United Kingdom

Latest in United Kingdom

A first rendering has been released showing the new fighter demonstrator being built in the United Kingdom as part of the Tempest next-generation air combat program. The crewed flight test vehicle, which is planned to take to the air in 2027, will feed into the design of the Tempest, which is being developed as a stealthy fighter for the U.K.’s Royal Air Force, as well as for Italy and Japan, and is expected to be in service by 2035.

This Is How The UK’s New Stealth Fighter Demonstrator Will Look This Is How The UK’s New Stealth Fighter Demonstrator Will Look

By Thomas Newdick

Posted 1 Hour Ago

Image of HMS Vengeance returning to HMNB Clyde, after completing Operational Sea Training. The trials were conducted in Scottish exercise areas. HMS Vengeance is the fourth and final Vanguard-class submarine of the Royal Navy. Vengeance carries the Trident ballistic missile, the UK's nuclear deterrent.

UK And France To Join Forces For Nuclear Deterrence UK And France To Join Forces For Nuclear Deterrence

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jul 10, 2025

U.K. Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning.

Royal Air Force Goes Nuclear With F-35A Royal Air Force Goes Nuclear With F-35A

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 25, 2025

The U.S. Air Force is planning to return its F-15E Strike Eagles from RAF Lakenheath in England and consolidate its fleet stateside. Currently, the F-15Es in the United Kingdom are the only permanently forward-deployed examples of the aircraft, which remain the service’s first choice for a wide variety of critical missions around the globe.

F-15E Strike Eagles To Leave England For Good F-15E Strike Eagles To Leave England For Good

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 21, 2025

MBDA missile concept

Long-Range ‘Deep Precision Strike’ Missile To Be Developed By UK And Germany Long-Range ‘Deep Precision Strike’ Missile To Be Developed By UK And Germany

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 16, 2025

The U.K. Royal Air Force officer in charge of defining requirements for the Tempest future fighter says the program’s top priority is a large payload — roughly twice that of the F-35A stealth fighter. The same officer is eyeing “really extreme range” for the new aircraft, with potentially enough internal fuel to fly across the Atlantic without refueling. These requirements provide some more idea about the size and capabilities of the sixth-generation stealth fighter and also parallel similar concerns that have driven the development of the U.S. Air Force’s Boeing F-47 under the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.

Tempest Future Fighter Aims For “Really Extreme Range,” Twice F-35 Payload Tempest Future Fighter Aims For “Really Extreme Range,” Twice F-35 Payload

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 28, 2025

The British Army has, for the first time, used a directed-energy weapon to bring down a swarm of drones during trials. The Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon demonstrator, or RF DEW, reflects a fast-growing trend to harness news ways of neutralizing the drone threat, both on the battlefield and for homeland defense.

British High-Power Microwave Weapon Successfully Tested Against Drone Swarms British High-Power Microwave Weapon Successfully Tested Against Drone Swarms

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 17, 2025

Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years

Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 1, 2025

F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 20, 2025

A-4 being loaded with bombs during the Falklands War.

Argentine Air Force Went To War With Chaff Made By Pasta Machine Argentine Air Force Went To War With Chaff Made By Pasta Machine

By Thomas Newdick, By Mariano Sciaroni

Posted on Mar 14, 2025

In this handout image provided by the U.S. Air Force, 492nd FS commander, prepare to taxi their F-15E Strike Eagle prior to their departure from RAF Lakenheath in preparation for Operation Odyssey Dawn missions March 19, 2011 in Lakenheath, United, Kingdom. Approximately 112 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines targeting about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya's Mediterranean coast.

USAF Air Base In England Is Nuclear Capable Again: Watchdog Report USAF Air Base In England Is Nuclear Capable Again: Watchdog Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2025

A Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft banks away with a RAF Typhoon in the background. RAF Typhoons were scrambled on Tuesday 17 June 2014 to intercept multiple Russian aircraft as part of NATO’s ongoing mission to police Baltic airspace. The Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States. Once airborne, the British jets identified the aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ fighters, one Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft who appeared to be carrying out a variety of routine training. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way. The Typhoon pilots involved in the operation were Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Mark Long of 29 (Reserve) Squadron (the Typhoon operational training unit) and a French Air Force exchange pilot Commandant Marc-antoine Gerrard who is currently attached to 1(Fighter) Squadron.

This Is What A Peacekeeping Air Policing Mission Over Ukraine Could Look Like This Is What A Peacekeeping Air Policing Mission Over Ukraine Could Look Like

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 20, 2025

European nations are debating whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of any deal to end the war.

Europe Debates Sending Troops To Ukraine Europe Debates Sending Troops To Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 17, 2025

The general in charge of coordinating U.S. counter-drone efforts said incursions over military installations may have been surveillance flights.

Drones Over U.S. Bases May Be Threatening Spy Flights: NORTHCOM Commander Drones Over U.S. Bases May Be Threatening Spy Flights: NORTHCOM Commander

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 13, 2025

We now have our first look at the containerized Gravehawk surface-to-air missile system, which uses repurposed heat-seeking R-73 air-to-air missiles as interceptors, that the United Kingdom and Denmark have developed for Ukraine.

Containerized SAM System That Fires Soviet Air-To-Air Missiles For Ukraine Breaks Cover Containerized SAM System That Fires Soviet Air-To-Air Missiles For Ukraine Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

A detail model has provided what’s likely our best idea of how the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought class nuclear ballistic submarine, or SSBN will appear. The four Dreadnought ‘bombers’ represent one of the most important U.K. defense programs for many years and it’s notable to see how many advanced features the design includes, as the Royal Navy seeks to find the optimum balance between speed, stealth, and firepower. The four new SSBNs will replace the Vanguard class that entered service in the 1990s.

Our Best Look Yet At Britain’s New Dreadnought Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Design Our Best Look Yet At Britain’s New Dreadnought Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Design

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 31, 2025