News &amp; Features (Page 3)

Posted on May 26, 2026

Less than a year after we got our first proper look at China’s wing-in-ground effect (WIG) craft, dubbed the ‘Bohai Sea Monster,’ the aircraft has appeared again, with evidence that it has a combat role, likely including launching weapons. We can also confirm that, contrary to some earlier assessments, the craft is powered by four turboprop engines, rather than turbofans. The possibility of propeller engines is something that we had raised in previous coverage.

South China Sea

China’s “Bohai Sea Monster” Reappears With Apparent Weapons Hardpoints

Posted on May 25, 2026

The U.S. Air Force plans to send a new version of the glider-like Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) drone with a turbocharged engine to the Middle East for an operational evaluation.

Drones

USAF’s New Turbocharged ULTRA Surveillance Drones Are Heading To The Middle East

Posted on May 25, 2026

This summer, the U.S. Navy will demonstrate the ability of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, with its two A1B nuclear reactors, to power a base on land.

Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford To Act As Floating Nuclear Power Plant For Facilities On Land

Posted on May 24, 2026

On the 80th anniversary of the first flight of the de Havilland Canada Chipmunk basic trainer, an aircraft that generations of British military pilots learned to fly, it’s worth recalling perhaps the most unusual episodes of its career. Between 1956 and 1989, a handful of these propeller-driven trainers kept watch on Warsaw Pact forces in the divided and heavily fortified city of Berlin — a front line of the Cold War.

Espionage

The Tiny Chipmunk Trainer Was The Cold War’s Most Unlikely Spyplane

Posted on May 24, 2026

4th July 1944: An American soldier takes a drink of captured German Cognac, while clearing out a German gun emplacement at Cherbourg. (Photo by Fred Ramage/Keystone/Getty Images)

Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition

Posted on May 22, 2026

Iran

Iran Now Trying To Cement Long-Term Control Over Strait Via Fees

Updated on May 22, 2026

The U.S. military has finally released video footage said to show an Air National Guard F-16 shooting down an unidentified object over Lake Huron back in 2023.

UAP

We Finally See The Mysterious Object Shot Down By F-16s Over Lake Huron

Posted on May 22, 2026

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 19: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media alongside posters of his proposed White House ballroom amid construction at the White House on May 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. The Senate parliamentarian ruled this week that taxpayer funds in the budget reconciliation package cannot be used for a $1 billion provision intended to fund security for Trump’s White House ballroom. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

The White House Ballroom Is A Deep Fortress In Disguise (Updated)

Updated on May 21, 2026

Shield AI, the defense-tech company building state-of-the-art autonomy software and aircraft, today announced that the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering (OUSW R&E) has selected Shield AI to integrate its Hivemind autonomy software onto the Low-Cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System (LUCAS), a new class of low-cost, one-way attack drones often referred to as kamikaze drones designed to operate in large numbers.

Drones

U.S. Military’s Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clone Is Getting Hivemind Swarming Capability

Updated on May 21, 2026

Plans for a new tranche of upgrades for U.S. Army special operations MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters are heavily tied to continued progress, or lack thereof, on an improved engine.

New Engines Key To Night Stalker MH-60M Black Hawk Upgrade Plans

Posted on May 21, 2026

The U.S. Navy sees a future in which uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUV) work together with submersibles loaded with SEALs.

Navy SEALs In Mini-Submarines Teamed With Underwater Drones In The Works

Posted on May 20, 2026

Germany

Germany Unveils Latest Tranche 4 Eurofighter

Posted on May 20, 2026

The destroyers and their locations that have laser weapons.

Lasers

These American Destroyers Are Equipped With Laser Weapons

By Ian Ellis-Jones

Posted on May 20, 2026

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is in the early stages of the search for a replacement for the C-146 Wolfhound cargo plane.

Hunt For C-146 Wolfhound Special Ops Transport Plane Replacement Underway

Posted on May 20, 2026

Naval Group: We are very honoured by the choice of the Swedish Ministry of Defence to select the #FDI to provide the Royal Swedish Navy with 4 latest-generation 1st rank frigates.

Baltic Sea

Sweden Chooses Unusual French Design For Its New Frigates

Posted on May 19, 2026

DZYNE Technologies has shared new details about its recently unveiled lower-cost Blitz drone and the accompanying containerized BlitzBox launch system.

Drones

BlitzBox Packs 100 Weaponized Drones Into An Unassuming Container

Posted on May 19, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares to receive fuel from a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker in the U.S. Central Command Area of responsibility May 11, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Paige Weldon)

Iran

Trump Claims He Called Off Imminent Iran Bombing Campaign At Behest Of Allies (Updated)

Updated on May 18, 2026

The U.S. Army is pressing defense contractors to come up with proposals for a new interceptor for the Patriot surface-to-air missile system with a unit cost under $1 million.

‘Cheap’ Patriot Interceptor Costing Under $1 Million Now Being Sought By Army

Posted on May 18, 2026

China

Mysterious Chinese SUV With Massive Roof Featured In Trump Motorcade In Beijing

Posted on May 15, 2026

Sleeping accommodation in the Clapham deep shelter, London. Four thousand beds at three shillings a night, deep beneath London, are being offered to Festival of Britain visitors. The beds, together with dining accommodation, are in Clapham's deep shelter, now taken over by the London County Council. The deep shelter is a mile long, runs 45 feet beneath the underground railway. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on May 15, 2026

Engine mechanics from the 149th Maintenance Squadron, Texas Air National Guard perform an engine change on an F-16 Fighting Falcon during Salitre 2014, Oct. 13, at Cerro Moreno Air Force Base, near Antofagasta, Chile. Salitre is a Chilean-led exercise where the U.S., Chile, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, focus on increasing interoperability between allied nations.

South America

Argentina Retires Its A-4 Fightinghawks

Posted on May 15, 2026

The first picture of the U.S. military's new AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) has emerged.

Secretive AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Finally Breaks Cover

Posted on May 15, 2026

Inside Ukraine's Shahed interceptor program.

Iran

Inside Ukraine’s Interceptor Drone Innovations Swatting Down Thousands Of Russian Shaheds

Posted on May 15, 2026

Iran

CENTCOM Commander Dismisses Reports That Iran Retains Most Of Its Missile And Drone Arsenal (Updated)

Updated on May 15, 2026

The U.S. Navy's near-total abandonment of surface ships with nuclear propulsion after the end of the Cold War is its "one of the largest mistakes" ever, according to the service's top officer.

Nuclear-Powered Trump Class Battleships Will Reverse One Of The Navy’s “Largest Mistakes”: Navy Boss

Posted on May 14, 2026

Israel

Israel’s F-35s Are Getting External Fuel Tanks

Posted on May 14, 2026

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft piloted by Airmen from the 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range and performs live-fire exercises with Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire missiles and Guided Bomb Unit-12 Paveway IIs, Aug. 30, 2023. The 556 TES performs all software and physical testing to improve the combat capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper.

Drones

MQ-9 Reaper Replacement Requirements Stress A Drone Cheap Enough To Risk Losing

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 13, 2026

The Pentagon has outlined plans to acquire at least 10,000 lower-cost cruise missiles over the next three years, as well as a similar number of relatively 'cheap' Blackbeard hypersonic missiles.

10,000 Low-Cost Cruise Missiles In Three Years Procurement Plan Laid Out By Pentagon (Updated)

Posted on May 13, 2026

Iran

UAE Building Massive ‘Cope Cages’ To Protect Energy Facilities From Iranian Drone Attacks

Posted on May 13, 2026

It could cost nearly $1.2 trillion to develop, field, and operate a new missile defense shield like the one the Trump administration proposes to establish under its Golden Dome initiative, according to a new estimate.

7,800 Interceptors In Space At Core Of $1.2 Trillion Golden Dome Cost Estimate

Posted on May 13, 2026

Facing with a growing threat from Hezbollah, the IDF is building its own drone factory.

Israel

Israel Building Factory To Pump Out Its Own FPV Drones

Posted on May 13, 2026

The Pentagon says it is working to amend its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to request new funding for the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Pentagon’s Mindset On E-7 Radar Aircraft It Tried To Axe Has Completely Changed: Hegseth

Posted on May 12, 2026

On May 12, President Putin received a report on the successful test of the Sarmat missile.

Russia

Russia Plans To Deploy Sarmat ICBM Operationally Later This Year

Posted on May 12, 2026

Gdynia, Poland 28th, July 2014 Scenes at the 43rd Polish Naval Air Base airport in Gdynia - Babie Doly. The Naval Aviation Brigade has been established in 1994 and it is the only naval aviation tactical unit in The Polish Military. The objective of Naval Aviation Brigade is to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), search-and-rescue (SAR), reconnaissance, ecological and transport operations. The Navy aircraft and helicopters are stationed and operations from three airfields located in Gdynia Babie Doly, Siemirowice and Darlowo. PZL M28B Bryza aircraft sits at the airbase.

Drones

Drone-Hunting M28 Skytruck In The Works For Poland

Posted on May 12, 2026

The IRGC Navy announced a vastly expanded zone of control in the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran

IRGC Navy Claims Vast Expansion In Its Definition Of Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

Updated on May 12, 2026

The ARRW program has not only reemerged from purgatory, with missiles being ordered for operational use, but a new variant is on the horizon.

New Version Of Bomber-Launched ARRW Hypersonic Missile Is A Ship Killer

Posted on May 12, 2026

The U.S. Navy says its future Trump class battleships are now set to be nuclear-powered. This is a huge development that will impact the cost and complexity of the design.

Trump Class Battleships Will Be Nuclear Powered (Updated)

Posted on May 12, 2026

Iran

Possibility Of Operation To Retrieve Iran’s Enriched Uranium Appears To Rise As Negotiations Sputter (Updated)

Updated on May 11, 2026

The MQ-9 Reaper has become the latest platform to test-fire the laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rocket. The trials, conducted with the U.S. Air Force, involved the MQ-9 employing the APKWS in its original air-to-ground capacity, as well as against aerial targets.

Drones

MQ-9 Reaper Fires Laser-Guided Rockets In Tests

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 11, 2026

The Project 21980 vessel is described by Russia as multi-purpose anti-saboteur boats. Primarily designed to protect ports and other naval installations, they are used by the Russian Navy as well as the Border Service. Around 30 of the vessels have been completed since 2008.

Ukraine

Anti-Drone “Cope Cage” Appears On Russian Patrol Boat

Posted on May 11, 2026

The U.S. Air Force says it does not expect the last of its huge C-5M Galaxy cargo planes to be replaced by a Next-Generation Airlift (NGAL) platform until Fiscal Year 2050.

C-5 Galaxies Now Slated To Keep Flying Until 2050 As Readiness Plummets To 37 Percent

Posted on May 11, 2026

DARPA is exploring capabilities to support a largely self-sustaining "autonomous constellation" of containerized systems designed to launch and recover networked swarms consisting of as many as 500 drones at once.

Drones

Drone Swarms Packed Into Unassuming Containers Sought By DARPA

Posted on May 9, 2026

Iran

F/A-18 Super Hornet Drops Bombs Down Smokestacks Of Iranian Tankers Running Blockade (Updated)

Updated on May 9, 2026

Soldiers with Bravo Company, Task Force Guardian, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, secure a bunker in an enemy fortified entrenchment during the initial phase of combat operations as part of an exercise during the Joint ReadinessTraining Center (JRTC) rotation 24-09 at Fort Johnson, La., July 18, 2024. Task Force Guardian is comprised of personnel from 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry; 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry; and the 141st Brigade Support Battalion. The JRTC goal is to create realistic environments that help prepare units for complex operations. (Oregon Army National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Zachary Holden, 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on May 8, 2026

ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - MAY 05: The 'YILDIRIMHAN' intercontinental hypersonic ballistic missile, developed by the Turkish National Defense Ministry R&D Center, is showcased for the first time at the SAHA 2026 International Defence, Aerospace and Space Industry Exhibition in Istanbul, Turkiye, on May 05, 2026.

Turkey

What Is Behind Turkey’s Pursuit Of An ICBM?

Posted on May 8, 2026

The U.S. government has released 162 declassified videos, pictures, and documents regarding so-called unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which are also still commonly referred to as unidentified flying objects (UFO).

UAP

The Newly Released Government UFO Archives Will Leave You Shrugging

Posted on May 8, 2026

Iran

U.S. Just Struck Iranian Targets Around The Strait Of Hormuz (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 8, 2026

Iran

F/A-18 Super Hornet Blasts Blockade-Running Iranian Ship’s Rudder With 20mm Cannon (Updated)

Updated on May 6, 2026

Northrop Grumman's experimental XRQ-73 Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) hybrid-electric drone has now taken to the skies.

Drones

DARPA’s XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

Posted on May 6, 2026

Japan

Missiles Clobber Target Ship In Highly Strategic Luzon Strait

Posted on May 6, 2026

With new threats emerging at home and abroad, the U.S. Coast Guard has created a new Special Missions Command (SMC) to oversee its "deployable specialized forces."

POTUS

Coast Guard Creates Its Own Special Operations Command

Posted on May 6, 2026

Iran

New Iranian Attacks On UAE As Ceasefire Holds By A Thread (Updated)

Updated on May 5, 2026

Turkey

Turkey Developing Its Own Bladed ‘Ginsu’ Precision Guided Munition

Posted on May 5, 2026

Letter From The Editor: 10 Years And 11,000 Articles Later

Updated on May 4, 2026

Iran

U.S. AH-64 Apache, MH-60 Seahawk Helicopters Sink Six Iranian Boats (Updated)

Updated on May 4, 2026

Israel

Israel’s First KC-46 Tanker Is Now Flying

Posted on May 4, 2026

CENTCOM says the first two ships have transited the Strait of Hormuz under Project Freedom.

Iran

First Ships Transit Strait Of Hormuz Under New U.S. Protection Plan

Updated on May 4, 2026

Mid-Range Capability (MRC) Launcher from Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment, Long Range Fires Battalion, 1st Multi-Domain Task Force arrives as part of the capability’s first deployment into theater on Northern Luzon, Philippines, April 8, 2024. The MRC deployment aims to enhance Philippine maritime defense capabilities, while bolstering interoperability and readiness within the U.S.-Philippine Alliance.

Germany

Confusion Surrounds Future Of U.S. Long-Range Missiles In Germany Amid Rift With White House

Posted on May 4, 2026

The U.S. Air Force says the first B-52 to receive new F130 engines is set to be delivered to Boeing's facility in San Antonio, Texas, to begin the modification process later this year.

First B-52 To Arrive For Re-Engining At Boeing Plant Later This Year (Updated)

Posted on May 4, 2026

Israel

Israel To Buy Extra F-15IA And F-35I Squadrons

Posted on May 3, 2026

The Army and defense contractor BAE Systems have now both clarified that the two AMPV 30s delivered this week to the 1st Cavalry Division are company-funded prototypes that are only set to be evaluated.

No, The Army Isn’t Fielding New AMPV Armored Vehicles With 30mm Cannons