Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 33)

Israel has used a new air defense laser to shoot down Hezbollah drones in the current conflict in the Middle East, it has been confirmed. What is described as an adapted version of the Iron Beam system made its combat debut last October and the definitive version should be fielded by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later this year, joining an already formidable, layered air defense network.
Lasers

Israel’s Iron Beam Laser Air Defense System Has Downed Enemy Drones

The high-power laser is the latest addition to Israel’s densely-layered air and missile defense array.

Saab of Sweden is pitching its GlobalEye multi-sensor surveillance plane to Canada, which is searching for a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capability. While the GlobalEye will face stiff competition from the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, which had been selected by the U.S. Air Force and NATO, among others, the Swedish solution will be combined with a Canadian-made Bombardier Global 6000/6500 airframe.
E-7

Saab GlobalEye Set To Challenge Boeing E-7 As Canada’s New Radar Plane

Saab hopes that its Canadian bizjet-based offering will edge out rival Boeing, which seems like a real possibility amid political tensions with the United States.

Lockheed Martin has shared new details about its QuadStar surface-to-air missile, which is taking part in the U.S. Army competition to replace the venerable Stinger.
FIM-92 Stinger

Everything We Learned About Lockheed’s QuadStar Missile Aimed At Replacing FIM-92 Stingers

Lockheed's QuadStar and a design from Raytheon are vying to win the Army's Next-Generation Short-Range Interceptor competition.

A Ukrainian commander opens up about the benefits and challenges of using fiber optic cables to control first person view (FPV) drones.
Russia

Inside Ukraine’s Fiber-Optic Drone War

Ukrainian commander gives us new details on the advantages and limitations of using fiber optic cables to control FPV attack drones.

Starfighters international are working to secure F-4s from South Korea for space launch duties.
F-4

F-4 Phantoms Sought By Private Space Launch Company Starfighters International

The ex-South Korean F-4s would be used to launch small satellites into orbit in a far more flexible manner than what's currently offered.

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has awarded General Atomics a contract for work on what is described as a "hybrid-electric propulsion ducted fan next-generation intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance/strike unmanned aerial system," or GHOST.
Avenger

Hybrid-Electric GHOST Strike-Recon Drone In The Works For USAF

General Atomics, which previously talked openly about work on stealthy hybrid-electric drones, received a nearly $100 million GHOST contract.

Ukraine is pushing back on a Russian claim that Vladimir Putin's helicopter came under fire on May 20.
Helicopters

Claims Swirl Over Supposed Ukrainian Attack On Putin’s Helicopter

While no one disputes Putin was in Kursk on May 20th, what happened or didn't happen while he was there is a major point of contention.

Announced today, the Quarterhorse Mk 1 first took to the air last week at Edwards Air Force Base, California, when it “achieved stable flight and landed smoothly,” according to the company. “Mk 1's flight validated our rapid, iterative approach to airplane development and advanced our mission to radically accelerate aviation,” Hermeus added.
Drones

First Flight For Quarterhorse Prototype That Aims To Lead To A Reusable Hypersonic Jet

The first flying Quarterhorse is the next step in an ambitious program to test high-speed and hypersonic reusable aircraft designs.

In January, the U.S. military moved to halt work on the new AN/TPY-6 radar, one of seven key elements of the huge new air and missile defense architecture taking shape on Guam, and its current status is now unclear.
MIM-104 Patriot

Uncertainty Over AN/TPY-6 Guam Missile Defense Radar Emerges

The fate of the AN/TPY-6 radar is unclear amid larger questions about plans to dramatically expand Guam's shield against Chinese missiles.

Aircraft like the KJ-3000 help Chinese forces extend and support anti-access and area denial bubbles, including around the mainland, Taiwan, and the hotly contested South China Sea, as well as project power further afield.
Airborne Radar

China’s New KJ-3000 Airborne Early Warning Radar Jet Seen In Detail In New Image

The KJ-3000 will be the crown jewel in China’s rapidly expanding armada of airborne early warning and control aircraft.

400871 01: U.S. Army 101st Airborne soldiers (L-R in circle) Sgt. Christopher Harry from Las Vegas, Nevada, PFC Marc Leming from Atlanta, Georgia, 2nd Lt. David Reis from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Sgt. Keith Amaral from Providence, Rhode Island, and PFC Victor Ferenzi from Chicago, Illinois relax February 11, 2002 in a forward perimeter bunker at the Kandahar Airbase in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The soldiers are part of a U.S. force that is continuing to pursue and fight the Taliban and Al Qaeda forces in the country. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition Part 2

This weekend, we remember those who sacrificed it all.

The Aerial Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle (AARV), which was a two-seat scout. It was envisaged as a successor to the U.S. Army’s Hughes OH-6 Cayuse and Bell OH-58 Kiowa. These had been procured under the Light Observation Helicopter (LOH) program and saw extensive use in Vietnam.
Helicopters

These Heavily Armored Helicopters Were Pitched To The Army During The Cold War

The Aerial Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle was Sikorsky’s Vietnam-era effort to create a survivable scout helicopter built around a heavily armored airframe.

06 April 2019, Brandenburg, Prötzel Ot Harnekop: A general's jacket hangs in the Harnekop bunker in the army command room. On three floors 30 meters below the ground, the GDR defense minister and his high-ranking commanders wanted to entrench themselves in the event of war. The current owner has assigned the site and the bunker to various leaseholders who are in dispute over the rights of use. Photo: Bernd Settnik/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa (Photo by Bernd Settnik/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Memorial Day Weekend Edition Part 1

This weekend, we remember those who sacrificed it all.

Recovery efforts are underway for a North Korean frigate that capsized during a launch ceremony attended by dictator Kim Jong Un.
North Korea

Partially Sunk North Korean Frigate Recovery Effort Seen Underway In Satellite Image

North Korea has proclaimed highly dubious timelines to right and repair the stricken Choi Hyun class frigate.

Adding APKWS II to the F-15E's arsenal is an unsurprising development that would turn the Strike Eagle into a counter-drone and counter-cruise missile arsenal ship.
F-15

F-15E Spotted Packing Big Laser-Guided Rocket Arsenal Ideal For Drone Hunting

An F-15E test jet image points to turning the Strike Eagle into a counter-drone arsenal ship with 42 laser-guided rockets and eight air-to-air missiles.

North Korea sunken destroyer
Air

Aftermath Of Disastrous North Korean Frigate Launch Seen In Satellite Image (Updated)

In a rare move, North Korea has admitted to the accident and Kim Jong Un is demanding severe punishment for those responsible.

RATT55 737
Area 51

World’s Most Secretive 737 Just Made A Very Rare Appearance

RAT55, a highly modified Air Force NT-43A, bounces around between secretive test bases and is used to collect radar data on stealthy aircraft in-flight.

Myanmar rebels claim they shot down a government Mi-17 helicopter with an FPV drone.
Mi8/Mi-17

Mi-17 Appears To Have Been Downed By FPV Drone In Myanmar

The threat to helicopters posed by lower-end FPV and interceptor drones is now proliferating far beyond the Ukraine conflict.

A front view rendering of PA-Ng, dated 2022.
UCAVs

French Navy Offers Sneak Peek Of Its Future Carrier Air Wing

France is interested in first procuring a stealthy flying-wing UCAV to fight alongside its Rafales, then getting fighter-like collaborative drones.

The U.S. Marine Corps is buying a pair of new medium landing craft from Australia-headquartered firm Birdon to help the service continue to refine its new expeditionary and distributed concepts of operations.
U.S. Navy

This New Beach Landing Vessel Is Being Bought By The Marines

The Ancillary Surface Craft will help the Marines further develop their island-hopping playbook until larger landing ships arrive, but time is ticking.