News & Features (Page 28)

Latest in News & Features

412th Test Wing photographers Christian Turner, Todd Schannuth, and Richard Gonzales on the ramp with their F-16D chase jet.
U.S. Homeland

The Flight Test Photographers Of Edwards Air Force Base

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 26, 2024

This photo taken from a position in northern Israel shows an Israeli Air Force fighter jet firing flares as it flies to intercept a hostile aircraft that launched from Lebanon over the border area with south Lebanon on August 25, 2024. The Israeli military announced early August 25, 2024 that it was conducting pre-emptive strikes in Lebanon after detecting preparations for "large-scale" attacks by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah. Hezbollah said August 25, 2024 it had launched more than 320 rockets at Israel overnight, targeting a string of military positions, even as Israel's military said it was carrying out pre-emptive strikes against the group. (Photo by Jalaa MAREY / AFP) (Photo by JALAA MAREY/AFP via Getty Images)
Israel

Israel Launches Preemptive Strikes In Lebanon Just Before Hezbollah Carried Out Retribution Barrage (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 25, 2024

Underground Cold War-era vault
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 24, 2024

All eyes were on presidential candidate and sitting Vice President Kamala Harris this week as the Democratic National Convention kicked off. One clip of Harris's movements, in particular, got a lot of attention from those interested in military technology — the Vice President boarding an MV-22 tiltrotor on a short trip to the convention hall.
Presidential Transport

MV-22 Ospreys Have Actually Been Flying The Vice President For Years

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 24, 2024

Sabotage at norwegian airbase
Germany

Sabotage Confirmed At Norwegian Air Base

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Aug 23, 2024

The destruction of a ship carrying fuel tank cars will affect supplies to troops and the Crimean peninsula.
Russia

Fuel Supplies To Russian Troops, Crimea Strangled By Destruction Of Ship

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

KC-46 and F-15E had an incident resulting in the loss of the tanker's boom
U.S. Homeland

Audio Reveals Details Of KC-46 And F-15E Refueling Incident That Broke The Tanker’s Boom Off

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

The War Zone has learned new details about the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle in an interview with Dr. Shane Arnott, Senior Vice President for Engineering at Anduril and the company's maritime lead.
Australia

Everything We Just Learned About The Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

The U.S. Army has chosen the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) to lead the conversion of Bombardier Global 6500 business jets into new High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System (HADES) aircraft.
U.S. Homeland

Army’s HADES Surveillance Bizjet Program Moves Forward With Sierra Nevada Corp. Deal

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

Images taken after a Ukrainian drone strike on an airbase deep inside Russia Russia shows several combat aircraft were damaged.
Russia

Russian Jets Damaged In Ukrainian Long-Range Drone Attack On Air Base

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 23, 2024

A Czech company has unveiled an inflatable decoy of the F-16 fighter, notably wearing Ukrainian Air Force markings. The inflatable fighter, from a firm that is already known to be providing Kyiv with decoys of other items of military equipment, appears only a matter of weeks after it was confirmed that the first real F-16s had arrived in Ukraine.
Ukraine

Inflatable Ukrainian F-16 Decoy Emerges At Defense Show

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 22, 2024

A Ukrainian missile struck and sunk a vessel full of fuel train cars.
Russia

Ship Full Of Fuel Train Cars Detonates In Russian Port, Ukrainian Neptune Missile Suspected (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 22, 2024

Ukraine's probing near a Kursk border town may protend a larger attack in that sector.
Russia

Ukraine Testing Advance In Kursk Toward Russian Troops Trapped By Blown Bridges

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 21, 2024

A newly emerged photo provides our best look so far at the unusual layout of Iran’s intriguing drone-carrier ship, the IRGC Shahid Bagheri, including its angled flight deck. Converted from an existing commercial vessel, this so-called “forward base ship” design is definitely topical considering the kind of anti-shipping campaign currently being waged by Iranian proxies in the Red Sea and, according to the U.S., by Iran, increasingly further afield.
Iran

Iran’s Bizarre ‘Aircraft Carrier’ Seen In New Detail

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 21, 2024

Ostafyevo air base
Russia

Signals Intelligence Center Targeted In Drone Attack On Moscow: Ukraine’s Intel Chief

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 21, 2024

Secret Service’s “Ground Force One” Presidential Armored Bus Emerges Wrapped For Harris-Walz Campaign
Presidential Transport

Secret Service’s “Ground Force One” Presidential Armored Bus Emerges Wrapped For Harris-Walz Campaign

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 21, 2024

A notional light fighter concept has been presented by the U.S. Air Force’s senior uniformed officer, providing a thought-provoking insight on one direction that the service’s future combat fleet could take. The concept emerges as Air Force officials are increasingly questioning the requirements for the crewed sixth-generation stealth combat jet being developed as part of its Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.
Procurement

Air Force Floats Light Stealth Fighter Concept As Its Heavy Fighter Program May Be In Jeopardy

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 20, 2024

A tank simulator built for online war gaming
News & Features

Guy Built This Fully-Crewed Tank Simulator That Uses Empty Soda Bottles For Shells

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 20, 2024

Thousands of Russian troops are likely trapped in a pocket of Kursk Oblast after Ukraine destroyed three bridges over the Seim River.
Russia

Thousands Of Russian Troops In Kursk Likely Trapped By Blown Bridges

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 20, 2024

A drone scare around the U.S. Air Force's Plant 42 in California, a major hub for advanced aerospace development work, including highly classified military programs, has led to revelations about a real wave of mysterious drone incursions in recent months.
U.S. Homeland

Palmdale UFO Scare Leads To Revelations About Mystery Drone Incursions Over Secretive Plant 42

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 20, 2024

Ukrainian troops are pushing westward in Russia's Kursk Oblast as part of an effort to crea
Russia

Ukraine Pushing Westward In Kursk To Create A “Buffer Zone”

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 19, 2024

US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden step off of Marine One, the new model Sikorsky VH-92A, upon arrival at Soldier Field Landing zone in Chicago, Illinois, on August 19, 2024. President Biden is delivering the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention opening night.
U.S. Homeland

VH-92 Helicopter Has Finally Flown Its First ‘Marine One’ Mission (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 19, 2024

Laser Weapon on type 071.
Lasers

Laser Weapon Appears On Chinese Amphibious Assault Ship

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 19, 2024

Next summer, U.S. Air Force units will deploy from bases in Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and elsewhere across the United States to forward locations in the Western Pacific as part of a massive new air combat exercise.
China

Air Force Units Will Flood The Western Pacific In Huge New Airpower Exercise Next Summer

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 19, 2024

Turkey's GENESIS program jump started local warship production and made beached new life into the FFG-7 frigates.
Turkey

Project GENESIS: How Turkey Resurrected Its Secondhand Oliver Hazard Perry Class Frigates

By Tayfun Ozberk

Posted on Aug 19, 2024

A major fire, which may still be ongoing, has reportedly broken out on the former Soviet Kiev class aircraft carrier Minsk, which has been rotting away in a man-made lagoon just off a stretch of the Yangtze River in China for years now.
China

Soviet Aircraft Carrier Turned Failed Chinese Tourist Attraction Is On Fire (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Aug 17, 2024

3/12/1941- New York, NY: Hotel completes air raid shelter. A few of the Allerton House's guets showed how comfortable and practical are the conveniences incorpoarted in the new air-raid shelter completed in the sub-basement of the hotel. The shelter is approximately 45 feet underground, and an auxiliary lighting system has been installed in case the hotel's own light plant goes out of order. Here, four women are shown cooking and reclining on the bomb shelter's beds. A bannerhung on the wall next to a hurricane lamp says "God Bless America."
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 17, 2024

Ukraine blew up a key bridge threatening Russia logistics in Kursk.
Russia

Ukraine Drops Key Russian Bridge In Kursk

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 16, 2024

Hezbollah has released a video providing the best look so far inside its extensive network of huge underground tunnel systems, including concealed heavy multiple rocket launch systems, part of an extensive arsenal of weapons that could be employed against Israel. The release of the footage comes as tensions in the Middle East remain high, with fears of an all-out conflict between Israel and Hezbollah as well as a potential broader conflict involving Iran and other Iran-aligned militias.
Israel

Hezbollah Touts Rocket Cave Network Capable Of Underground Launches

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 16, 2024

A Cessna Model 208B Grand Caravan converted into a cargo drone was among the participants in a recently concluded U.S. Air Force-led large force air combat exercise focused on preparing for a potential future conflict with China.
China

Cessna Caravan Turned Into Cargo Drone Tested At China-Focused Airpower Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 16, 2024

The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is now the first U.S. Navy supercarrier to have a complete dedicated Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC).
Drones

Supercarrier USS George H.W. Bush Now Has First Of its Kind Drone Control Center

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 16, 2024

A 'conundrum' being moved into position in anticipation of Operation PLUTO
WWII

The Underwater Pipelines That Supplied Fuel For The Allied Invasion Of Normandy

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

The Kursk logistics hub of Lgov came under fire for the first time during this 10-day-old invasion.
Russia

Claims Swirl Around Strike On Key Russian Logistics Hub In Kursk (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

An F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Lt. Col. Mike May from the 85th Test and Evaluation squadron sits on the ramp at Eglin Air Force Base on October 2, 2019 with a JASSM-ER. The 85th TES released the extended range missile as part of an operational test sortie.
Ukraine

JASSM Stealth Cruise Missiles Now On The Table For Ukraine: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is moving to buy non-lethal distraction devices to mount on small hand-launched drones.
U.S. Homeland

FBI Fielding Drones That Fire Off Deafening Bangs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

The U.S. Coast Guard Healy Class Icebreaker HEALY (WAGB 20) sits in the ice, about 100 miles north of Barrow, Alaska, in order to allow scientists onboard to take core samples from the floor of the Arctic Ocean on June 18, 2005. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Public Affairs Specialist 2nd Class NyxoLyno Cangemi) (Released)
Arctic

On Thin Ice: Another Fire Aboard A Coast Guard Icebreaker Underscores Glaring Capability Gap

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

The Ukrainian Air Force has released a video offering the best look to date of one of the country's MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters employing French-made AASM-250 Hammer precision-guided bombs.
Ukraine

Best Look Yet At Ukrainian MiG-29 Releasing Hammer Rocket-Assisted Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 15, 2024

As Ukrainian forces push north in Kursk Oblast, Russia is building trenches to blunt their offensive.
Russia

Russia Building Trenches In Kursk To Defend Against Ukrainian Advances

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

Half a century ago today, the first prototype of the Panavia Tornado prototype, aircraft P-01, was recorded at Manching in West Germany, with test pilots Paul Millet from British Aerospace and Nils Meister of Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) at the controls.
Germany

Panavia Tornado Swing-Wing Combat Jet’s Ten Most Unusual Variants

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

Air National Guard F-16 Viper fighters pretending to be enemy cruise missiles together with tiny JSX-2 microjets mimicking cruise missiles and drones replicated complex threat scenarios during a recent large-scale exercise.
U.S. Homeland

F-16s Team With JSX-2 Microjets To Replicate Complex Cruise Missile And Drone Attacks

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

An explosion near the Savasleyka airfield in Russia after a drone strike.
Russia

Ukrainian Drone Seen Slamming Into Russian Air Base In Large-Scale Strikes On Multiple Installations

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

Captain hill on how his tweets would have needed to change if the ship was hit.
Red Sea

Carrier Captain On How His Up-Beat Tweets Would Have Needed To Change If Houthi Missiles Struck His Ship

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

Lessons learned from Ukraine's failed counteroffensive last year informed its invasion of Kursk says a retired high-ranking Ukrainian officer.
Russia

Kursk Invasion Plan Developed By Lessons Learned From Failed Counteroffensive: Retired Ukrainian Officer

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

Secretive ultra-quiet special operations drones, now designated RQ-29s, that have been operating in the Middle East for years might now be headed for the Pacific.
Indo-Pacific

Super Quiet Special Operations Drones May Migrate To Pacific Theater

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

A new Russian design for a ‘loyal wingman’-type supersonic drone has been unveiled, marking the country’s latest foray into unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). Interestingly, the Kronshtadt company that designed the Grom (meaning Thunder) previously displayed another UCAV under the same name. The new version of the Grom is very different, however, stressing performance and simplicity over low-observable features and other advanced technologies.
Russia

Russia’s Aspirational Grom Combat Drone’s Design Totally Changes, Ditches Stealth For Speed

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 14, 2024

F-15IA sale approved by state department.
Israel

Israel Officially Cleared To Buy 50 New F-15IAs, Upgrade 25 F-15Is

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Aug 13, 2024

Ukraine is eyeing expanding its Kursk invasion despite Russian reinforcements.
Russia

Ukraine Eyeing Expansion Of Kursk Invasion Despite Russian Reinforcements

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 13, 2024

Russia has unveiled a new gunless version of its Pantsir air defense system it says is ideally suited to protecting critical infrastructure from drones using small short-range interceptors.
Russia

Pantsir Packed With Drone-Intercepting Mini Missiles Unveiled By Russia

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Aug 13, 2024

The Ohio-class, guided-missile submarine USS Georgia (SSGN 729) transits with the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal (CG 73) and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), not shown, on the Strait of Hormuz, Dec. 21. Philippine Sea is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of naval operations to ensure maritime stability and security in the Central Region, connecting the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean and three critical chokepoints to the free flow of global commerce.
Middle East

U.S. Navy Rushes To Further Bolster Presence In Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Aug 13, 2024

Ukraine said it captured 1.000 kilometers of Russian territory.
Russia

Ukraine Expands Area Of Fighting But Finding Advances Increasingly Blocked

By Howard Altman

Posted on Aug 12, 2024

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