News & Features (Page 2)

Latest in News & Features

Trump no longer asking allies to help open the strait of hormuz.
Iran

Trump No Longer Wants Allies To Send Warships To Open The Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 17, 2026

The move is a somewhat rare one for the E-2 community, but it's extremely logical, and likely highly urgent, considering what is going on in the Middle East.
Iran

Navy E-2D Hawkeyes Appear To Be Rushing To The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 17, 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

Germany rejects Trump's demand that NATO send warships to the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran

Allies Push Back On Trump’s Demand They Send Warships To Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 16, 2026

A picture of a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler taking part in the current operations against Iran shows the plane carrying an interesting split load of two different electronic warfare pods.
Iran

EA-18G Growlers Carrying Mixed Load Of Old And New Jamming Pods Are Flying Iran Missions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) claims that it destroyed the Iranian government’s Airbus A340 in a strike on Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Last summer, the aircraft had been part of an exodus of Iranian state-operated airliners to Oman, but its apparent demise now underscores the intensity of the current airstrikes against Iran, which have been systematically removing aircraft of all types from the Iranian order of battle.
Iran

Israel Claims Destruction Of ‘Iran Force One’

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

There appears to be no end in sight as the war in Iran enters its 16th day.
Iran

Israeli And U.S. Officials Indicate War Could Go On For Another Three Weeks (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 16, 2026

The U.S. Navy Independence class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara, which are configured for minesweeping duties, have appeared in port in Malaysia.
Iran

U.S. Navy Minesweepers Assigned To Middle East Have Been Moved To Pacific (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 15, 2026

CHEYENNE MOUNTAIN AIR FORCE STATION, Colo.—Runners participating in the North American Aerospace Defense Command 5k Tunnel Run exit the Cheyenne Mountain Complex through the north portal at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colorado, May 10, 2018. The run was open to all local military personnel, friends and family and was held to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of NORAD and the U.S. Canadian binational NORAD agreement.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Dennis Hoffman)
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

Drones launched from ships offshore is a highly plausible mode of attack that TWZ has been drawing direct attention to for years now as the United States continues to play catch-up in establishing domestic defenses against the dangers posed by drones.
Iran

Drone Attacks On U.S. From The Sea Are A Known Possibility

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

Amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) departs Naval Air Station North Island, Calif., April 7, 2022. Tripoli completed flight deck operations with 20 F-35B Lightning II jets from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons 211 and 225, Marine Aircraft Group 13, and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, as well as Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1, as part of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Lightning carrier concept demonstration. The Lightning carrier concept demonstration shows Tripoli and other amphibious assault ships are capable of operating as dedicated fixed-wing strike platforms when needed, capable of bringing fifth generation Short Takeoff/Vertical Landing aircraft wherever they are required. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Ruiz)
Iran

Marine Expeditionary Unit Deploying To The Middle East: Report (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 13, 2026

Despite widespread interest across the Middle East in the wake of Iranian Shahed attacks, Ukrainian companies still can't export them.
Iran

Ukrainian Companies Prohibited From Exporting Shahed Interceptor Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

A submarine is among the Iranian naval vessels that U.S. forces have struck with Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles.
Iran

Iranian Submarine Sunk By ATACMS Short Range Ballistic Missile

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 13, 2026

A KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq, according to CENTCOM.
Iran

KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick, Joseph Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 13, 2026

Iran continues its campaign against commercial tankers, with another two vessels apparently set ablaze earlier today in Iraqi waters. Now, the U.S. government is looking at providing protective escorts.
Iran

U.S. Navy Won’t Be Ready To Escort Tankers Through Hormuz For Weeks (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 12, 2026

The U.S. Navy has conducted at least one new round of live-fire tests of its prototype electromagnetic railgun at the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) in New Mexico.
News & Features

Railgun Being Fired By U.S. Navy Again After Abandoning It For Years

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 12, 2026

We obtained first-hand accounts of police chasing down Jersey Drones.
U.S. Homeland

What Cops Saw Chasing Down New Jersey Drones

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 12, 2026

Satellite imagery from Vantor shows that a site long linked to Iran's nuclear program has been struck in a manner that raises the question of whether 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs were employed.
Iran

Did B-2s Just Drop GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators On Another Iranian Nuclear Site? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 12, 2026

Iran is stepping up its attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran

Iran Turns Up The Heat Around The Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 11, 2026

F-35B ready to carry out defensive counter-air sortie operations across the Middle East. British jets are protecting UK personnel and allied nations across the Middle East. These operations form part of the UK’s broader commitment to regional security and an active commitment to protect our personnel and allies. ** Some blurring has been applied for operational security reasons **
Iran

UK Grows Its Defensive Posture Abroad In Response To Iran Conflict

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 11, 2026

B-1B takeoff at night in afterburner
Iran

B-1B Being Loaded With Bunker Busters In England A Sign Of Increasing Air Supremacy Over Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 11, 2026

Satellite imagery from Vantor shows at least two, and more likely three, swing-wing F-14 Tomcat fighters, as well as at least 10 other aircraft destroyed on the ground following strikes on an Iranian airbase in Isfahan.
Iran

Iranian F-14 Tomcats Meet Their Doom In Israeli Airstrikes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 11, 2026

B-1B bomber used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford.
Iran

Epic Fury Day 11: U.S. Promises “Most Intense Day Of Strikes” On Iran

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 10, 2026

In a surprising development, Serbia has emerged as an operator of the Chinese-made CM-400 air-launched supersonic missile. The weapon has been integrated into Serbia’s Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrums, which have undergone various upgrades.
Eastern Europe

Serbian MiG-29 Appears Armed With Chinese Supersonic Standoff Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 10, 2026

An Australian E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control plane is headed for the Persian Gulf.
Iran

Massive Leap In Ability To Spot Iranian Drones Headed To Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

The U.S. military has been using M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to strike Iranian ships as part of Operation Epic Fury.
Iran

U.S. Striking Iranian Navy Ships With Ballistic Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 10, 2026

U.S. and Israeli authorities have reportedly been considering a special operations ground raid to extract or otherwise neutralize Iran's stockpile of enriched uranium, a risky plan that highlights challenges in attempting to achieve this objective from the air alone.
Iran

Commando Raid To Secure Iran’s Enriched Uranium May Become A Very Risky Necessity

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 9, 2026

A B-52 bomber lands at RAF Fairford on March 9, 2026 in Fairford, England. Four U.S. B-1 Lancer bombers arrived at RAF Fairford on Friday following the UK Prime Minister's decision to allow "defensive" access to UK bases for strikes against Iranian missile sites, reversing an earlier policy refusal that caused friction with President Donald Trump.
Iran

B-52s Arrive At U.K. Base As Air Campaign Over Iran Grinds On (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 9, 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

The irony that lower-end long-range kamikaze drones are perhaps the biggest threat to extremely advanced radars capable of providing telemetry for intercepting targets traveling at hypersonic speeds, sometimes in space, is glaring. The losses of the radars should finally serve as a stark wake-up call regarding the vulnerability of these critical but largely static assets.
Iran

Iranian Attacks On Prized Missile Defense Radars Are A Wake-Up Call

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 7, 2026

Aircrew members board a B-52H Stratofortress prior to taking off in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 4, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Iran

Air War Against Iran Enters Week Two (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 7, 2026

Less than a week into Operation Epic Fury, we have seen a wide variety of munitions used by the U.S. and Israeli military and have previously looked at how their employment has involved as the conflict has progressed. We have also gotten a look at an apparently mysterious version of the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in Israeli Air Force (IAF) service.
Iran

Israeli F-16 Appears Carrying A Mysterious Precision Bomb

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 7, 2026

First Lt. Pamela Blanco-Coca, 319th Missile Squadron missile combat crew commander, and 2nd Lt. John Anderson, 319th MS deputy missile combat crew commander, conduct pre-operational checks at a launch control center in the F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., missile complex Feb. 9, 2016. The missileers worked heavily in conjunction with missile maintainers to conduct a test of Minuteman III weapon system components in a test known as the Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jason Wiese)
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 7, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is unwilling to negotiate with Iran unless it surrenders unconditionally.
Iran

Trump Demands “Unconditional Surrender,” Iran Says Bring On The Ground Invasion (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 6, 2026

Kuwait F/A-18 shoot down up for debate.
Iran

Kuwaiti F/A-18’s Triple Friendly Fire Shootdown Gets Stranger By The Day

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 6, 2026

Adm. Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, lauds the LUCAS drone.
Iran

LUCAS Kamikaze Drones Lauded As “Indispensable” By U.S. Admiral In Charge Of Iran War

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 6, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied claims circulating online of the loss of another F-15E Strike Eagle, this time over enemy territory, as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
Iran

U.S. Denies F-15E Strike Eagle Went Down In Iran

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 5, 2026

F-15E Strike Eagle are operating over Iran.
Iran

The Misconception That Air Supremacy Has Been Achieved Over Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 5, 2026

For more than three weeks, Ukraine was left with only “a handful” of U.S.-made AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet, after the supply of the weapons dried up. This is the conclusion of a Reuters report, citing three sources, all of whom are said to have direct knowledge of the situation. It also comes as Kyiv is increasingly in competition with the U.S. military and its Gulf allies as they come under continued pressure from Iranian drones and missiles in the Middle East.
Ukraine

Ukrainian F-16s Had Only A Handful Of Sidewinder Missiles Available: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 5, 2026

Iran’s ability to launch missiles and drones at U.S., Israeli, and other allied targets in the Middle East has been severely degraded, two top American military leaders said Wednesday morning.
Iran

Strikes Hobble Iranian Missile Threat As Concerns Over Interceptor Stockpile Mount (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

Now we are seeing footage of one of Iran's strangest and most advanced warships, the Shahid Soleimani class IRIS Shahid Sayyad Shirazi (FS313-03), being struck and set ablaze.
Iran

One Of Iran’s Most Advanced Wacky Catamaran Warships Sunk In Epic Fury

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

For the first time, an F-35 has shot down a crewed aircraft in combat. According to the Israeli military, an Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I Adir brought down an Iranian Yak-130 Mitten combat trainer over Tehran.
Iran

Israeli Air Force First To Claim F-35 Air-To-Air Kill Of A Crewed Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

U.S. Navy Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate In Indian Ocean
Iran

U.S. Navy Submarine Torpedoes Iranian Frigate In Indian Ocean

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

Kuwaiti Hornet shot down F-15Es: REPORT
Iran

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Hornet Responsible For Shooting Down Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles: Report

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

Iran appears to be increasingly focusing its retaliatory attacks against energy production infrastructure in Gulf Arab States.
Iran

Gulf Arab States Under Pressure As Iranian Attacks Grind On (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

U.S. Navy warships could soon be escorting commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz, according to President Donald Trump.
Iran

Trump’s Plan To Escort Ships Through Strait Of Hormuz Would Put U.S. Navy Warships In The Crosshairs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 4, 2026

New Russian cruise missile is being used in Ukraine.
Russia

New Russian Air-Launched Cruise Missile Appears In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

The U.S. is sending more fighters jets to the Middle East.
Iran

More U.S. Fighter Aircraft Heading To Middle East

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

Drone boat attack, first of operation Epic Fury.
Iran

Iranian Kamikaze Drone Boat Makes First Successful Strike Of War

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered day three.
Iran

War With Iran Now In Its Third Day

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

Iran’s Key Naval Base On Strait Of Hormuz Set Ablaze From Strikes
Iran

Iran’s Key Naval Base On Strait Of Hormuz Set Ablaze From Strikes

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 2, 2026

F-15 crashes in the Middle East.
Iran

Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles Shot Down By Friendly Fire (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

The joint U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran has entered its second day.
Iran

U.S.-Israeli War With Iran Enters Day Two (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 2, 2026

The U.S. military has employed new Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) short-range ballistic missiles as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
Iran

America’s New PrSM Ballistic Missile Just Made Its Combat Debut

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 1, 2026

B-2s were used to strike for the first time during operation Epic Fury.
Iran

B-2 Spirits Join Iran Air War, Pummel Underground Missile Caves (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 1, 2026

The U.S. used LUCAS kamikaze drones against Iran, the first combat deployment of these weapons.
Iran

U.S. Military Has Used Long-Range Kamikaze Drones In Combat For The First Time

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Iran strikes 5th fleet headquarters in Bahrain.
Iran

U.S. And Israel At War With Iran (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 28, 2026

U.S. President Donald Trump says that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in ongoing war.
Iran

Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed In Strikes, Trump Declares

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Black tomahawk launched from U.S. Navy destroyer at Iran.
Iran

Black Tomahawk Cruise Missile Seen For The First Time In Strikes On Iran (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 28, 2026

Iranian Navy frigate struck in port in konarak iran.
Iran

Iranian Frigate Seen Ablaze After Being Struck In Port

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Missileers with the 321st Missile Squadron run through the test sequence document during the Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman test inside the launch control center at a missile alert facility in the 90th Missile Wing's missile complex, Neb., April 11, 2017. The missileers worked heavily in conjunction with missile maintainers to conduct a test of Minuteman III weapon system components. A successful test proves the ICBM weapon system's effectiveness in a safe and secure manner. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Ruano)
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

The U.S. Air Force now has at least 14 aerial refueling tankers forward-deployed in Israel ahead of potential strikes on Iran.
Iran

Israel’s Fighter Force Stands To Be Far More Effective With Full USAF Tanker Support In A War With Iran

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

An Aerovironment Locust directed energy laser weapons took down a small Customs and Border Protection Drone.
Directed Energy

Drone That LOCUST Laser Shot Down On Border Was Small And Belonged To Customs and Border Protection

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group conduct pre-flight checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker before it departs during Operation Agile Spartan at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, Aug. 19, 2023. The large-scale exercise reinforced the U.S. commitment to its regional partners across the Middle East through developing and maintaining missions in unpredictable ways, rapidly responding to the needs of joint and coalition commanders. The month-long, multinational operation demonstrated interoperability between regional partners, improved response capabilities, and further enhanced security throughout the region.
Iran

Tankers Vacate Al Udeid Air Base As U.S. Citizens Are Urged To Leave Israel Immediately (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2026