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North Koran drones

North Korea’s Kim Orders Mass Production Of Kamikaze Drones

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 15, 2024
GREMLIN AARO

Military’s UFO-Hunting Aerial Surveillance System Detailed In Report

By Howard Altman
Updated on Nov 15, 2024
The W5000, the world's largest unmanned cargo plane, is shown at The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai, China, on November 12, 2024.

China’s New W5000 Cargo Drone Is The Biggest Yet

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 12, 2024
China’s mysterious CH-7 stealthy flying-wing drone seems to have reappeared, although with a notably different look to it and a very impressive size.

China’s Stealth CH-7 Long-Endurance Drone Emerges

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 8, 2024
The U.S. Navy recently used a drone control system now being installed on all its supercarriers to operate an actual uncrewed aircraft, a General Atomics Avenger, for the first time.

MQ-20 Avenger First Drone Flown Using Navy’s Carrier-Based Control System

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 8, 2024
Another long-serving U.S. military aircraft has completed its final operational deployment, with the return of the U.S. Navy’s EP-3E Aries II surveillance platform from the 5th Fleet area of operations. The countdown to the spy plane’s final retirement is now on, which will see its vital intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission handed over fully to the MQ-4C Triton high-altitude, long-endurance drone.

EP-3E Aries II Spy Plane Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Nov 7, 2024
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works advanced projects division has put forward a new vision for a stealthy pilot-optional aerial refueling tanker.

Skunk Works’ Latest Stealthy Tanker Concept Revealed

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 7, 2024
A new large jet-powered Chinese armed drone said to have a 10-ton maximum takeoff weight, or a mockup thereof, has emerged, and the design looks to be at least configurable to be a swarm mothership.

New Heavyweight Chinese Jet Drone Looks To Be A Swarm Mothership

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 6, 2024
The future outlook for the U.S. Air Force's top modernization efforts is even more uncertain after the service's civilian boss openly questioned the affordability of buying any combination of new stealth 'fighters,' advanced aerial refueling tankers, and highly autonomous drones.

Crisis Brewing Over Air Force’s Future Air Dominance Plans Which It Cannot Afford

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Nov 6, 2024
The Kremlin-appointed Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov has vowed to avenge a Ukrainian drone attack that struck a military training facility in Chechnya. The raid, which appears to be the first of its kind to hit the southern Russian republic, is one of the longest-range drone strikes that Ukraine has attempted. The target was special forces training center, but the attack also has significant symbolic value, due to Kadyrov’s vocal support for the Russian war in Ukraine.

Ukraine Strikes Chechnya With Long-Range Drones For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 29, 2024
B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighter’s Missions On The Table Air Force Says

B-21 Taking On Some Of NGAD Fighter’s Missions On The Table Air Force Says

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Oct 26, 2024
We have now gotten our first look at the Ghost Shark extra-large autonomous undersea vehicle (XL-AUV) underwater thanks to the Autonomous Warrior 2024 maritime autonomous capabilities demonstration in Australia.

Our First Look At The Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Underwater

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Oct 25, 2024
German Navy P-8

German P-8s To Fly From U.K. To Help Counter Russian Submarine Threat

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 23, 2024
The existence of a top-secret Israeli drone, referred to as RA-01 and used for covert missions, has emerged from an unauthorized disclosure of U.S. intelligence documents which have now been posted all over social media.

The Existence Of Israel’s Secret Stealth Drone Should Come As No Surprise

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Oct 22, 2024
BF-19, Lt Cdr Nicholas Baker RN, Flight 633, Test 808, Arrival JS KAGA for beginning of DT Sea Trails, 20 October 2024

Japan Expands Carrier Capabilities With F-35B, Drones Could Be Next

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 22, 2024
Smarter MQ-1C Gray Eagle Is Getting Mojave’s Short Field Capabilities

Smarter MQ-1C Gray Eagle Is Getting Mojave’s Short Field Capabilities

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 21, 2024
The secretive Phoenix Ghost kamikaze drone developed by the U.S. Air Force to support Ukraine in its ongoing fight against Russia, has finally emerged from the shadows.

Secretive Phoenix Ghost Kamikaze Drones Rushed To Ukraine Finally Come Out Of The Shadows

By Thomas Newdick, Rachel S. Cohen, Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Oct 17, 2024
P550 aerovironment drone can fly 5 hours on a single charge.

Aerovironment’s New P550 Flies Five Hours On A Charge, Drops Two-Pound Guided Bombs

By Rachel S. Cohen
Posted on Oct 16, 2024
Shield AI Firejet artwork

Shield AI Looks To Unleash Its Hivemind Autonomy Software On Multiple Platforms

By Jamie Hunter
Updated on Oct 16, 2024
Trash-carrying balloons launched across the border by North Korea are seen floating in the sky above Seoul on October 4, 2024. Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang ramping up weapons tests and bombarding the South with balloons carrying rubbish, and Seoul suspending a military deal and resuming propaganda broadcasts in response.

North Korea Sending GPS-Equipped Balloons Across The Border

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 14, 2024
Experimental Fly-By-Wire UH-60M Black Hawk To Become Autonomy Testbed

Experimental Fly-By-Wire UH-60M Black Hawk To Become Autonomy Testbed

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Oct 14, 2024
North Korea accused South Korea on Friday of sending drones to scatter a "huge number" of anti-North leaflets over its capital Pyongyang, in what it called a political and military provocation that could lead to armed conflict.

Drones Penetrate North Korean Air Defenses To Drop Propaganda Leaflets On Pyongyang

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 11, 2024
Bolt-M drone

Bolt-M Aims To Make Kamikaze Drone Attacks More User Friendly, Effective

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Oct 10, 2024
Roadrunner Anduril

Anduril’s Roadrunner Drone Hunting Drone Gets Expanded Order From Pentagon

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Oct 8, 2024
France has unveiled plans to develop a new uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) that will complement the forthcoming Rafale F5 crewed fighter, as part of a new-look French Air and Space Force. The industrial side of the drone program will be headed up by Dassault Aviation, drawing upon its previous nEUROn UCAV demonstrator, which has already been used in trials with crewed combat aircraft.

Stealthy Uncrewed Combat Air Vehicle To Work Alongside Future French Rafale Fighters

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 8, 2024
KOSTYANTYNIVKA, UKRAINE - OCTOBER 5: Ukrainian servicemen examine the wreckage of a downed Russian aircraft, likely a Sukhoi S-70 "stealth" heavy unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), which crashed in a residential area, setting a house on fire on October 5, 2024 in Kostyantynivka, Ukraine.

Russia’s S-70 Hunter Drone Was Armed When Shot Down By Friendly Fighter Over Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Oct 7, 2024
S-70 Hunter Drone shot down over Ukraine by SU-57

Why Did Russia Just Shoot Down Its Own Fighter-Sized S-70 Hunter Drone Over Ukraine?

By Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Oct 5, 2024
AH64 firing hellfire at drone

AH-64 Apaches Practice Shooting Down Drones With Hellfire Missiles In Saudi Arabia

By Tyler Rogoway
Updated on Oct 3, 2024
The U.S. Marine Corps says it has demonstrated new capabilities for operating future drones with high degrees of autonomy in expeditionary operations with another test flight of one of its stealthy XQ-58 Valkyries.

Third Marine XQ-58 Valkyrie Flight Test Uses Link 16 For Control

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 26, 2024
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is looking to explore concepts for a new drone capable of lugging around up to 70,000 pounds of cargo, roughly twice what the U.S. Marine Corps' CH-53K King Stallion helicopter can lift.

Search For Cargo Drone That Can Lift Twice As Much As A CH-53K King Stallion Kicks Off

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 25, 2024
The U.S. Air Force is interested in adding an active electronically-scanned array (AESA) radar to its X-62A test jet. The radar is part of larger plans to acquire a new modular sensor suite for the uniquely modified F-16 specifically to help expand its ability to support advanced autonomy developments.

New Radar Sought To Help X-62A Test Jet Take Next Leap In Autonomy Testing

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 24, 2024
Tu-143 Hezbollah

Hezbollah Converted Soviet Tu-143 Jet Recon Drone Into Cruise Missile Says IDF, Just Like Ukraine

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Sep 23, 2024
Collins Aerospace has put forward a vision for what a high-end air combat engagement between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces, with the American side employing crewed fighters and Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingmen, could look like in the future.

What American Fighters And Their Drone Wingmen Fighting Chinese Jets Might Look Like

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 20, 2024
The U.S. Air Force says the once-secretive Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) drone program has been fully folded into the service's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) effort. General Atomics has already disclosed that its current CCA design is derived from the XQ-67 drone it developed for OBSS.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft Program “Ingesting” Modular Chassis Concept Pioneered By XQ-67 Drone

By Joseph Trevithick
Updated on Sep 20, 2024
The U.S. Air Force is pushing ahead with experimentation that could lead to the transformation of KC-135 tankers into optionally crewed aircraft, as well as the development of other autonomous aerial refueling capabilities. U.S. military interest in autonomous airlifters, an area where China has been notably surging forward in the past few years, is also growing.

Work Toward KC-135 Tankers That Fly Themselves, Uncrewed Cargo Aircraft Pressing Ahead

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 18, 2024
Lockheed Martin's losing entry in the first increment of the U.S. Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone program was a very stealthy design, the head of the famed Skunk Works advanced projects division has disclosed. The company is now expecting future CCA increments to revolve around proposals that might lean closer to not just being lower-cost, but maybe even expendable, to support a concept of operations that requires tolerance for very high losses.

Skunk Works’ Losing Loyal Wingman Drone Was Very Stealthy “Gold Plated” Design

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 18, 2024
General Atomics CCA

General Atomics Says Its Collaborative Combat Aircraft Is Like A Bic Lighter

By Tyler Rogoway, Jamie Hunter
Posted on Sep 17, 2024
The U.S. Air Force has no plans to acquire stealthy uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) capable of operating with very high degrees of autonomy independently of crewed aircraft, at least in the near term publicly, despite surging Chinese developments in this domain.

No Flying Wing UCAVs Being Developed By U.S. Air Force While China Surges Ahead

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 17, 2024
The U.S. Air Force's still evolving requirements for a next-generation aerial refueling 'system of systems' will directly impact the service's reassessment of plans for a new sixth-generation stealth 'fighter.' The Next-Generation Air-Refueling System (NGAS) effort will also inform work on a second tranche of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones.

Future Stealth Tanker Plans Tied To NGAD 6th Generation Fighter’s Fate

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 16, 2024
MQ-9 showcases capabilities to Joint Force during first-time Valiant Shield participation.

MQ-9 Reapers Gathered In Florida, Simulated Fighting Over South China Sea

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Sep 13, 2024
Russia is now using thermite-spewing dragon drones in Ukraine.

Russia Now Using Thermite-Spewing ‘Dragon Drones’ To Torch Ukrainian Positions

By Howard Altman
Posted on Sep 12, 2024
A Russian military correspondent narrowlly avoided being killed by a drone hunting him down in a house.

This Ukrainian Drone Hunting A Russian Inside A Building Has Big Horror Movie Vibes

By Howard Altman
Posted on Sep 11, 2024
Ukraine has unleashed the heaviest drone attack so far against Moscow. The overnight raid on the Russian capital killed at least one person and caused widespread damage and disruption. The long-range strikes come as Ukrainian officials are increasingly frustrated by Western restrictions on using weapons that they have supplied to hit targets deep within Russia.

Moscow Hit By Unprecedented Ukrainian Drone Barrage

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Sep 10, 2024
The Piasecki Aircraft Corporation's Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System Demonstration Vehicle (ARES-DV), a vertical takeoff and landing capable tilt-rotor drone designed to carry interchangeable payload modules, has left the ground for the first time.

Tilt-Ducted Fan ARES Drone Designed To Carry Modular Payloads Has Finally Lifted Off

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 10, 2024
Iranian-made Shahed-136 'Kamikaze' drone flies over the sky of Kermanshah, Iran on March 7, 2024. Iran fired over 100 drones and ballistic missiles on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in retaliation to an attack on a building attached to the country's consular annex in Damascus that killed the guards, and two generals of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 01, 2024. Iran has blamed Israel for the attack on April 5, 2024 in Tehran.

Russian Shahed Kamikaze Drone Crashes In Latvia

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Sep 9, 2024
Satellite imagery and videos offer new evidence of a surge in the development of the stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles in China, especially with regard to the GJ-11 Sharp Sword.

Chinese Flying Wing UCAV Testing Accelerating Based On Satellite Imagery, Videos

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 5, 2024
The use of thermite-dispersing drones by Ukraine has proliferated.

Thermite-Spewing ‘Dragon’ Drones Are Ukraine’s Newest Battlefield Innovation

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway
Posted on Sep 4, 2024
The U.S. Air Force is re-examining the very core of its requirements for a new sixth-generation stealth combat jet as part of its ongoing review of that element of the larger Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) initiative.

Air Force “Starting At The Beginning” With NGAD 6th Gen Fighter Requirements Review

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 4, 2024
The U.S. Air Force recently awarded contracts to two companies for work on SHARK 'buddy store' podded aerial refueling systems able to work with aircraft that use the boom method to get gas in flight.

Aerial Refueling Boom Pods That Could Go On F-15s In The Works

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Sep 3, 2024
The War Zone delved into the digital engineer and advanced manufacturer techniques behind the stealthy Model 437 Vanguard aircraft, and more, an interview with Colin Miller, Vice President for Engineering within Northrop Grumman's aeronautics sector.

Everything We Just Learned About The Model 437 Vanguard Technology Demonstrator Jet

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 30, 2024
The first known prototype of the Model 437 from Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites has flown.

Stealthy High-Tech Model 437 Vanguard Jet Has Flown For The First Time (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 29, 2024
Ukraine is targeting the Key E38 highway with drones to slow down Russian logistics.

Ukraine Bracketing Key Kursk Highway With Drones To Slow Russian Logistics

By Howard Altman
Posted on Aug 29, 2024
Ukraine struck Russia's Kirov Oblast, 700 miles from the border, for the first time as part of its ongoing campaign against Moscow's fuel infrastructure.

Russian Region 700 Miles From The Border Struck For First Time By Ukrainian Drones

By Howard Altman
Posted on Aug 28, 2024
The U.S. Army has awarded a massive contract valued at close to $1 billion to AeroVironment for Switchblade-series loitering munitions, also known as kamikaze drones, over the next five years.

Army Just Signed $1B Deal For Massive Order Of Switchblade Kamikaze Drones

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 28, 2024
The security alert at Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany last week, which you can read more about here, was due to fears of a possible Russian drone attack, according to multiple German media reports. The latest development comes amid growing fears of Russian-inspired aggression against Germany, including drones, but also various other ‘hybrid warfare’ tactics. As the main operating base for NATO’s fleet of E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), the base plays a critical role for the alliance — including around Ukraine.

Fears Of Russian-Inspired Drone Attack Led To German Air Base Alert: Reports

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Aug 26, 2024
North Korea has revealed two new kamikaze drones that look to be virtual copies, at least externally, of the Israeli-made Harop and Hero-400.

North Korea Unveils Clones of Israeli Kamikaze Drones

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 26, 2024
A drone scare around the U.S. Air Force's Plant 42 in California, a major hub for advanced aerospace development work, including highly classified military programs, has led to revelations about a real wave of mysterious drone incursions in recent months.

Palmdale UFO Scare Leads To Revelations About Mystery Drone Incursions Over Secretive Plant 42

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman
Posted on Aug 20, 2024
A Cessna Model 208B Grand Caravan converted into a cargo drone was among the participants in a recently concluded U.S. Air Force-led large force air combat exercise focused on preparing for a potential future conflict with China.

Cessna Caravan Turned Into Cargo Drone Tested At China-Focused Airpower Exercise

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 16, 2024
The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) is now the first U.S. Navy supercarrier to have a complete dedicated Unmanned Air Warfare Center (UAWC).

Supercarrier USS George H.W. Bush Now Has First Of its Kind Drone Control Center

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 16, 2024
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is moving to buy non-lethal distraction devices to mount on small hand-launched drones.

FBI Fielding Drones That Fire Off Deafening Bangs

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 15, 2024
An explosion near the Savasleyka airfield in Russia after a drone strike.

Ukrainian Drone Seen Slamming Into Russian Air Base In Large-Scale Strikes On Multiple Installations

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Aug 14, 2024
Secretive ultra-quiet special operations drones, now designated RQ-29s, that have been operating in the Middle East for years might now be headed for the Pacific.

Super Quiet Special Operations Drones May Migrate To Pacific Theater

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 14, 2024
A new Russian design for a ‘loyal wingman’-type supersonic drone has been unveiled, marking the country’s latest foray into unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs). Interestingly, the Kronshtadt company that designed the Grom (meaning Thunder) previously displayed another UCAV under the same name. The new version of the Grom is very different, however, stressing performance and simplicity over low-observable features and other advanced technologies.

Russia’s Aspirational Grom Combat Drone’s Design Totally Changes, Ditches Stealth For Speed

By Thomas Newdick
Posted on Aug 14, 2024
Chinese drone maker Tengden says it has conducted the first flight of a new cargo drone with a multi-metric-ton cargo capacity.

Chinese Cargo Drone Capable Of Carrying Two Tons Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick
Posted on Aug 12, 2024