News & Features (Page 33)

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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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 22, 2024

An uncrewed ground vehicle launching quadcopter
U.S. Homeland

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

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 22, 2024

B-21 raider first air-to-air image
U.S. Homeland

First Aerial View Of B-21 Raider Offers New Insights

By Tyler Rogoway

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

By Joseph Trevithick

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

By Joseph Trevithick

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 21, 2024

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

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

By Tyler Rogoway

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 20, 2024

Personnel from China's PLA engage in counter FPV-drone training
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

By Joseph Trevithick

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)

By Thomas Newdick

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 18, 2024

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

Congress Has Made Fully Obscuring Aircraft Ownership Information A Reality

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 18, 2024

Ukraine has launched large-scale drone attacks against Russia.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Launches Massive Drone Attack On Russia

By Thomas Newdick

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 17, 2024

Defense officials say a notice to airmen was issued for a Russian space launch booster, not a military exercise.
Russia

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

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 17, 2024

The War Zone has now obtained additional high-resolution imagery better showing the extent of the destruction at Russia's Belbek Air Base from recent Ukrainian strikes.
Russia

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

By Joseph Trevithick

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

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 16, 2024

Satellite imagery of Russia's Belbek Air Base on the occupied Crimean Peninsula shows damage from Ukrainian strikes earlier this week.
Russia

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

By Joseph Trevithick

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. Homeland

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

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on May 16, 2024

A picture emerging on social media of a Patriot mock-up sparked conspiracy theories about Ukraine selling a system to China.
China

Mock-Up Patriot System Sparks China-Ukraine Conspiracy Theories

By Howard Altman

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

By Joseph Trevithick

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.
U.S. Homeland

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

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 15, 2024

Wreckage of S-400 engagement radar at airbase of Belbek in Crimea, May 15, 2024.
Russia

Russia’s Belbek Airbase In Crimea Hammered By Ukrainian Long-Range Strike (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 15, 2024

The Viper Demo team has painted their jet in the YF-16's scheme to commemorate the type's 50th anniversary.
U.S. Homeland

Viper Demo Team Secretly Painted Jet In YF-16 Scheme To Celebrate Type’s 50th Anniversary

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 15, 2024

A Chinese stealth vessel at sea
China

China’s Mysterious Stealthy Warship Has Headed Out To Sea (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

Posted on May 15, 2024

An uncrewed version of the UH-72B Lakota helicopter is among the types now in the running to become of the Marine Corps' next logistics drones.
Drones

UH-72 Lakota Drone In The Running To Haul Cargo For The USMC

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

The United Kingdom has announced plans to build up to six new Multi Role Support Ships (MRSS), a new class of amphibious warfare vessels that will join an ambitious shipbuilding program that now includes a total of 28 warships and submarines. The new MRSS vessels will also accommodate drones, a growing area of interest for the U.K. Royal Navy.
United Kingdom

Royal Navy To Get Up To Six New Amphibious Warships

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 14, 2024

Congress says the Navy's CMV-22B Ospreys can only fly 30 minutes from a divert airfield, limiting their ability to provide carrier onboard delivery services.
U.S. Homeland

Navy CMV-22B Ospreys Only Allowed To Fly 30 Minutes From A Divert Airfield: Congress

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 14, 2024

Members of Congress are pushing to block the US Air Force from retiring more than half of its F-15E Strike Eagles.
U.S. Homeland

Move To Block F-15E Strike Eagle Cuts Being Made In Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 14, 2024

T-6 ejection seat mishap
U.S. Homeland

T-6 Pilot Dies In Ejection Seat Accident

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 14, 2024

Recent imagery provides our best views so far of Russia’s modern Kh-38M air-to-ground missile, apparently employed in the war in Ukraine. Previously, various videos had been released showing airstrikes that purportedly involved Kh-38Ms, but new photos show, in some detail, the missile carried under the wing of Su-34 Fullback strike fighters, seemingly taking part in combat sorties.
Russia

Our Best Look At Russia’s Kh-38 Missile Now Being Used In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 14, 2024

The history and legacy of the Navy's F-16N
History

Live Fast, Die Young: The Story Of The Navy’s F-16N

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on May 14, 2024

LMADIS CUAS
Drones

Every Marine A Drone Defender Under Three Part Counter-UAS Plan

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on May 13, 2024

A Ukrainian self-propelled howitzer 2S1 Gvozdika drives past a damaged car on a road in the Vovchansk district, Kharkiv region, on May 12, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Thousands of people have been evacuated from border areas in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, as Russia kept up constant strikes on a key town as part of a cross-border offensive, officials said on May 12, 2024. The surprise Russian attack across Ukraine's northeastern border began on Friday, with troops making small advances in an area from where they had been pushed back nearly two years ago.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: “Fierce Battles” Rage In Kharkiv Region

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 13, 2024

Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has released a new rendering of a stealth tanker concept amid uncertainty about the U.S. Air Force's future tanker plans.
U.S. Homeland

New Skunk Works Stealthy Tanker Concept Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 13, 2024

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64) visits Naval Station Norfolk following a seven-month deployment, May 10. Throughout the ship’s seven-month deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Carney successfully destroyed Houthi-launched weapons, including land attack cruise missiles, anti-ship ballistic missiles, and unmanned systems.
Red Sea

USS Carney Destroyed 65 Houthi Targets During Its Cruise

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 13, 2024

Green berets on Shemya
U.S. Homeland

American Special Operations Forces Are At A Crossroads

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 12, 2024

A black-and-white photo shows a man standing next to a surface (above ground) bomb shelter that is advertising Victor J. Nelson's sales and distribution business, circa 1951. (Jim Heimann Collection/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 May 11, 2024

Russian Artillery
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Russia Launches Offensive In Kharkiv Region

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 10, 2024

A B-2 Spirit taxis at Whiteman Air Force Base
News & Features

Damaged B-2 Won’t Be Repaired, Fleet To Shrink To 19 Jets (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

After an extraordinary career spanning more than 80 years of service, and plenty of wartime missions, the South African Air Force (SAAF) is preparing to retire its last C-47 Dakotas. The decision is yet to be formally announced by the SAAF but looks set to confirm the fate of the service’s Dakotas, which have now been grounded for around two years.
Africa

South Africa’s C-47 Dakotas Set For Retirement After 80 Years Of Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 10, 2024

The replacement for Barrett .50 caliber riles, a well as Mk 15s in the same caliber, in U.S. special operations forces inventories may be chambered in a new smaller cartridge.
U.S. Homeland

Barrett .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle Replacement For SOCOM May Fire A Smaller Round

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

A fourth Combatant Craft Heavy stealthy special operations boat is now on order for the Navy and testing of a loitering munition launcher for the Combatant Craft Medium is underway.
News & Features

Navy’s Secretive Fleet Of Stealthy Special Operations Boats Set To Evolve

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 10, 2024

AEVEX Aerospace, makers of the Phoenix Ghost loitering munition, now makes sea drones.
U.S. Homeland

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 9, 2024

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which won the contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s highly specialized Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft last month, has acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The likelihood is that these will be converted as the successors to the Air Force’s aging 747-200-based E-4B Nightwatch ‘doomsday planes,’ although at this stage we still don’t know how many of the new SAOC aircraft will be fielded.
South Korea

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 9, 2024

The famed Little Bird helicopters used by the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are seeing a 'resurrection' after the Army's cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but their future is still murky.
News & Features

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 9, 2024

STRAIT OF SAN JUAN DE FUCA, Wash. (May 6, 2024) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) transits the Strait of San Juan de Fuca escorted by U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and U.S. Coast Guard screening escort vessels. Joint operations, such as this one which involved the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy, ensure the U.S. military is ready to meet its security commitments at home and abroad including commitments to our allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gwendelyn Ohrazda/Released)
China

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 9, 2024

KH-101s are now being fired at Ukraine with two warheads onboard.
Russia

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Unmanned Long-Endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft crew chiefs, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prep an ULTRA aircraft for taxi across the flightline before an early morning takeoff at an undisclosed location, May 7, 2024. ULTRA is an unmanned aerial system capable of flight times up to 80 hours, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to combatant commanders, with a smaller operational footprint than other UAS in its class.
UAE

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 8, 2024

An annual special operations capability demonstration has included paragliding Marines on a mock drone hunt.
U.S. Homeland

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Rogue 1 the marines' new drone.
Drones

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 8, 2024

Armed robotic dog in use by MARSOC
Drones

Rifle-Armed Robot Dogs Now Being Tested By Marine Special Operators (Updated)

By Oliver Parken, Howard Altman

Posted on May 8, 2024

US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.
U.S. Homeland

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 8, 2024

Ukraine Situation Report: Half Of North Korean Missiles Used By Russia Failed, Kyiv Says
North Korea

Ukraine Situation Report: Half Of North Korean Missiles Used By Russia Failed, Kyiv Says

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 7, 2024

161013-N-OI810-093 WATERS SURROUNDING THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 13, 2016) Petty Officer 1st Class (AW/SW) John Diwa, from Dededo, Guam, installs inboard and outboard bearings on a main tire mount of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, in the hangar bay of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during Exercise Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters near the Korean Peninsula, consisting of routine carrier strike group (CSG) operations in support of maritime counter-special operating forces and integrated maritime operations. USS Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burke/Released)
Procurement

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

By Eric Tegler

Posted on May 7, 2024

The Air Force new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker buster bomb could be a future addition to the B-2 bomber's arsenal.
News & Features

B-2 Spirits Could Get New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 7, 2024

USMC is wanting to incorporate drones across its forces.
Artificial Intelligence

‘Robot Marines’ In Every Formation: Corps’ Robotics Chief Casts Vision

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on May 7, 2024

Iskander M Ukraine running low
Russia

Putin Orders Tactical Nuclear Drills In Response To Western “Threats”

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 7, 2024

A US Air Force F-22 stealth fighter has suffered a mishap at an airport in Georgia today, May 6, 2024.
U.S. Homeland

F-22 Raptor Ends Up On Its Side During Air Guard Exercise (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2024

Russian 'turtle tank' seen operating with additional cage armor and an attached mine roller
Russia

New Russian Turtle Tank With Cage-Like Armor Emerges On Ukrainian Battlefield

By Oliver Parken

Posted on May 6, 2024

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon
U.S. Homeland

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 6, 2024

In a most unusual development in the Black Sea ‘drone war,’ Ukraine appears to have begun arming uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), better known as drone boats, with heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. The adaptation seems to have been made to provide the USVs with protection against the Russian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that are increasingly being used to counter them, although many questions remain about how these newly added weapons are intended work.
Russia

Ukrainian Drone Boats Now Armed With Adapted Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2024