claymore mine recently knocked down another small uncrewed aerial system in a test.
Drones

Claymore Mine-Armed Drone Tested by U.S. Army

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 13, 2025

Russian forces have made their deepest advance into Donbas in a year.
Russia

Russia Punches Through Ukrainian Lines In Deepest Advance In A Year

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 12, 2025

Last week, it was reported that German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall is awaiting a billion-dollar order from the German Armed Forces for its Skyranger anti-aircraft gun. During a recent earnings call, the firm’s CEO, Armin Papperger said that he expected Skyranger contracts from the German military worth between $7-9 billion to be signed this year. The systems would be delivered by 2035.
Germany

Germany To Bet Big On Skyranger Gun System To Address Growing Drone Threat

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 12, 2025

More MQ-58 Variants In The Works After Marines Move To Make Valkyrie A Full Program Of Record
Drones

More MQ-58 Variants In The Works After Marines Move To Make Valkyrie A Full Program Of Record

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 12, 2025

Russia is now using Shahed drones to drop mines.
Russia

Russia’s Shahed-136 Drones Are Laying Anti-Tank Mines

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 11, 2025

Bizarre footage has emerged from Russia, showing what’s claimed to be part of an experiment to integrate a counter-uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) interceptor drone on a MiG-29 Fulcrum jet fighter. On closer inspection, the quadcopter drone is lashed to the fighter using zip ties and, even if that weren’t the case, the overall practicality of the solution is extremely questionable — to say the least.
Russia

Russian MiG-29 Fitted With An “Interceptor Drone” Is A Laughable Mess

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 11, 2025

A recently released picture of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Bainbridge offers a good look at new launchers for Coyote counter-drone interceptors installed on the ship.
Drones

Coyote Loitering Drone Interceptors Have Arrived On U.S. Navy Destroyers

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 11, 2025

A Chinese Coast Guard cutter chasing a Philippine Coast Guard cutter when it was rammed by a Chinese guided missile destroyer in the hotly contested Scarborough Shoal.
Indo-Pacific

Chinese Destroyer Rips Bow Off Chinese Coast Guard Cutter During Intense Harassing Maneuvers

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 11, 2025

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - MAY 10: A small group of media were allowed an inside look at the command center at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station on May 10, 2018 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a part of an on going joke the command center has stuffed alien doll in a jar placed in front of the director's desk. NORAD celebrates its 60th Anniversary at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post 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 Aug 8, 2025

The U.S. is monitoring five Chinese icebreakers in the Arctic near Alaska..
Arctic

Unprecedented Chinese Icebreaker Deployment Off Alaska Being Monitored By U.S.

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 8, 2025

The turboprop-powered Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo is seen swooping low over a Ukrainian cornfield, very much its traditional operating environment. In this case, however, it sports a single R-73 air-to-air missile under each wing. The agricultural plane also appears to have received a military-style dull gray overall paint scheme, with white identification stripes on the rear fuselage to reduce the risk of ‘friendly fire.’ Details of the date and location of the video are not immediately available.
Ukraine

Crop Duster Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles Appears In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 8, 2025

Despite a week of Russian bombardment, a key bridge in Kherson remains standing.
Russia

Key Kherson Bridge Still Standing After Week Of Russian Bombardment

By Howard Altman

Updated on Aug 7, 2025

For all the new capabilities the B-21 Raider will bring as an individual aircraft, the U.S. Air Force's top bomber officer says he is most excited about the sheer numbers of those aircraft that are set to enter service in the coming years.
News & Features

For B-21, Quantity Is Its Most Critical Quality Top Bomber Officer Says

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 7, 2025

Russia radar strikes by FPV in crimea
Russia

Uncrewed Boats Launch FPV Drone Strike On Key Russian Radars Located On Crimea’s Southern Tip

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 7, 2025

Cybertrucks Wanted By Air Force As Missile Targets
News & Features

Cybertrucks Wanted By Air Force As Missile Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 7, 2025

A new variant of the AGM-114 Hellfire missile with a warhead that can be set to focus its blast in different directions depending on the target is in the works for the U.S. special operations community.
News & Features

AGM-114 Hellfire Missile Getting Articulated Warhead Capable Of Blasting In Different Directions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 6, 2025

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has provided us with a look at the future, stealthier version of its KF-21 fighter, which is now known as the KF-21EX. Concept artwork of the refined version of the jet has been released, with internal weapons carriage being its distinguishing feature. This is part of an effort to make the KF-21 more survivable in the face of ever more capable air defense systems, although the resulting aircraft will not offer the same level of low observability as the F-35, which is also operated by South Korea.
South Korea

South Korea’s KF-21 Fighter To Get Stealthier With Internal Weapons Bays

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 6, 2025

A fuel venting issue has emerged in some of the U.S. Air Force's new F-15EX Eagle II fighters, which has reportedly left them sidelined.
News & Features

F-15EX Fuel Venting Troubles Emerge, Boeing Testing Fixes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025

The latest addition to China’s growing family of Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fighter series, the J-15DT electronic warfare version, appears to have entered operational service. Crucially, this electronic attack Flanker is equipped for operations aboard catapult-equipped aircraft carriers like the Fujian, which recently began to host fixed-wing aircraft trials. Progress with the J-15DT points not only to China’s the scope of carrier aviation ambitions, but the growing focus on catapult assisted takeoff but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) operations, which offer many advantages.
China

Our Best Look At China’s New J-15DT Carrier-Based Electronic Warfare Jet

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 5, 2025

Another chinese stealthy tailless combat jet emerges.
China

New Chinese Stealth Tactical Jet Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 5, 2025