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The Story Behind The Thunderbirds’ Black-Tailed F-4 Phantom And “Captain Carbon”
F-4

The Story Behind The Thunderbirds’ Black-Tailed F-4 Phantom And “Captain Carbon”

For years, one of the Thunderbird's jets flew its routines with a slightly different paint job than the others. Here's why.

Here Are The Pentagon’s “Tough Choice” Cuts To Airpower As Part Of Its 2021 Budget
U.S. Homeland

Here Are The Pentagon’s “Tough Choice” Cuts To Airpower As Part Of Its 2021 Budget

The Pentagon wants to reduce the aircraft fleets it already has to enhance the readiness of the remaining planes and to invest in what comes next.

Check Out This Backpack-Mounted Signals Intelligence System Worn By A Marine Special Operator
U.S. Marine Corps

Check Out This Backpack-Mounted Signals Intelligence System Worn By A Marine Special Operator

"Body-worn" signal snooping gear gives American special operators an additional way to spot and track enemy forces, and monitor their surroundings.

A Squadron’s Worth Of Paul Allen-Owned Warbirds Is Up For Sale
MiG-29

A Squadron’s Worth Of Paul Allen-Owned Warbirds Is Up For Sale

The aircraft all have significant historical value but most will require considerable restoration.

KC-46A’s Long-Troubled Vision System Can’t Even Reliably Show The End Of The Refueling Boom
KC-46

KC-46A’s Long-Troubled Vision System Can’t Even Reliably Show The End Of The Refueling Boom

Boom operators on the Pegasus are apparently using workarounds like tracking shadows on receiver aircraft.

Graffiti Artists Defaced Soviet-Era Buran Space Shuttle At Russian Space Center
Russia

Graffiti Artists Defaced Soviet-Era Buran Space Shuttle At Russian Space Center

The relic of the Soviet space program has long been of interest to a variety of urban explorers, and now it's been tagged by street artists.

Plan To Buy 145 B-21 Raider Bombers Gets Endorsement From Biden Air Force Nominee
B-21

Plan To Buy 145 B-21 Raider Bombers Gets Endorsement From Biden Air Force Nominee

The Air Force wants to acquire a B-21 fleet that is nearly seven times bigger than its current B-2 stealth bomber force.

Early F-35As May Get Axed Even Though Overall Readiness Has Improved Significantly
F-35

Early F-35As May Get Axed Even Though Overall Readiness Has Improved Significantly

The Joint Strike Fighter topped the list for readiness rates last year but concerns about sustainment costs show no sign of going away.

Nobody Told Me Someone Built This Crazy Mansion With A Full-Size Airwolf Replica On The Roof
U.S. Homeland

Nobody Told Me Someone Built This Crazy Mansion With A Full-Size Airwolf Replica On The Roof

While the mansion is absolutely insane, the story of where the Airwolf replica came from and where it is now is even more interesting.

Israel Admits Iron Dome Battery Shot Down One Of Its Own Drones During Gaza Fighting
Israel

Israel Admits Iron Dome Battery Shot Down One Of Its Own Drones During Gaza Fighting

Friendly and hostile drones are likely to fill the skies in future conflicts and defense systems will need to be able to quickly tell the difference.

Russia claims Ukraine plotted to steal one of its Tu-22M Backfire bombers.
Syria

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Based In Syria Are Going To Patrol The Mediterranean

In a throwback to the days of the Cold War, the Russian swing-wing bombers will fly maritime missions in NATO's "backyard."

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Appear Over Syria And They Could Be There To Stay (Updated)
Syria

Russian Tu-22M3 Backfire Bombers Appear Over Syria And They Could Be There To Stay (Updated)

Recent imagery suggests the swing-wing bombers are operating for the first time from a Syrian base.

Pilot Dies In Crash Of Contractor-Owned Mirage F1 Adversary Jet Near Nellis AFB (Updated)
U.S. Homeland

Pilot Dies In Crash Of Contractor-Owned Mirage F1 Adversary Jet Near Nellis AFB (Updated)

The aircraft was owned by Draken International, which flies an array of tactical jets out of Nellis AFB to provide adversary services.

Russia Shows Off Tiny Fleet Of Titanium-Hulled Sierra II Attack Submarines In New Video
Russia

Russia Shows Off Tiny Fleet Of Titanium-Hulled Sierra II Attack Submarines In New Video

The clips show the wake detection gear, escape pod, and sauna on Sierra II class submarines, and also explores force protection measures ashore.

Belarus Now Wants You To Believe Hamas Sent Bomb Scare That Led To Journalist’s Capture
Eastern Europe

Belarus Now Wants You To Believe Hamas Sent Bomb Scare That Led To Journalist’s Capture

The boss of Ryanair says that Belarusian agents were involved in the "piracy" incident over Belarus.

How General Atomics Is Going All-In On Making Its Drones Relevant In A Peer-State Conflict
Q-1

How General Atomics Is Going All-In On Making Its Drones Relevant In A Peer-State Conflict

General Atomics drones are gaining the ability to launch unmanned aircraft in mid-air, new self-defense options, and other advanced capabilities.

Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious ‘Drones’ Off California Over Numerous Nights
U.S. Homeland

Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious ‘Drones’ Off California Over Numerous Nights

The disturbing series of events during the summer of 2019 resulted in an investigation that made its way to the highest echelons of the Navy.

Behold The Fiery Mechanical Symphony Of Eight TBM Avengers Throttling-Up Their Radials At Night
U.S. Homeland

Behold The Fiery Mechanical Symphony Of Eight TBM Avengers Throttling-Up Their Radials At Night

You are going to want to have your volume turned up for this one.

Border Patrol Helicopter Had Bizarre Encounter With Mysterious “Highly Modified” Drone (Updated)
U.S. Homeland

Border Patrol Helicopter Had Bizarre Encounter With Mysterious “Highly Modified” Drone (Updated)

The mystery drone flew up to 14,000 feet and was tracked for over an hour. Now the FBI is investigating.

Here’s Why Aggressor Learjets Were Making Mock Attack Runs Towards Philly Last Night
Aggressors

Here’s Why Aggressor Learjets Were Making Mock Attack Runs Towards Philly Last Night

The late-night exercise would have put the Navy's "Cornfield Cruiser" through its paces.