News & Features(Page 24)

Latest in News & Features

The legendary Martin Mars flying boat Hawaii Mars has made a spectacular final flight, taking it from its long-time home on Sproat Lake in British Columbia, Canada, to see out its retirement in a museum in the same state. Originally developed for the U.S. Navy and the war in the Pacific, the huge aircraft found a niche as a water bomber with Coulson Aviation but had not flown in this role since 2015.
Indo-Pacific

Giant Hawaii Mars Flying Boat Made Its Final Glorious Flight

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 12, 2024

Chinese drone maker Tengden says it has conducted the first flight of a new cargo drone with a multi-metric-ton cargo capacity.
China

Chinese Cargo Drone Capable Of Carrying Two Tons Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 12, 2024

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, WV - JULY 14: A resort employee passes by the Hotel Blast Door, which weighs 18 tons and serves as an entrance to a former government relocation facility, also know as "the bunker," at Greenbrier Resort July 14, 2006 in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The bunker, codenamed "Project Greek Island" and planned by the Eisenhower Administration, was a 112,000 square-foot shelter constructed beneath the Greenbrier Resort's West Virginia Wing, to serve as a relocation site for members of the U.S. Congress and associated staff in the event of a nuclear attack on the U.S. soil. The facility was built between 1958 and 1961 and was maintained in a state of operational readiness until the government terminated the lease with the resort in 1995. The bunker will be reopened for public tours on August 20 after a two-year-long renovation. (Photo by Alex Wong/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 10, 2024

The Ukrainian invasion of Kursk continues despite increasing Russian reinforcements.
Russia

Russia Racing Troops To Kursk In Hopes Of Booting Ukraine’s Invasion Forces

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 9, 2024

Model 407 optionally manned drone Northrop grumman
U.S. Homeland

Northrop’s Stealthy Loyal Wingman Drone Breaks Cover And It Has A Cockpit

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 9, 2024

Tiny JSX-2 microjets able to act as surrogates for drones and cruise missile threats are supporting the Northern Strike 24-2 exercise.
U.S. Homeland

Tiny Jets Masquerading As Cruise Missiles Featured In Michigan Airpower Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 9, 2024

Two U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 92nd Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, fly alongside a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 91st Air Refueling Squadron over the western United States during Exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3, Aug. 5, 2024. Through employment of the KC-135 aircraft, the 91st ARS extends U.S. global power and global reach by planning and executing aerial refueling missions for U.S. and allied combat and support aircraft. During Bamboo Eagle, Air Mobility Command assets will support warfighters implementing all-domain combat-power generation from disaggregated basing locations throughout the western part of the U.S., along with distributed command and control, agile logistics, and tactical air-to-air refueling. Bamboo Eagle provides participating units opportunities to reoptimizing for Great Power competition and to focus on mission readiness by to deliver cross-functional and lethal combat capabilities with the speed and agility required to meet pacing challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexander Cook)
China

Massive China-Focused Air Combat Exercise Underway Off California Coast

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 9, 2024

US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornets brandishing full loads of nine air-to-air missiles have touched down at a base in Jordan ahead of expected Iranian attacks against Israel.
Iran

F/A-18E Super Hornets Fully Loaded With Air-To-Air Missiles Arrive In Jordan

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 9, 2024

Ukraine's F-16s arrived with self protection pods
Ukraine

F-16s Delivered To Ukraine With Advanced Countermeasure Pods For Self-Protection

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

Ukraine now has at least 2,000 troops inside Russia and continues to pour more in.
Russia

Ukrainian Forces Make Major Gains Inside Russia On Day Three Of Kursk Invasion (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

France will have sent Ukraine 600 Hammer bombs by the end of the year.
Ukraine

Ukrainian MiG-29’s Special Pylon For Hammer Rocket-Boosted Bombs Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

Defense technology contractor Anduril has announced plans to build a novel “hyperscale” production facility that will be able to churn out significant numbers of different military products, including uncrewed combat aircraft and autonomous underwater vehicles. The project closely aligns with the Pentagon’s aim of securing the ability to manufacture at scale, to meet future demands, especially for uncrewed systems that would be critical in potential peer-state conflicts.
U.S. Homeland

“Hyperscale” Weapons Factory Vision Outlined By Anduril

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

Kratos, manufacturer of the XQ-58 Valkyrie, has confirmed that a new version of the drone is in the works that will feature built-in landing gear, which points to a larger derivative possibly with greater performance.
Drones

New XQ-58 Valkyrie Variant With Built-In Landing Gear To Fly Soon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 8, 2024

Testbed for the Navy's helicopter escape system in the 1960s
Cold War

Navy’s Cold War-Era Helicopter Crew Escape System Literally Sliced Fuselages Apart

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

Ukrainian drone operators are increasingly taking the fight to the Russian helicopters operating over and around the battlefield, by launching direct attacks with first-person view (FPV) drones. While there has been one previous report of a Russian rotorcraft successfully being attacked by a drone and several videos showing near-misses, the increasing quantity of such incidents indicates that this is now becoming a more established practice.
Russia

Russian Mi-28 Havoc Attack Helicopter Engaged In Mid-Air By Ukrainian Drone

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

Ukraine's incursion into Kursk, Russia.
Russia

Ukrainian Forces Fight Inside Russia For Second Day (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

A drone-hunting rifle-armed robot dog is being demonstrated at a US Army event dubbed Operation Hard Kill.
Drones

Robot Dog With Gun Turret For Hunting Aerial Drones Being Tested By Army

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

A brief video clip of a U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye linking up with an Air Force HC-130J tanker somewhere over in the Middle East calls attention to how this aircraft has become even more of a force multiplier with the added ability to refuel in flight.
Indo-Pacific

E-2D Refueling From HC-130 Over Middle East Highlights The Hawkeye’s Potential

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

Russia battled an incursion by Ukraine into Kursk Oblast on Tuesday.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Cross-Border Raid Shakes Russia’s Kursk Region

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 7, 2024

Israel and Hezbollah traded attacks as the Lebanese militant group's leader issued a new threat.
Israel

Attacks In Lebanon-Israel Border Region Intensify Ahead Of Anticipated Large-Scale Strikes

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 6, 2024

An already massive hangar in northwestern China is now even bigger after receiving a 300-foot-long extension.
China

China’s Gigantic Secretive Blimp Hangar Has Gotten Even Larger

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 6, 2024

Photos have emerged showing the extent of the destruction at Morozovsk Air Base, in Russia’s Rostov region, after it was struck by Ukrainian forces at the weekend.
Ukraine

Aftermath Of Ukrainian Attack On Russian Su-34 Fullback Base Emerges (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 6, 2024

The U.S. Navy supercarrier USS Abraham Lincoln is heading toward the Middle East with an air wing that includes EA-18G Growlers equipped with new AN/ALQ-249(V)1 Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band (NGJ-MB) electronic warfare pods.
Red Sea

EA-18G Growlers With New Jamming Pods Onboard Carrier Heading To Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 6, 2024

F-22s being sent to Middle East to protect Israel.
Iran

Scramble Underway To Prepare For Looming Iranian Retribution Strike On Israel

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 5, 2024

The US Air Force says an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has operated from a highway for the first time as part of the service's larger push to reduce its dependence on traditional runways. This is also comes amid questions about the future of the gunships in future high-end fights.
U.S. Homeland

AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Has Operated From A Highway For The First Time

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 5, 2024

F-16s for Ukraine arrive with weapons
Ukraine

F-16 Officially In Ukrainian Service, Self Protection Pods Included

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 4, 2024

Ukraine claims it sunk the Russian Improved Kilo class submarine Rostov-on-Don
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Russian Submarine Destroyed, Kyiv Claims

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 3, 2024

October 1917: A crowd lining up to enter an air raid shelter at Hither Green. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/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 3, 2024

Video clips have emerged showing Chinese maritime special operations forces using multiple types of bird-like drones.
China

Chinese Sea Dragon Commandos Show Off Drones That Look Just Like Birds

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 3, 2024

Baba Yaga Drone Ukraine
Ukraine

Ukraine’s “Baba Yaga” Drones Now Appear Capable Of Launching Guided Munitions

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Aug 2, 2024

F-16 Iran Middle East
Iran

More U.S. Combat Aircraft Heading To Middle East Ahead Of Expected Iranian Attack On Israel (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 2, 2024

More NATO members are now 'read into' top-secret Special Access Programs (SAP) related to the Joint Strike Fighter as part of a broader push to improve information sharing and interoperability.
NATO

More Top Secret F-35 Stealth Fighter Data Given To NATO Members

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 2, 2024

The Army has laid out a requirement for an AIM-120 AMRAAM-like interceptor that is the same general size as an AIM-9X SIdewinder for its Enduring Shield air defense system.
Procurement

Army Seeking AIM-9X-Sized Surface-To-Air Missile With AIM-120-Like Range

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 2, 2024

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a bomb smuggled into the guesthouse where he was staying, according to The New York Times.
Iran

Planted Bomb Was Used To Kill Hamas Leader In Tehran: Report

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 1, 2024

The entire fleet of U.S. V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has been temporarily grounded after a mishap involving an AFSOC CV-22 last month at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Japan

CV-22 Osprey Crash In Japan Was Caused By Gearbox Failure

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 1, 2024

An US Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship recently used its 30mm and 105mm to help sink a decommissioned amphibious warship during an exercise, which comes amid a larger discussion about the relevance of these aircraft in future higher-end operations.
Indo-Pacific

AC-130J Ghostrider Hammers Amphibious Warship During Rare Appearance At Sinking Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 1, 2024

Ukraine F-16s
Ukraine

F-16s Arrive In Ukraine: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 1, 2024

Composite image from Navy's Silent Swarm 2024 event
U.S. Homeland

Silent Swarm Exercise Accelerates Navy’s Path To Distributed Electronic Warfare Future

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 1, 2024

The US Air Force's top officer in Europe has highlighted how kamikaze drones present threats, as well as opportunities, especially for smaller friendly countries that might not be able to afford higher-end capabilities.
U.S. Homeland

Long-Range Kamikaze Drones Offer ‘Cheap’ Strike Opportunities For U.S., Allies: USAF General

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 31, 2024

Demonstrators wave flags and hold pictures of the leader of the Palestinian militant Hamas group, Ismail Haniyeh, (C) and senior leader Saleh al-Arouri during a protest on July 31, 2024 in Beirut's Burj al-Barajneh camp for Palestinian refugees, denouncing his killing. Hamas said on July 31 its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he was attending the swearing-in of the new president, and vowed the act "will not go unanswered".
Iran

Claims Swirl Around How Israel Assassinated Hamas Leader In Tehran (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 31, 2024

Russian Telegram channels say a Russian Mi-8 transport helicopter was down by a drone, the first time that has happened.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Russians Say Mi-8 Hip Helicopter Was Shot Down By Drone

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 31, 2024

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has shed some more light on the status of the new sixth-generation stealth combat jet under development as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program. “We’re taking a pause,” Kendall said this morning, before reiterating that while fighter at the heart of the wider NGAD initiative will have a human pilot to start with, an optionally crewed version might be developed too.
U.S. Homeland

Air Force Secretary ‘Absolutely Confident’ 6th Gen Crewed Fighter Will Move Forward (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

Nulcear Warhead inventory released by NNSA
U.S. Homeland

Just How Many Nuclear Weapons Does The U.S. Actually Have?

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Jul 30, 2024

North Korean NLOS missile vehicle in Ukraine
North Korea

North Korean Anti-Tank Missile-Toting Vehicle Appears To Be Operating In Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

Ukrainians F-16s will immediately be able to get more out of stocks Western munitions that have already been deliverd, as well as other benefits.
Ukraine

F-16s Will Let Ukraine Get More Out Of Western Munitions: USAF’s Top Officer In Europe

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

Drone Hunter T Shirt War Zone
News & Features

Commemorate F-15E Strike Eagle’s Historic Drone Hunt With This Galaga-Inspired T-Shirt

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

New Russian drone in use in Ukraine.
Ukraine

New Russian Long-Range Drone Appears In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

The US Army and US Navy recently "initiated" a test of a hypersonic weapon system, but the US military won't say whether or not it was a success or failure, or even if there was an actual launch at all.
U.S. Homeland

Hypersonic Weapon Just Tested In Florida, Results Unclear

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 30, 2024

The world awaits Israel's response after a deadly Hezbollah rocket attack on a soccer field.
Israel

World Awaits Israel’s Response To Deadly Hezbollah Rocket Attack That Hit Soccer Field

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jul 29, 2024

A new type of submarine has appeared in China, featuring X-form rudders for the first time on a crewed Chinese design. Whether the recently spotted submarine is a further iteration of an existing class, or if it’s an entirely new design, it reflects the rapid pace of development in China’s submarine program, which features increasingly advanced and innovative nuclear- and conventionally powered types.
China

China’s Latest Submarine Features X-Shaped Stern

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 29, 2024

The US Air Force says a program to explore low cost 'air vehicle' concepts that could be turned into cruise missiles or used for other purposes is as much about shaking up industrial base and supply chain status quos.
U.S. Homeland

Shaking Up U.S. Industrial Base Key To ‘Cheap’ Cruise Missile Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 29, 2024

Three German Eurofighter EF2000s have completed a record-breaking endurance flight for the multirole fighter. Remaining in the air for a total of 10 hours 31 minutes, the trio of combat aircraft flew from Japan to Hawaii today, supported by aerial refueling tankers that included KC-135 Stratotankers operated by private aerospace firm Metrea, a contractor-owned and operated aerial refueling business that recently acquired of 14 KC-135s from the French Air and Space Force.
Germany

German Eurofighters Make Record-Breaking Flight With Help From Private Aerial Refueling Company

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 27, 2024

A 1950s civil defense shelter
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 27, 2024

NATO has selected AIrbus, Leonardo and Lockheed Martin Sikorsky to provide concept studies for the Next Generation Rotor Craft.
NATO

NATO Selects Three Companies For Next-Generation Rotorcraft Concept Study

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

A new picture offering the best look to date at a Ukrainian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter armed with GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs has disclosed the use of a special pylon with a mysterious feature in front.
Russia

First Look At Mystery Weapon Pylon Ukrainian MiG-29s Use To Carry Small Diameter Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

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.
Espionage

Air Force Chief Hints At Existence Of Clandestine Spy Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

Russia is gaining ground in its effort to capture the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Advancing Toward Key Logistics Hub

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

Greece has made good on its promise to buy F-35 stealth fighters, confirming today that it will buy an initial batch of 20 of the aircraft at a cost of around $3.5 billion. The decision is an important step in the modernization of the Hellenic Air Force, which has recently inducted other new combat aircraft types, while plans to retire older jets have also been unveiled. The move also has a particular resonance in terms of Greece’s tense relations with regional rival Turkey, which was booted out of the F-35 program, after buying Russian-made S-400 air defense systems.
Turkey

Greece Buying F-35s Widens Qualitative Gap With Turkey

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 26, 2024

US Special Operations Command has been tasked to lead the so-called "left-of-launch" fight against drones before they can get airborne or maybe are even produced in the first place.
Drones

Destroying Drones Before Launch Is Becoming A Major Mission For U.S. Special Operators

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 25, 2024

A jet ski loaded with explosives, and presumed to be of Ukrainian origin, has been found off the Turkish coast near Istanbul. The modified jet ski likely joins a growing fleet of Ukrainian kamikaze drone boats that have been notably effective in disrupting Russian Navy activities in the Black Sea, in the process sinking or damaging multiple warships.
Turkey

Explosives-Packed Jet Ski Drone Appears Off Turkish Coast

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 25, 2024

Chinese H-6-series aircraft have flown off the coast of Alaska for what appears to be the first time in an important show of force along with Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers.
U.S. Homeland

Chinese H-6 Missile Carrier Jets Appear For The First Time Off Alaska (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 25, 2024

Ukraine's low-cost acoustic drone detection network is gaining increasing interest from the U.S. and allies.
Ukraine

Ukraine’s Acoustic Drone Detection Network Eyed By U.S. As Low-Cost Air Defense Option

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jul 24, 2024

The embarked security team aboard the M/V Pumba destroyed a Houthi drone boat before it could cause any damage.
Red Sea

Ship Security Team Appears To Detonate Explosive-Laden Houthi Drone Boat With Gunfire

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jul 23, 2024

General Atomics has revealed a new fifth member of its Gambit modular drone family that is carrier-capable and that could represent a step forward in a broader naval aviation vision for the United Kingdom and other countries.
Drones

New Carrier-Based Version Of The Gambit Family Of Combat Drones Is In The Works

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jul 23, 2024