Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 12)

The USS Abraham Lincoln has arrived in the CENTCOM region.
Iran

Signs Emerge Of U.S. Navy, Air Force Push To Middle East

As Trump mulls over what to do about Iran, U.S. forces are deploying to the region.

An Israeli CH-53 Sea Stallion military helicopter transporting the released Israeli hostages formerly held captive in Gaza since the 2023 October 7 attacks by Palestinian militants is pictured above the helipad at Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on October 13, 2025.
UH-60

Israeli CH-53 Dropping Stricken UH-60 During Sling-Load Mishap Caught On Video

The Israeli Black Hawk careened into the ground during a recovery operation following an emergency landing in the West Bank.

The U.S. Navy is putting major emphasis on containerized weapons and other systems to make up for limitations in the built-in capabilities of its forthcoming FF(X) frigates.
U.S. Navy

Navy’s New Frigate Program Makes Big Bet On Containers Loaded With Missiles

The Navy is pushing back on concerns about the built-in capabilities of FF(X) frigates, including the lack of a vertical launch system array.

The Navy's top admiral says building modular components at different ship yards could speed up constructionEric Tegler of new FF(X) frigates
U.S. Navy

Navy’s Top Admiral Eyes Modular Construction To Speed New Frigate Construction

The "distributed shipbuilding" concept should reduce the time it takes to build the frigates, according to the Chief of Naval Operations. 

F-15EX from the 142nd fighter wing roars out of pDX in a huge vapor cloud as it climbs at the end of the runway.
F-15

This Is The Greatest F-15EX Photo Yet

This absolutely glorious shot of an F-15EX ripping into the vertical over PDX while streaming a full vapor 'cape' is really something else.

The U.S. military is looking at replacing all of the different versions of the famous Minigun in service today with a new standardized type that would be designated the GAU-24/A.
Machine Guns

New Common Minigun Variant To Replace All Existing Versions Eyed By U.S.

U.S. forces have accumulated a maze of different Minigun variants since the first versions entered service more than six decades ago.

A Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules is parked on the tarmak at Nuuk international airport on January 15, 2026 in Nuuk, Greenland, the day after it arrived transporting Danish military personnel. Denmark's prime minister said on January 15, 2026 that the US ambition to take control of Greenland remained "intact" and that there were still a "fundamental disagreement" between the countries, despite high-stakes White House talks.
NATO

First Contingent Of European Troops Operating Outside Of NATO Have Arrived In Greenland

The tiny, largely symbolic force arrives as the White House continues to voice its desires to acquire the Arctic island.

President Donald Trump's claim that Iran has stopped killing protesters has sparked confusion over his intentions.
Iran

Trump Claims Iran Has Stopped Killing Protestors

The president has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran if it continues to kill protesters.

U.S. forces were prepared to destroy three airfields if it appeared that fighters belonging to the Venezuelan Air Force were attempting to scramble and intercept the force sent to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this month.
South America

U.S. Was Primed To Destroy Three Venezuelan Airfields If Fighters Attempted To Launch

A DOJ memo also states that up to 75 air defense sites stood between American forces and Maduro's safe house.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle expressed concern about the strain on the USS Gerald Ford Carrier Strike Group after more than 200 days at sea.
USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)

Navy’s Top Admiral Concerned About Strain On Ford Carrier Strike Group

The USS Gerald R. Ford has been on cruise since June and the Navy's top officer does not want to send it to the Middle East on extended deployment.

The U.S. Navy's top officer wants directed energy weapons to become the go-to choice for the crews of American warships when faced with close-in threats. He also said that more powerful megawatt-class lasers should not be seen as "beyond" the capabilities that could be found on the future Trump class "battleships."
Directed Energy

Trump Class Battleships Could Get Megawatt Lasers: Navy’s Top Officer

The dream of laser weapons has not materialized nearly as fast as the Pentagon once thought it would, but the Navy's top officer wants to overcome that.

Running rust on one of the Navy's logistical ships.
U.S. Navy

Navy Has A Plan To Attack Embarrassing Rust Caked On Its Warships

An image of a rust-streaked USS Dewey last year sparked Trump to demand change in how the Navy deals with "running rust."

A U.S. plane with a civilian-style outward appearance and the ability to launch munitions from within its fuselage carried out the first controversial strike on an alleged drug smuggling boat, according to multiple reports.
Air-To-Ground

Let’s Talk About The Mysterious “Civilian-Style” Plane Used To Strike A Drug Boat

Common Launch Tubes make it possible to discreetly arm virtually any aircraft, including types that might appear to be entirely civilian.

Iranians gather while blocking a street during a protest in Tehran, Iran on January 9, 2026. The nationwide protests started in Tehran's Grand Bazaar against the failing economic policies in late December, which spread to universities and other cities, and included economic slogans, to political and anti-government ones.
Iran

Trump Tells Protesters “Help Is On Its Way,” Cuts Off Negotiations With Regime

The president's message to protesters, which remains vague, comes amid reports that at least 12,000 have been killed by the regime.

A viral and as-yet totally unsubstantiated claim that U.S. forces used a mysterious "sonic weapon" that left security forces bleeding and stunned during the recent operation to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has been getting a ton of attention.
South America

Did A Mysterious “Sonic Weapon” Really Aid Delta Force In Capturing Maduro?

We separate fact from fiction surrounding the viral claim about an exotic non-kinetic weapon that left Maduro's guards disoriented and bleeding.

German defense manufacturer Rheinmetall has confirmed that a batch of KF41 Lynx infantry fighting vehicles will arrive in Ukraine “in the coming weeks.” While a single example has already been provided for evaluation, the next five vehicles are expected to make the type’s combat debut. The KF41 variant was unveiled in 2018 and is otherwise only used by Hungary. Its future success could depend on how it fares on the battlefield with the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Ukrainian Army

Lynx KF41 Fighting Vehicles’ Arrival In Ukraine Imminent

The German-made infantry fighting vehicle will be the most modern of its kind to enter operational service with Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump says he is unafraid to use lethal force against Iran in response to its brutal crackdown on protesters.
Iran

World Waits For Trump’s Next Move On Iran As Protests Grow Deadlier

Anti-regime protests rage on for a 15th day as Trump mulls military action against Iran.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces using the U.S.-made V2X Tempest, a high-mobility vehicle with a launcher for AGM-114 Hellfire missiles that is optimized for the counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) role. Mounting Hellfires on a high-mobility vehicle provides a valuable new means of employing these weapons, not only against drone threats, but potentially also other targets, too.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Hellfire-Armed Drone-Killing Buggy Appears In Ukrainian Service

Based on a high-mobility chassis, the Hellfire-toting Tempest is a recent addition to Ukraine’s drone-hunting force.

The latest iteration of Russia’s Geran long-range one-way attack drone features a jet engine and is apparently being considered for launch from aircraft, to boost its range. The new drone, apparently first used at the beginning of this year, underlines Russia’s continued development of these drones, which bear the brunt of its relentless strikes on Ukraine, which ramp up during the winter months. It further points to Russia seeking to field drones that are better able to evade Ukraine’s air defenses, which are increasingly tailored to these kinds of threats.
Su-25

Russia’s New Geran-5 Long-Range Kamikaze Drone Could Be Air-Launched

The latest jet-powered version of the Geran long-range one-way attack drone is being studied for launch from Su-25 attack jets.

Developed during the Cold War, the Hind-G1 was a dedicated NBC reconnaissance version of the Mi-24, first flown in prototype form in 1978.
Mi-24

The Story Of Ukraine’s Rare Mi-24 Hind Radiation Detection Helicopters

While no longer equipped for nuclear, biological, and chemical recce, a tiny force of Mi-24RKhR helicopters still fights for Ukraine.