News & Features (Page 6)

Latest in News & Features

The first full deployment of the U.S. Army's new Sentinel A4 air defense radar will be in the area around Washington, D.C., also known as the National Capital Region (NCR).
U.S. Homeland

Army’s New Sentinel A4 Radar’s First Full Deployment Will Be Defending Nation’s Capital

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 17, 2025

Austria is buying 12 M-346F Block 20 light combat aircraft from Italian defense contractor Leonardo, as part of an overhaul of its air force, the Luftstreitkräfte. Austria already operates 15 Eurofighter Typhoons, procured under controversial circumstances, but these jets have notably limited capabilities and high operating costs, which has seen previous efforts to offload them.
Europe

Austria Buys M-346F Light Fighters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 17, 2025

Ukraine is set to receive more surface-to-air missiles to arm its Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems, paid for by Norway.
Ukraine

Ukraine To Get More S-300 Interceptors With Norway’s Help

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 17, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed it is buying two Boeing 747-8 airliners from German flag carrier Lufthansa.
Civil Aviation

USAF Buying Lufthansa 747s To Serve As Future Air Force One Trainers, Spare Parts Sources

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 17, 2025

The Pentagon has sent more KC-135 refueling jets to the Dominican Republic as part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.
South America

More KC-135 Tankers Deploy To The Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 17, 2025

Satellite imagery is now available showing the aftermath of a Ukrainian attack yesterday on a Russian Navy Improved Kilo class diesel-electric submarine in the Black Sea naval stronghold of Novorossiysk.
Ukraine

Aftermath Of Ukraine’s Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine Seen In Satellite Imagery

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

A 737 Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) with a luxurious VVIP interior has re-emerged unexpectedly tied to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as evidenced by a large departmental seal in the main cabin.
U.S. Homeland

Mystery Surrounds Luxury 737 That Appears To Be Flying For Department Of Homeland Security

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 16, 2025

The latest Chinese military aircraft to appear in flight test is a tactical transport aircraft, known, unofficially for now, as the Y-30. Not perhaps as headline-grabbing as China’s string of new crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft designs, the transport is nonetheless highly significant, reflecting the People’s Liberation Army’s growing ambitions to be able to conduct out-of-area operations.
China

China’s ‘Y-30’ Turboprop Airlifter Spotted For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 16, 2025

Indian Air Force (IAF) SEPECAT Jaguar fighter jets take part in an air refueling exercise during the joint exercise 'Ex Garuda-VII' between IAF and FASF in the air near Jodhpur in India's desert state of Rajasthan on November 9, 2022.
India

India Can’t Give Up Its Jaguar Strike Aircraft

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

Ukraine says it carried out the world's first uncrewed underwater vehicle (UUV) attack on a Russian vessel.
Russia

Ukraine Claims World’s First Underwater Drone Attack On Russian Submarine

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

A combination of new interceptors and launchers is set to give the Patriot surface-to-air missile system an "over-the-shoulder" engagement capability, the U.S. Army has disclosed.
News & Features

New Patriot Interceptors To Allow For “Over-The-Shoulder” Shots At Passing Targets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

We have got what could be our first look at China’s CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone in flight. While it’s far from the biggest Chinese drone of this configuration, it’s still of impressive size and, as we have noted in the past, appears to be tailored for intelligence, reconnaissance, and surveillance (ISR), as well as strike missions as an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV).
China

China’s Stealthy CH-7 Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 15, 2025

Two US troops and a civilian US interpreter were killed by a lone gunman in Syria, who was also killed.
Syria

Ambush In Syria Leaves Two U.S. Troops, Civilian Interpreter Dead (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 13, 2025

25 July 2022, Hamburg: In front of an entrance to the Steintor underground bunker, yellow and black pressure doors can be seen. The inscription "Stand back from the door" can be read on the doors. The 140-meter-long and 17-meter-wide facility near the main train station had been built from 1941 to 1943. During the Cold War, it had been converted into a nuclear bunker and would have provided shelter for 2700 people in an emergency. Since 2007, the Hamburg Underworlds association has organized guided tours and cultural events in the underground bunker so that the history of this place is not forgotten. Photo: Julian Weber/dpa (Photo by Julian Weber/picture alliance via 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 Dec 13, 2025

Russia carried out a retaliation strike for Ukraine's attacks on its ships.
Russia

Russian Retaliation Strike Raises Stakes In Black Sea Shipping War

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

The U.S. Navy says it is aiming to have the first of a new class of frigates based on an existing American design "in the water" by 2028 following the cancelation of the Constellation class program.
News & Features

U.S. Navy Now Wants A New Frigate And Fast

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

An F-35A from Hill Air Force Base Utah, takes off during the evaluation in Switzerland in 2019.
Europe

Swiss Poised To Slash F-35 Order As Costs Mount

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters, assigned to the 943d Rescue Group, conduct helicopter air-to-air refueling with an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft,
South America

Combat Rescue Aircraft, Tankers Arrive In Caribbean As U.S. Military Buildup Accelerates

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

F-35A Lighting Joint Strike Fighters from the 158th Fighter Wing are headed to take part in Operation Southern Spear.
South America

F-35A Joint Strike Fighters Deploying To Caribbean (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

China's heavyweight jet-powered Jiutian drone, said to have a maximum takeoff weight of around 17.6 tons (16 metric tons), has flown.
China

China’s High-Flying Swarm Mothership Drone Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

Crew Optional Designs Could Be Barred By Law From Navy’s Drone Ship Program
News & Features

Crew Optional Designs Could Be Barred By Law From Navy’s Drone Ship Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 11, 2025

LUCAS drone being tested at Yuma Proving Ground.
Drones

American-Made Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drone Clones Being Tested By Marines

Howard Howard Altman, By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that his country has begun using homegrown Sapsan (which means peregrine falcon) ballistic missiles in combat against Russia. Such a weapon would give Ukraine a highly valuable new standoff strike option unlike any other in its inventory. It would also not be subject to any foreign restrictions on its use, as it continues to be the case with many longer-ranged weapons supplied by the United States and other Western partners.
Ukraine

If Zelensky’s Claim Of Using Homegrown Ballistic Missile For First Time Is True, It’s A Big Deal

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

A contingent of six U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, roughly a full squadron, is now forward-deployed at the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.
South America

EA-18G Growlers Deploying To Puerto Rico An Indicator Of What’s To Come (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 10, 2025

MiG-29 of the Polish Air Force take part in a NATO Air Force military drill on October 12, 2022 in Lask, Poland.
NATO

Poland’s Last MiG-29 Fulcrums Being Lined Up For Transfer To Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 10, 2025

Japan and South Korea scrambled jets to respond to a joint Russian-Chinese bomber patrol.
Japan

Joint Chinese-Russian Bomber Patrol Sends Japanese, South Korean Fighters Scrambling

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

Online flight tracking data shows that a pair of U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets flew right into the center of the Gulf of Venezuela earlier today, and stayed there for some 40 minutes.
South America

F/A-18 Super Hornets Were Just Tracked Flying Deep Inside The Gulf Of Venezuela (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

The Antonov An-22 (NATO reporting name 'Cock') in the air. The aircraft powered by four turboprops each driving a pair of contra-rotating propellers, the design remains the world's largest turboprop-powered aircraft. Several airframes are still in service with Russian Air Force.
Russia

There’s Likely No Way Back For Russia’s An-22 Turboprop Heavy Transports After Fatal Crash

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

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

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Has Fired An AIM-120 AMRAAM Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

The U.S. Navy has recovered an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz that crashed within half an hour of each other in the South China Sea on Oct. 26.
Indo-Pacific

Navy Recovers Crashed Super Hornet, Seahawk From Bottom Of South China Sea

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

Congress has taken a new step toward blocking the Pentagon from axing the acquisition of new E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
News & Features

E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Program Cancellation Reversal Advances In Congress

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 9, 2025

A stevedore sits in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle before loading it onto the ARC Wallenius Wilhemsen Jan. 25, 2023, at the Transportation Core Dock in North Charleston, South Carolina. The shipment of Bradleys were part of the U.S. military aid package to Ukraine, providing their military with additional offensive and defensive capabilities to protect their borders against Russia’s illegal invasion. (U.S. Transportation Command photo by Oz Suguitan)
Russia

Shift In Ukraine Support In Congress’s Proposed Pentagon Budget

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 8, 2025

The House Armed Services Committee has advanced a new draft of the annual defense policy bill that includes full funding for the U.S. Navy’s F/A-XX next-generation carrier-based combat jet program.
News & Features

In Limbo F/A-XX Naval Fighter Gets ‘Full Funding’ Nod From Congress, But There’s A Catch (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 8, 2025

A Royal Thai Air Force F-16 touches down during Exercise Thai Boomerang 2015.
Indo-Pacific

Thai F-16s Bomb Targets Along Disputed Cambodian Border

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 8, 2025

Airman 1st Class Alexandra Ayub walks through a blast door to deliver a meal to the missileers manning the launch control center which is approximately 60 feet beneath the missile alert facility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Andrew Lee)
Bunker Talk

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 6, 2025

French authorities reportedly took defensive measures against five drones flying over an extremely sensitive base that is home to the nuclear submarines that make up the nation's second-strike deterrent force.
Europe

Nuclear Submarine Base Drone Incursion Prompts French Military Response

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 5, 2025

APKWS are now flying on Ukraine's F-16s.
Ukraine

Ukrainian F-16s Appear To Be Armed With Laser-Guided Rockets In New Photos

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 5, 2025

European missile house MBDA has, for the first time, shown an example of its Thundart surface-to-surface rocket, the result of a rapid development program as France looks to significantly expand the range of its land-based strike capabilities. Billed as a domestically produced alternative to the U.S.-made Army High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS), Thundart reflects growing interest, especially in Europe, in long-range precision fires.
NATO

French Thundart Rocket Unveiled As Longer-Range Alternative To HIMARS

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 5, 2025

In an apparent first since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a Russian MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter has been destroyed, in a drone strike, according to Ukrainian reports.
Russia

First Russian MiG-29 Claimed Destroyed In Ukraine, But That May Not Be The Whole Story

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

A Royal Australian Army Tiger helicopter performs during the Australian International Airshow at the Avalon Airfield near Lara southwest of Melbourne on February 24, 2015. Some 180,000 patrons were expected through the gates over the duration of the event.
Australia

Australia’s Unwanted Tiger Attack Helicopters May Go To Ukraine: Reports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 4, 2025

Northrop Grumman has unveiled their new CCA.
Drones

Talon Emerges From The Shadows (Updated)

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 4, 2025

A Thunderbirds F-16C FIghting Falcon crashed in California, the pilot survived.
U.S. Homeland

Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon Crashes in California

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker offloads fuel to a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet, assigned to the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, April 8, 2025. The KC-135 Stratotanker is the backbone of U.S. Air Forces Central's global reach aerial refueling capability and delivers critical support to joint and coalition aircraft in order to guarantee war-winning airpower throughout the CENTCOM AOR.
Red Sea

Super Hornet Seen With Rare SLAM-ER Missile Loadout On Yemen Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

US is deploying Shahed-136 clones to the Middle East.
Middle East

U.S. Deploys Shahed-136 Clones To Middle East As A Warning To Iran

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Dec 3, 2025

U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Nov. 23, 2025) Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones are positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East to strengthen regional security and deterrence. (Courtesy Photo)
Iran

American Shahed-136 Clones Sent To Middle East Have Satellite Datalinks, Swarming Capabilities

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

The Pentagon announced a new plan to purchase hundreds of thousands of drones for $1 billion.
U.S. Homeland

Pentagon Launches $1B Program To Rapidly Buy Hundreds Of Thousands Of Kamikaze Drones

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 3, 2025

The U.K. Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Royal Navy’s forthcoming Type 26 City class frigates will be armed with the Stratus missiles, being developed under the Future Cruise/Anti-Ship Weapon (FC/ASW) program. The missiles will provide an important boost to the Royal Navy’s standoff land-attack and anti-surface warfare capabilities from the early 2030s. However, for the time being, the Royal Navy frigates will use only the low-observable version of the missile, rather than the supersonic one.
United Kingdom

Royal Navy’s Type 26 Frigates Will Be Armed With Stratus Stealth Cruise Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Dec 2, 2025

Celebrations for the 80th anniversary of the Korean People’s Air Force (KPAF) provided an apparent first look at three new types of air-launched weapon, intended to arm the KPAF’s Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack aircraft, and potentially others. The event also yielded a better look at the country’s ‘copycat’ drones, the Saetbyol-4 and Saetbyol-9 that are almost exact visual copies of the U.S.-made RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, respectively.
North Korea

Analyzing North Korea’s New Air-Launched Guided Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

Turkey and Russia say the Midvolga-2 oil tanker was attacked in the southern Black Sea while Ukraine denies involvement.
Russia

Russian Oil Tanker Struck In Aerial Attack Hundreds Of Miles From Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 2, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged a phone call with Venezuela dictator Nicolas Maduro, but offered few details.
South America

Trump Confirms Phone Call With Maduro

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Russia has fielded a new version of the Shahed-136 kamikaze drone armed with a single R-60 air-to-air missile.
Russia

Russian Shahed-136 Kamikaze Drones Now Armed With Air-To-Air Missiles

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

Turkish industry and media alike have heralded the recent live-fire test in which a Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) used a Turkish-made air-to-air missile to destroy a target drone. Turkey claims the test marks the first occasion a UCAV has launched a radar-guided air-to-air missile. But, while undoubtedly impressive, there are unanswered questions about how the engagement actually played out, especially to what degree the UCAV was being controlled by crewed fighter jets.
Turkey

Turkey’s Fighter-Like Kizilelma Drone Shot Down Aerial Target With Radar-Guided Missile

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 1, 2025

U.S. M1A2 Abrams assigned to 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Task Force Iron, maneuver to get on line with the Apache helicopters assigned to 1st Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Task Force Iron, during Iron Defender-25 at Orzysz Training Area in Orzysz, Poland, Sept. 17, 2025. The Apache helicopters provided cover fire while the Abrams advanced. The purpose of large scale training events like Iron Defender-25 is to prove the Polish Armed Forces and their NATO allies’ ability to deter and effectively defend the territory of Poland. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Andre Gremillion Jr.)
Drones

U.S. Army AH-64E Apache’s Counter-Drone Capability Rapidly Matures

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 30, 2025

NANTWICH, ENGLAND - MAY 24: A general view inside 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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 28, 2025

Celebrate The Air Force’s Newest ‘Flying Dorito’ With This T-Shirt
News & Features

Celebrate The Air Force’s Newest ‘Flying Dorito’ With This T-Shirt

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 28, 2025

SBX has no radome in Pearl Harbor.
Indo-Pacific

The Massive SBX-1 Looks Straight Out Of Star Wars Without Its Dome

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 28, 2025

An aerial starboard bow view of the Soviet Krivak I Class guided missile frigate 959 at anchor.
Cold War

The Real-Life Hunt For Red October Happened 50 Years Ago

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 28, 2025

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

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

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has arrived in the Caribbean as Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro rattles his sabre.
South America

Maduro Literally Rattles His Saber As Hegseth Arrives In Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

Ajax making soldiers sick
NATO

Bad Vibrations: UK’s Ajax Fighting Vehicles Put On Pause After Troops Get Sick

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

Japan's plans to place SAMS on an island near Taiwan has China outraged.
Japan

Japan’s Plan To Put SAMs On Strategic Island 70 Miles From Taiwan Could Be Just The Beginning

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

A Ukrainian attack on the aircraft manufacturer Beriev’s facility in Taganrog in southwestern Russia overnight appears to have struck a unique laser testbed, the A-60.
Lasers

Unique Russian A-60 Laser Testbed Jet Destroyed In Ukrainian Attack

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 25, 2025

There is a new twist in ongoing peace talks, one reportedly favoring Ukraine.
Russia

New Twist In Effort To End The War In Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 25, 2025

J-36 shows its new thrust vector nozzles
China

China’s J-36 Tailless Stealth Jet’s New Thrust Vectoring Nozzles Seen From Behind

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 24, 2025