News & Features (Page 3)

Latest in News & Features

Navy Calls It Quits On Attack Submarine USS Boise’s Never Ending Overhaul
News & Features

Navy Calls It Quits On Attack Submarine USS Boise’s Never Ending Overhaul

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 10, 2026

A Bahraini F-16 fighter recorded the first air-to-air kill for the Block 70/72 version of the jet during the conflict in the Middle East earlier this month.
Iran

Bahrain First To Claim F-16 Block 70 Air-To-Air Kills

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 10, 2026

A former Pentagon official offers unique insights into the creation of the LUCAS drone.
Drones

How America’s Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clone Suddenly Became An “Indispensable” Weapon Of War

By Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 9, 2026

Israeli F-16 departs for combat mission.
Iran

Iran Ceasefire Hangs In Balance As Israel Bombards Lebanon (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 9, 2026

A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton surveillance drone disappeared abruptly and unexpectedly from online flight tracking sites after declaring an in-flight emergency while flying over the Persian Gulf today.
Iran

Navy MQ-4C Triton’s Fate Unknown After Disappearing From Flight Tracking Over Persian Gulf

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 9, 2026

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer prepares to taxi prior to takeoff in support of Operation Epic Fury, March 6, 2026.
Iran

Questions Loom Over Iran Ceasefire

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 8, 2026

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It
Drones

Here Is What Trump’s Gargantuan $1.5T Defense Budget Has In It

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 8, 2026

BAE has test fired APKWS rockets from an RAF Typhoon for the first time.
Drones

Eurofighter Typhoon Test Fires Laser-Guided Counter-Drone Rockets

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 8, 2026

B-2 Spirit about to head out on mission over Iran.
Iran

Trump Agrees To Ceasefire With Iran

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 8, 2026

RQ-180 features seen in new videos shot in Greece.
Drones

New Views Of Massive RQ-180 Stealth Drone Flying Over Greece

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

President Donald Trump and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided new details about the risky missions to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran.
Iran

Everything We Now Know About The Operation To Rescue The F-15E WSO (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

An advanced imaging infrared seeker from a U.S.-made Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile interceptor appears to have been recovered largely intact in Syria.
Iran

THAAD Kill Vehicle’s Infrared Seeker Appears To Have Been Found In Syria Intact

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

A secretive late Cold War-era drone program known as Quartz, intended to persistently monitor mobile nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles deep within the Soviet Union, offers a window into exactly why the RQ-180 could be in high demand in the Middle East now.
Iran

RQ-180’s Likely Role Over Iran Foreshadowed By Secret Cold War Stealth Drone Program

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

FARP in Iran set up by special tactics squadron airman during WSO rescue.
Iran

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

B-52 epic fury mission.
Iran

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Deal (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

Little birds of the 160th SOAR were destroyed in Iran after the successful rescue of a F-15E WSO
Iran

Night Stalker AH-6 Little Bird Helicopters Destroyed At Forward Landing Site In Iran

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 5, 2026

The WSO of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran has been rescued, according to reports.
Iran

F-15E Weapon Systems Officer Shot Down Over Iran Has Been Rescued (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Apr 5, 2026

What we are seeing with Iran's attacks on Israel with ballistic missiles with cluster warheads could have significant implications for future conflicts elsewhere, including in the Pacific region.
Iran

Iran Is Piercing Israel’s Ballistic Missile Defenses With High Altitude Cluster Warhead Releases

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 4, 2026

Iran claims it shot down a fighter over Iran showing wreckage on an F-15E.
Iran

F-15E Down In Iran, Rescue Operation Ongoing (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 4, 2026

Col. William C. Hannan, Jr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Transatlantic Division commander, examines innovative design feature updates on the U.S. Army Central’s Bunker Retrofit project, designed to increase protection for service members throughout the U.S. Central Command’s area of operations, prior to the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center’s Phase II Live-fire Experiment at Fort Polk, La., Mar. 10.
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 3, 2026

US and Israeli forces struck the B1 bridge connecting Tehran to western regions, hitting Iran’s highest bridge linking Tehran and Karaj, a major transport artery opened earlier this year.
Iran

Key Iranian Bridge Severed By Airstrikes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 2, 2026

A former who commando who fought in Iraq offers candid insights into the Iranian-backed militia attacks there since Epic Fury.
Iran

Iran Is Losing Its Grip On Iraqi Militias

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 2, 2026

A photographer on a flight over Greenville, Texas, captured an especially good look at one of the U.S. Air Force's RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft with its usual paint scheme completely stripped off.
News & Features

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Caught ‘In The Nude’ In Texas

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 2, 2026

B-52 Epic Fury mission at night.
Iran

Trump Threatens NATO Departure, Claims Iran Wants A Ceasefire Ahead Of National Address (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force's highly secretive NT-43A radar cross-section measurement platform is supporting the launch of NASA's Artemis II space mission, and this reflects the start of an entirely new stage in the career of the notoriously shy aircraft.
News & Features

Secretive 737 Radar Jet ‘RAT55’ Has Begun “The Next Phase Of Its Career”

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 2, 2026

A-4 landing
News & Features

Ian Ellis-Jones Has Touched Down At TWZ

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 1, 2026

Operation Aspides, the European naval task force charged with protecting Red Sea shipping, is eyeing a potential Houthi resumption of hostilities in the waterway.
Iran

Amid Fears Houthis Could Close Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Red Sea Task Force Ready For Attacks

By Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 1, 2026

U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call arrives at RAF Mildenhall on March 30, 2026.
Iran

New EA-37B Compass Call Electronic Warfare Jets Cross Atlantic, Middle East Next? (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 31, 2026

Rapidly fielding more hardened shelters to better protect U.S. forces at bases in the Middle East is a top priority, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Iran

Bunkers For U.S. Bases In Middle East Now A Top Priority For Pentagon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
Germany

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Gains Major European Foothold As Rheinmetall Joins Forces With Boeing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

A KC-135T Stratotanker from the 171st Aerial Refueling Squadron of the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, readies to refuel an A-10C from the 107th Fighter Squadron, also from Selfridge, on an aerial refueling sortie June 27, 2023. In addition to routine aerial refueling training in all conditions, aircraft from the 127th Wing commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling conducted on June 27, 1923.
Iran

Dozens Of A-10 Warthogs Appear Poised To Join Epic Fury

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 30, 2026

Ukraine is experimenting with private sector air defense.
Ukraine

Ukraine Using Private Air Defense Teams To Protect Industry Against Russian Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 30, 2026

A-10 on a strafing run.
Iran

A-10 Warthogs Are Doing Bizarrely Long Strafing Runs In Iraq

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 30, 2026

The Israeli Air Force has released a picture of F-16I Sufa fighters taking part in strikes on Iran, and the jets appear to be carrying cluster munitions.
Iran

Israeli F-16s Appear To Be Carrying Cluster Munitions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 30, 2026

E-3 sentry seen destroyed after Iranian attack in Saudi Arabia.
Iran

Images Show E-3 Sentry Totally Destroyed From Iranian Strike (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 29, 2026

Tomahawks running low in war with Iran.
Iran

U.S. Is Burning Through Tomahawk Cruise Missile Stockpile At An Alarming Rate: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 28, 2026

A field medical laboratory belonging to the 512th Field Hospital sits inside an old Soviet-era bunker as part of Exercise Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness (DEFENDER) 2025, Vepriai Rocket Base, Lithuania, May 12, 2025. During Swift Response, the initial phase of DEFENDER 25, the Defense Health Agency’s Force Health Protection team is providing essential support and expertise to U.S. Army medical providers assigned to the 512th Field Hospital, 519th Hospital Center, 30th Medical Brigade, and 68th Theater Medical Command. As part of DHA’s Operational Medical Systems Program Management Office, FHP works with combatant commands and regulatory experts across the globe to rapidly provide a treatment, diagnostic, or preventive medical countermeasure against high-consequence threats to the Warfighter when a Food and Drug Administration-approved product is not available. (Defense Health Agency Photo by T. T. Parish/Released)
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 27, 2026

CENTCOM is seeking an underground hardened facility at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
Iran

Hardened Underground Facilities Now Being Sought For Al Udeid Air Base

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 27, 2026

F-5AT is TacAir adversary fighter that replicates up to 4.5 get threats.
Video

Private F-5 Adversary Jets Taking The Fight To Navy Fighter Pilots

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Mar 27, 2026

Iran says the US is dropping mines from the air on its missile facilities.
Iran

Is The U.S. Dropping Mines To Stop Iranian Missile Launchers?

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 27, 2026

Super Hornet has a near miss with a SAM near the short of the Gulf Of Oman.
Iran

Navy F/A-18’s Close Call With An Iranian SAM Highlights Remaining Risks To Epic Fury Aviators (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 26, 2026

KC-135 is being used heavily in Operation Epic Fury.
Iran

Veteran KC-135 Base Commander’s View Of Epic Fury’s Strain On The Tanker Force

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

Army Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group conducted two weeks of hands-on experimentation with Project Origin unmanned systems at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. Including Special Operations Forces into technology assessments provides more in-depth understanding of what is needed to mature unmanned systems for the Army’s Operating Force. (U.S. Army photo by VIDS Corp)
Simulation

Army Scales Back Barriers To Access Its Top Testing Ranges

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

The U.S. Navy has unveiled a "marketplace" model for acquiring future fleets of uncrewed surface vessels (USV), which could be owned and/or operated by the service or contractors.
News & Features

Navy’s Drone Ship Plans Get Shaken Up Again

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

Iran has rejected U.S. peace plans.
Iran

After Nearly A Month Of Epic Fury There’s No Off-Ramp In Clear Sight

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

South Korea today rolled out the first series-produced example of its homegrown KF-21 fighter. This major milestone in the program also underscores just how quickly the program has progressed, with the rollout coming a little over five years since the first prototype of the fighter was unveiled. The development schedule is especially impressive when compared with other new-generation fighter programs, although Seoul has taken some notable shortcuts to meet this aggressive timeline.
South Korea

First Series-Produced KF-21 Fighter Rolled Out In South Korea

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

Soldiers from multiple units, to include members of the U.S. Army Drone Team, compete in the Hunter-Killer lanes at the U.S. Army Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, ALA., Feb. 17-19, 2026. Hosted by Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), this inaugural Army Best Drone Warfighter Competition, themed “Agile, Adaptive, Lethal."
Drones

Epic Fury Already Stress Testing More Agile Army Acquisition System, General Says

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

Kamikaze drones operated by an Iran-backed militia in Iraq appear to have struck a U.S. military Black Hawk helicopter and an air defense radar at an American base in Iraq.
Iran

Drone Attack On Parked U.S. Army Black Hawk In Iraq A Harbinger Of What’s To Come

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

Barksdale Air Force Base in Lousiana, home to B-52 bombers, was the site of a wave of recent drone incursions.
U.S. Homeland

U.S. Battled Drone Incursions Over Key Bases At Home After Launch Of Epic Fury

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

U.S. Air Force crew chiefs perform pre-flight checks on a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber during Operation Epic Fury, March 17, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Iran

B-2 Spirits Heading To Iran Appear With Puzzling Features On Their Wings

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

U.S. Marines assigned to the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 311 (VMFA), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, prepare to launch an F-35C Lightning II at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, May 16, 2024. Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th and 5th-generation aircraft in combat training. The 24-2 iteration of the exercise was held May 9-22. Nordheim)
Iran

Land-Based Marine Corps F-35Cs Are Now Moving Towards The Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 24, 2026

The former head of the Army Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill offers unique insights into the challenges of defeating Iranian missiles and drones.
Iran

Retired Patriot Battalion Commander On The Challenges Of Defeating Iran’s Barrages

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 24, 2026

FAIRFORD, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: A Rockwell B-1 Lancer heavy bomber sits on the tarmac during sunrise at RAF Fairford on March 19, 2026 in Fairford, England. Since UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer back-tracked on his initial refusal to allow the U.S. to use British bases to launch defensive strikes against Iranian missile sites, a variety of U.S. military aircraft, including B52 and B-1 bombers, have been spotted at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire.
Iran

Iran Wants To Make Deal To End War, Trump Claims (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 23, 2026

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing
News & Features

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 23, 2026

SAAB 340 AEW&C spotted over Ukraine.
Ukraine

Ukraine’s Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning Radar Plane Spotted Operating Over The Country

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 20, 2026

The Pentagon is reportedly sending the Wasp class amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and the rest of its Amphibious Ready Group (ARG), loaded with elements of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU).
Iran

USS Boxer The Second Amphibious Assault Ship Now Heading To Middle East (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 20, 2026

U.S. Air Force Lt Col. John Bergmans, 315th Training Squadron commander, enters the Lawn Atlas Missile Base’s missile silo while exploring the narratives of actual personnel deployed to the site during the Cuban Missile Crisis in Lawn, Texas, Dec. 3, 2020. Bergmans attended the Staff Ride to LAMB in support of the 17th Training Wing Heritage Campaign Plan that was founded on Air Force heritage and the Airmen Warrior Ethos among attending personnel.. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Abbey Rieves)
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 20, 2026

US drawing up plans to invade Iran.
Iran

What Boots On The Ground In Iran Could Entail, According To Former CENTCOM Commander

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 20, 2026

Iran mining the strait of Hormuz.
Iran

Former CENTCOM Commander’s Candid Take On The Situation In The Strait Of Hormuz

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

As part of its seemingly never-ending search for new fighters, the Indian Ministry of Defense says it wants to team up with one of the two rival European next-generation combat aircraft programs.
India

India Joining One Of Europe’s Fighter Programs Is Anything But Easy

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

F-35 made emergency landing after Iran claims it struck one with a SAM.
Iran

USAF F-35 Makes Emergency Landing After Allegedly Being Hit by Iranian Fire

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

Venerable A-10 Warthog attack jets are helping dismantle Iran's Navy. Though the A-10 is most commonly associated with missions over land, the jets have a long-standing, if often obscure, maritime role.
Iran

A-10 Warthogs Are Prowling For Iranian Boats In The Strait Of Hormuz

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 19, 2026

Spotters in Greece have caught an especially good look at what very much appears to be a very stealthy, long-range, high-altitude intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance drone commonly referred to as the RQ-180, or an evolution of that design.
Europe

RQ-180 Secret Stealth Drone Appears To Have Made An Emergency Landing At A Greek Air Base (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 18, 2026

The South Pars gas field was attacked by Israel, raising the stakes in the Middle East energy war.
Iran

Iran’s Energy Infrastructure Is Now On The Targeting List (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 18, 2026