News &amp; Features (Page 28)

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

Photos have emerged showing a U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet carrying what appears to be an air-launched version of the RIM-174 SM-6 missile, a weapon that can counter aerial threats at long ranges, as well as ground and surface targets.

Super Hornet Armed With SM-6 Missile Spotted Over California

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

European aviation consortium Airbus has unveiled a new stealthy fighter-sized loyal wingman-type drone concept

Germany

Stealthy Fighter-Like Wingman Drone Concept Unveiled By Airbus (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

Posted on Jun 4, 2024

Israel

Why Aren’t U.S. Navy LCAC Hovercraft Being Used To Deliver Aid To Gaza?

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Jun 3, 2024

Russia

Ukraine Strikes Long-Range SAM System Inside Russia With U.S. Weapon

Posted on Jun 3, 2024

The Defense Innovation Unit and the US Air Force have picked four different companies design, build, and flight test new low-cost cruise missile concepts.

‘Cheap’ Long-Range Cruise Missile Designs To Be Tested By Air Force

Posted on Jun 3, 2024

Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv’s Forces Push Back In Kharkiv

Posted on Jun 3, 2024

A government approved air raid shelter on display at Stern's department store

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on Jun 1, 2024

Testing at the Upside-Down Air Force, RADC

The Fascinating Story Of The USAF’s “Upside-Down Air Force”

Posted on May 31, 2024

Progressively clearer photos of one of Shenyang’s prototype fighters seems to reveal key features different to those found on the carrier-based J-35, as well as on the earlier FC-31 prototypes. This raises questions about China’s own plans for a potential land-based variant, as well as future export plans, with Pakistan known to have made official plans to acquire a version of the jet.

China

Land-Based Variant Of China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter Makes Sense

Posted on May 31, 2024

Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Claims Swirl Around Missile Strike On Kerch Ferries

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on May 31, 2024

The U.S. Government Accountability Office says that "unplanned weight growth" and design instability have been major factors in the huge delays with the Constellation class, and that the ship's top speed could take a hit as a result.

Navy’s New Constellation Class Frigate Is A Mess

Posted on May 31, 2024

Russia

Ukraine Can Now Use U.S.-Supplied Weapons To Strike Inside Russia

Posted on May 30, 2024

Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of erecting physical barriers to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from drones.

Enclosures To Defend F-15Es From Drone Attacks Eyed At Seymour Johnson AFB

Posted on May 30, 2024

Israel

The Case For Arming Drone-Hunting Fighters With Iron Dome’s Tamir Missile

Posted on May 30, 2024

Martin-Baker Ejection Seat Made Its First Of 7,722 Saves 75 Years Ago Today

Updated on May 30, 2024

Russia

Russian FPV Drone Seen Attacking Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessel For The First Time

Posted on May 30, 2024

North Korea

Poop-Filled North Korean Balloons Descend On The South Stoking Fears Of Deadlier Payloads

Posted on May 29, 2024

Experimental Alpha Draco hypersonic boost-glide vehicle preparing for launch, 1959.

Cold War

Alpha Draco Paved The Way In The Late 1950s For Future Hypersonic Boost-Glide Vehicles

Posted on May 29, 2024

Russia has presented its latest take on the bizarre-looking ‘turtle tank’ concept, with a main battle tank now adapted as an armored personnel carrier, complete with the now familiar sheet-metal carapace. The new development provides another example of Russia repurposing vehicles to meet battlefield demands but also suggests deeper difficulties in fielding new-build, purpose-designed armored personnel carriers.

Ukraine

Russia Now Building ‘Turtle Tank’ Armored Personnel Carriers

Posted on May 29, 2024

In a major new development for the Ukrainian military, Sweden is to donate it Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft equipped with Erieye radar. The aircraft is being provided as part of Sweden’s biggest military aid package for Ukraine so far and they will bring an entirely new capability for the Ukrainian Air Force, providing much enhanced air and sea surveillance and working together with its forthcoming F-16 fighters.

Northern Europe

Ukraine Getting Swedish Airborne Early Warning Radar Planes Is A Big Deal

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 29, 2024

Russia

Prized Russian Long Range Radar System Attacked In Eastern Ukraine

Posted on May 29, 2024

Ukraine

Ukraine Situation Report: First Of 30 Belgian F-16s To Be Delivered “This Year”

Posted on May 28, 2024

An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter crashed in Albuquerque New Mexico.

F-35 Crashes In New Mexico (Updated)

Posted on May 28, 2024

Video

How The A-10’s Avenger Cannon Went From Terrible To Terrifying

Updated on May 28, 2024

America's pier that is being used to deliver aid to Gaza broke free and is now being recovered.

Gaza Aid Pier Lasted Less Than Two Weeks Before Breaking Apart

Posted on May 28, 2024

The first official photos have appeared showing a Soviet-era ground-based air defense system upgraded with Western surface-to-air missiles — a so-called ‘FrankenSAM.’ The images, published by Ukraine’s Operational Command East, show a tracked self-propelled Buk-M1 system — known in the West as SA-11 Gadfly — which is said to have been adapted to fire the RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, a missile that previously provided point defense for numerous NATO and allied warships.

Russia

Ukraine’s FrankenSAM That Uses RIM-7 Sea Sparrow Missiles Breaks Cover

Updated on May 28, 2024

Black Flag 24-1, out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, run by the Air Force’s 53rd Wing.

China

Massive China-Focused Black Flag Test Exercise Flies Deep Into The Virtual Realm

Posted on May 28, 2024

250,000 American flags are placed at the foot of every headstone in the Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day Weekend. Arlington National Cemetery has evolved from a place of necessity to a national shrine to those who have honorably served our Nation during times of war – including every military conflict in American history – and during times of peace. The cemetery is the final resting place for service members, veterans, and their families. “Service to country” is the common thread that binds all who are honored and remembered here. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sarah Villegas

Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition

Posted on May 25, 2024

Ukraine

Ukrainian M1 Abrams Tanks Get Elaborate ‘Cope Cages,’ Soviet Explosive Reactive Armor

Posted on May 25, 2024

Taiwan

China Stages Mock Strikes On Taiwan In Day 2 Of “Punishment” Exercise

Posted on May 24, 2024

Ukraine

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Says It’s Using Air-Launched Small Diameter Bombs

Posted on May 24, 2024

Russia

ATACMS Obliterates Russian Air Defense System As It Desperately Tries To Defend Itself

Posted on May 24, 2024

Russia

Strike On Russian Strategic Early Warning Radar Site Is A Big Deal

Posted on May 24, 2024

Nearly 50 warplanes, along with ships and assets ashore, took part in the first day of what Chinese authorities have dubbed "punishment" drills encircling Taiwan following the inauguration of the island's latest President.

China

China’s “Punishment” Drills Around Taiwan: Day One

Posted on May 24, 2024

B-21, B-2 Comparison Image Shows Just How Weird The Raider’s Windows Really Are

Posted on May 23, 2024

Russia

Russia’s Small Diameter Bomb-Like Weapon Seen In Action For The First Time

Posted on May 23, 2024

Exercise TARTAN SPIRIT has tested, trained and integrated critical capabilities to ensure they are ready for any operational missions. From scenario driven training to Tactical Landing Zones, this Exercise takes personnel from RAF Brize Norton, the RAF’s largest station and home to the UK’s Air Mobility Force, Prestwick Airport is the Deployable Operating Base and West Freugh the Forward Operating base. II Squadron RAF Regiment deployed alongside the Air Mobility Force to further strengthen their tactics, training and techniques alongside various aircraft. These skills are essential for ensuring RAF aircraft can operate safely across the globe. By training together we continue to provide integrated and scaleable Air Force Protection capability whilst preparing all RAF personnel for the rigours of operations, providing them with critical skills to survive, operate and maintain their operational edge.

People

Confessions Of A C-130 Hercules Pilot

Posted on May 23, 2024

Everything We Learned About The Next Doomsday Planes For The Air Force

Posted on May 23, 2024

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has chosen designs from Northrop Grumman and Sikorsky for the next phase of its AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) X-plane demonstration program. The effort aims to develop and test in flight an X-plane that will offer long endurance and the ability to launch and recover from ship flight decks and small austere land locations in adverse weather without additional infrastructure equipment. It’s part of an increasing focus on expeditionary deployments of the kind that will be required in a future conflict in the Pacific.

Drones

DARPA’s Naval VTOL X-Plane Drone Program Narrows Down To Two Designs

Posted on May 22, 2024

An uncrewed ground vehicle launching quadcopter

Army Tests Quadcopter Swarm-Launching Uncrewed Ground Vehicle For Clearing Mines

Posted on May 22, 2024

First Aerial View Of B-21 Raider Offers New Insights

Posted on May 22, 2024

U-2's new radar is going to the Army's HADES surveillance jet.

Civil Aviation

Radar Developed For U-2 To Go On Army Intel-Gathering BizJets

Posted on May 22, 2024

Aurora Flight Sciences has unveiled a new uncrewed fan-in-wing aircraft concept as part of ongoing work for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

News & Features

Revised Lift Fan Aircraft Concept Emerges From Special Ops X-Plane Program

Posted on May 21, 2024

The quiet closing out of the Air Force's SHiELD program and issues the Army has been having with is laser-armed DE M-SHORAD variants of the 8x8 Stryker reflect broader hurdles facing directed energy weapons of this type.

Lasers

U.S. Military Laser Weapon Programs Are Facing A Reality Check

Posted on May 21, 2024

Airbus’ UH-72 Unmanned Logistics Connector Sets Its Sights On The USMC’s Future Fleet Requirements

By The War Zone

Posted on May 21, 2024

A comprehensive breakdown of what U.S. Navy missiles actually cost.

Video

What The Navy’s Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Cost

Posted on May 21, 2024

KHARKIV REGION, UKRAINE - MAY 18: A mortar unit with a 120 mm mortar prepares to perform a combat mission on May 18, 2024 in the Kharkiv region, near the border with Russia. Ukrainian soldiers from the 92nd assault brigade were involved in holding back the Russians on the border with Russia. In recent days Russian forces have gained ground around the Kharkiv region, which Ukraine had largely reclaimed in the months following Russia's initial large-scale invasion in February 2022.

Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Advances On Vovchansk

Posted on May 20, 2024

China

Chinese Soldiers Train To Fend Off FPV Drones

By Oliver Parken, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 20, 2024

Lockheed Martin, in cooperation with elements of the US Department of Defense, has successfully shot down a mock cruise missile with a PAC-3 MSE interceptor fired from a Mk 70 launcher derived from the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System.

News & Features

Successful Patriot Interceptor Test From Naval Vertical Launcher Is A Big Deal

Posted on May 20, 2024

While the situation is clearly still confused, multiple reports suggest that one or perhaps two Russian Navy vessels have been seriously damaged or destroyed in the latest Ukrainian attack on the Black Sea Fleet. The two vessels in question are the Project 22800 Karakurt class missile corvette Tsiklon and the Project 266M Akvamarin class minesweeper Kovrovets.

Ukraine

Rumors Swirl Around Attacks On Russian Black Sea Fleet Warships (Updated)

Posted on May 20, 2024

Flourescent light and two metal doors - concrete bunker style. Lausanne Switzerland

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on May 18, 2024

Private jet registration can be hidden by FAA based on new bill.

Congress Has Made Fully Obscuring Aircraft Ownership Information A Reality

Posted on May 18, 2024

Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Launches Massive Drone Attack On Russia

Posted on May 17, 2024

US Army Green Berets are getting specialized drone training ahead of a rotational deployment that could include temporary training stint in Ukraine.

Ukraine

Green Beret A-Teams Training On FPV Drones Being Driven By War In Ukraine

Posted on May 17, 2024

Russia

Russian Rocket Booster, Not Military Exercise, Prompts Airspace Warning Off California

Posted on May 17, 2024

Russia

MiG-31 Foxhounds Confirmed Destroyed In New Imagery Of Belbek Air Base

Posted on May 17, 2024

Sailors aboard Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Spruance (DDG 111) guide training ordnance into the ship’s forward vertical launch system (VLS) cells during a proof-of-concept evolution in San Diego, Oct. 4. MV Ocean Valor conducted its first at-sea vertical launch system reload with Spruance, demonstrating the ability of the U.S. Navy to re-arm surface vessels who employ VLS.

China

Eying China Threat, Congress Pushes Navy On At-Sea Rearming

Posted on May 16, 2024

Russia

Damage To Russia’s Belbek Air Base In Crimea Seen After Ukrainian Strikes

Posted on May 16, 2024

The US military has finished installing a floating pier for the Gaza Strip. It means officials are now poised to begin ferrying badly needed humanitarian aid into the enclave besieged over seven months of intense fighting in the Israel-Hamas war.

U.S. Navy Completes Gaza Aid Pier, Deliveries Imminent (Updated)

Updated on May 16, 2024

China

Mock-Up Patriot System Sparks China-Ukraine Conspiracy Theories

Posted on May 15, 2024

Heckler & Koch is looking at selling versions of its existing product line chambered in Soviet-designed cartridges, driven in part by the conflict in Ukraine.

Germany

Heckler & Koch Eyes Adapting Its Rifles To Fire Soviet-Designed Ammo

Posted on May 15, 2024

NASA's DC-8 airborne science laboratory banks low over the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., upon arrival Nov. 8, 2007.

NASA’s DC-8 Flying Lab Flies Into Retirement, Making The Type Nearly Extinct