News &amp; Features (Page 3)

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing arrive for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 10, 2026. The 125th Fighter Wing accelerated its readiness timeframe ahead of a mission conversion deadline by deploying eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft, establishing joint-component interoperability with two active-duty U.S. Air Force units under the ACE concept.

China

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot And F-35 Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Military

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

China

China’s Growing Armada Of Spy Satellites Is Pushing Space Force To Go On The Offensive

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

Iran

The Massive Questions Surrounding A Major American Air War Against Iran

Updated on Feb 26, 2026

As well as a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors have also arrived in theater, according to multiple reports. The stealth jets took off from RAF Lakenheath in England yesterday, confirmed by open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters, and are now at an Israeli Air Force base in the south of Israel.

Iran

F-16s Arrive To Protect Diego Garcia, F-22s Forward Deploy To Israel

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Newly teamed-up Northrop Grumman and Embraer are hoping that a boom refueling system-equipped version of the latter's KC-390 Millennium twin jet engine tanker-transport will catch the eye of the U.S. Air Force.

KC-390 With A Refueling Boom Seems Like A Perfect Fit For The USAF’s Agile Tanker Needs, But Will It Bite?

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Shield AI says X-Bat will start flight testing this year.

Drones

X-BAT Drone ‘Fighter’ Will Begin VTOL Flight Testing In Kansas This Year

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

MQ-9 being turned into cruise missile truck.

General Atomics Is Turning The MQ-9 Reaper Family Of Drones Into “Cruise Missile Trucks”

By The War Zone staff

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

The official target size of the future B-21 Raider fleet remains 100 aircraft, despite an announcement that production of the stealth bomber is expanding, a U.S. Air Force official has confirmed to TWZ.

100 B-21 Stealth Bomber Fleet Size Target Unchanged For Now Despite Production Acceleration

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Artificial Intelligence

AI Is Now Helping The F-35 Spot Enemy Air Defenses

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Drones

Talon Blue Is The New Name For Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A ‘Fighter Drone’

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

Ukraine

Russia’s Mi-28 Havoc Attack Helicopter Has Tiny Crew Compartment To Pick Up Downed Pilots

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea, Feb. 15, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East.

Iran

Iran Signals Possible “Fast Deal” To Be Made In Nuclear Talks As U.S. Military Build-Up Grinds On

Posted on Feb 23, 2026

Drones

Dark Merlin Is The Name Of General Atomics’ YFQ-42A Fighter Drone

Updated on Feb 23, 2026

WASSENAAR, NETHERLANDS - MAY 5: The remains of a communication room are visible as the Seyss-Inquart bunker opens its doors to the public on Liberation Day for a special "Freedom Meal" on May 5, 2025 in Wassenaar, Netherlands. The holiday marks the Netherlands' liberation from Nazi occupation 80 years ago. The bunker is named after Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a prominent Nazi official who served as Reich Commissioner during the German occupation of the Netherlands.He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials and subsequently executed. After the war, the bunker, concealed beneath a structure resembling a traditional Dutch farmhouse, was repurposed by the Dutch armed forces during the Cold War and served as a site for NATO military exercises. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on Feb 21, 2026

A group of Block 52 F-16CJ Vipers belonging to the South Carolina Air National Guard was recently spotted heading east across the Atlantic as part of a huge build-up of U.S. forces ahead of potential strikes on Iran.

Iran

F-16s Heading To Middle East Equipped With Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare Pods

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

USS gerald R Ford has entered the Mediterranean.

Iran

Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Has Crossed Into The Mediterranean

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

The U.S. Marine Corps is aiming to acquire a new single "capability" to fill gaps left by the retirement of its AV-8 Harrier jump jets, AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, and legacy F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters.

New Vision To Fill Gaps After AV-8B Harrier And AH-1Z Viper Retirements Laid Out By Marines

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

The U.S. Navy is exploring options for a new long-range anti-radiation missile designed to home in on radars to help neutralize enemy air defense networks.

Hunt For “AWACS Killer” Anti-Radiation Missile Kicked-Off By Navy

Updated on Feb 20, 2026

Iran

U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

What looks to be a new 155mm naval gun has been installed on a Chinese weapons trials ship.

China

China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

Russia

Russia Eyes Balloon Communications System To Fill Massive Gap Left After Losing Starlink

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force's future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).

Security Forces Guarding ICBMs Need Fresh Tactics To Defend New Sentinel Silos

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

Iran

What Iran’s Naval Exercise With China And Russia In The Strait Of Hormuz Actually Means

Posted on Feb 18, 2026

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe.

Iran

Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 18, 2026

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.

Drones

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry, airborne warning and control system (AWACS).

Iran

Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran

Updated on Feb 17, 2026

One of the U.S. Air Force's C-32A VIP aircraft has re-emerged wearing a new red, white, and blue paint scheme.

C-32A ‘Air Force Two’ Jet Emerges Wearing Trump’s New Air Force One Paint Job (Updated)

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

F-16s Find Balloons, Not UFOs, After Sunday Scramble: NORAD

Posted on Feb 16, 2026

AH-64 has tested APEX proximity fuse rounds

Drones

AH-64 Apache Is Getting Proximity Fuzed 30mm Cannon Ammo For Swatting Down Drones

Posted on Feb 16, 2026

Last year, the U.S. government was able to reverse engineer a critical subcomponent for the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb by leveraging technology from the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile.

New GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Parts Reverse Engineered From ATACMS Ballistic Missile Tech

Updated on Feb 16, 2026

The F-35's 'computer brain,' including its cloud-based components, could be cracked to accept third-party software updates, just like 'jailbreaking' a cellphone, according to the Dutch Defense Minister.

Europe

F-35 Software Could Be Jailbreaked Like An iPhone: Dutch Defense Secretary

Updated on Feb 15, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Lucas Keka, left, munitions operations technician assigned to the 726th Expeditionary Mission Support Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Daryc Fliginger, 726th EMSS Munitions Flight production supervisor, secure a munitions storage bunker at Chabelley Airfield, Djibouti, Aug. 25, 2023. The 726th EMSS provides security forces, satellite communications, munitions support, vehicle management, contracting, finance and logistics in support of USAF personnel in East Africa. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Dhruv Gopinath)

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is exploring new ways to protect aerial refueling tankers and other high-value support aircraft by physically defeating incoming threats rather than trying to jam them or otherwise throw them off course.

Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

The USS Ford was ordered to the Middle East after CNO expressed concerns about the ships and crew after months at sea.

Iran

Navy’s Top Admiral Previously Said He Would “Push Back” Against Extending USS Gerald R. Ford’s Deployment

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

U.S. Marine Corps legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets are in line to add air-to-air optimized versions of the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket to their arsenal.

USMC’s Old F/A-18 Hornets To Get Drone Swatting Laser Guided Rockets

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

The recent use of a laser directed energy weapon to take down an aerial object in Texas highlights policy challenges in protecting U.S. skies.

Airspace Closure Over Laser Weapon Use A Glaring Example Of Drone Defense Policy Struggles

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has now denied taking delivery of any F-35A Joint Strike Fighters from the latest Lot 17 production batch without radars installed.

Air Force Now Denies Receiving F-35s Without Radars

Posted on Feb 13, 2026

An Aerovironment Locust directed energy laser weapons took down a small Customs and Border Protection Drone.

Lasers

This Is The LOCUST Laser That Reportedly Prompted Closing El Paso’s Airspace

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Truxtun collided with the support ship USNS Supply while the two were conducting an at-sea replenishment yesterday, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) has confirmed.

Americas

Destroyer USS Truxton Collides With Support Ship During At-Sea Resupply

Updated on Feb 12, 2026

The USS George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group conducts a simulated strait transit in the Atlantic Ocean, Dec. 10, 2025. The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group is underway for Group Sail, its first integrated at-sea training phase. This event is designed to increase the Strike Group’s tactical proficiency and lethality across all domains, meeting Navy and Joint warfighting requirements. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John R. Farren)

Iran

Second Carrier Strike Group Ordered To Spin-Up For Deployment To Middle East: Report

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command says it is prepared to load more warheads onto Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restore nuclear weapons capability to the entire B-52 bomber fleet, if called upon to do so.

USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

The F-35 Joint Program Office has declined to confirm or deny a report that Joint Strike Fighters are being delivered to the U.S. military without radars due to chronic issues with a key upgrade program.

Are F-35s Being Delivered To The USAF Without Radars? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 11, 2026

Drones operated by Mexican drug cartels flying across the border prompted a major clampdown in air traffic over El Paso, Texas, earlier today, a Trump administration official has told TWZ.

Claims Swirl Around Government’s Response To Cartel Drone Threat That Prompted El Paso Airspace Closure

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

DOW making naughty or nice list of defense contractors.

South America

Pentagon Is Making A Naughty Or Nice List Of Defense Contractors

Posted on Feb 11, 2026

YFQ-42 selected for test program with the USMC.

Drones

YFQ-42 Fighter Drone To Test USMC’s Autonomy ‘Brain’ Alongside Crewed Jets

Updated on Feb 11, 2026

F-35A stealth fighters from the Vermont Air National Guard are moving cl;oser to the Middle East amid an ongoing U.S. military buildup there.

Iran

F-35A Stealth Fighters Moving Closer To Middle East As U.S. Military Buildup Continues

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

The head of U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has downplayed the current significance of Chinese efforts to develop new long-range strike aircraft with more global reach.

China

China “Just Not There Yet” On H-20 Stealth Bomber: Global Strike Command’s Top General

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

L3Harris has highlighted the potential benefits of pairing its Red Wolf miniature cruise missile with the U.S. Air Force's OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft.

Red Wolf Cruise Missile Eyed To Give OA-1K Skyraider II Standoff Strike Capability

Posted on Feb 10, 2026

A10s provide CAS for LCS in Arabian Sea.

Iran

A-10 Warthog Protects Mine-Hunting Littoral Combat Ship In Persian Gulf Drill

Updated on Feb 9, 2026

Drone-killing F-15E Strike Eagles made a cameo appearance during the Super Bowl

Middle East

Laser-Guided Rocket-Armed F-15E Strike Eagles Make Super Bowl Cameo Appearance

Posted on Feb 9, 2026

Lockheed Martin has rolled out a new highly modular uncrewed undersea vehicle called Lamprey than can be configured to launch waves of aerial kamikaze drones.

Drones

Undersea Drone That Attaches Itself To Other Vessels Unveiled By Lockheed

Posted on Feb 9, 2026

NANTWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 24: A general view outside of the former RAF Hack Green secret nuclear bunker on May 24, 2023 in Nantwich, England. Hack Green played a central role in the defence of Britain for almost sixty years. It was chosen during WW2 to protect the land between Birmingham and Liverpool from hostile attack and as a location for the new RADAR equipment. The bunker went on to be used for shelter and protection during the Cold War. As relations between East and West thawed many of the UK's nuclear bunkers were sold off. The Secret Bunker is now privately owned by the Siebert family and is run as a museum trust. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

Bunker Talk

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

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

Russia

Russian Forces In Ukraine Scramble To Overcome Musk’s Starlink Restrictions

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

Drones

Hunt For Container Launchers Packed With Drones Kicked-Off By Pentagon

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

China

China Secretly Testing Nuclear Weapons And Covering Its Tracks, U.S. Alleges (Updated)

Posted on Feb 6, 2026

An MQ-28A Ghost Bat loaded with an AIM-120 during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.

Drones

Boeing Details New MQ-28 Ghost Bat Features, Eyes Indo-Pacific Sales

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Iran

Middle East Preparing For War Ahead Of U.S.-Iran Negotiations

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Russia

What The Sunset Of Key U.S.-Russia Nuclear Deal Could Mean For America’s Stockpile

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

Ukraine

Watch Ukraine’s Minigun-Firing, Drone-Hunting Turboprop In Action

Posted on Feb 5, 2026

The U.S. Navy has shown no signs of reversing course on major changes to its pipeline for new Naval Aviators in its latest draft requirements for a replacement for its T-45 Goshawk jet trainers.

Navy’s T-45 Replacement Will Not Be Capable Of Making Carrier Landing Touch And Goes

Posted on Feb 4, 2026

Earlier this week, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Meteor was one of the weapons under discussion for the next Swedish security aid package for Ukraine. Also on the agenda were the Gripen E and undisclosed air defense systems, Saab radars, electronic warfare systems, and drones, including long-range one-way attack drones. The announcement came after talks between the Ukrainian Minister of Defense Mykhailo Fedorov and his Swedish counterpart, Paul Jonsson.

NATO

Meteor Long-Range Air-To-Air Missile In The Works For Ukraine, But There’s A Catch

Updated on Feb 4, 2026

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has started making official trips using a new Gulfstream 700 (G700) VIP jet.

Department Of Homeland Security’s New Gulfstream Jet Now In Service (Updated)