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The Navy Says “Fly Before Buy” When It Comes To Its New MQ-25 Drone Tanker
U.S. Navy

The Navy Says “Fly Before Buy” When It Comes To Its New MQ-25 Drone Tanker

Amid recent concurrency blunders, the service will purchase just four of the unmanned aircraft up front.

Russia Rolls Out New Tu-160M2, But Are Moscow’s Bomber Ambitions Realistic?
Russia

Russia Rolls Out New Tu-160M2, But Are Moscow’s Bomber Ambitions Realistic?

Despite budget cuts and other issues, the Kremlin remains optimistic that flight testing will begin within months.

SpaceX Is About to Launch A Mysterious Northrop Grumman Spacecraft Called “Zuma”
Falcon (SpaceX)

SpaceX Is About to Launch A Mysterious Northrop Grumman Spacecraft Called “Zuma”

Neither firm will say who the U.S. government customer is or what the craft is even supposed to do once it's in orbit.

What We Learned From Congress’s Latest Review of the President’s Ability to Use Nukes
Continuity Of Government

What We Learned From Congress’s Latest Review of the President’s Ability to Use Nukes

There are few limits on the command and chief's nuclear authority, but that might still be the least worst option.

US Air Force Reveals There May Have Been Another Attempted Terrorist Attack in Niger
U.S. Air Force

US Air Force Reveals There May Have Been Another Attempted Terrorist Attack in Niger

A social media post describes a previously unreported series of events that occurred near the city of Agadez in 2016.

Night Vision Goggle-Wearing Taliban Are Terrible News for Afghan and US Forces
Afghanistan

Night Vision Goggle-Wearing Taliban Are Terrible News for Afghan and US Forces

The insurgents' capabilities are improving and may pose a real threat to the coalition's ability to "own the night."

Saudis Join UAE in Push to Buy F-35s as Concerns About the Jet’s Computer Network Grow
Saudi Arabia

Saudis Join UAE in Push to Buy F-35s as Concerns About the Jet’s Computer Network Grow

Expanding the program exacerbates fears that the central system could be a threat to national security and sovereignty.

Blue Flag Exercise Has Dozens of Foreign Fighter Jets Over Israel Training For War
Israel

Blue Flag Exercise Has Dozens of Foreign Fighter Jets Over Israel Training For War

This is the largest iteration of the drill ever with more than 1,000 participants from seven foreign countries.

Declassified Document Shows Reagan Had the NSA Monitor Vietnam for Details on POW/MIAs
Vietnam War

Declassified Document Shows Reagan Had the NSA Monitor Vietnam for Details on POW/MIAs

Intelligence specialists in Hawaii spent six months listening in on Vietnamese radio messages.

Marines Are Buying “M007” Glocks For Special Agents And Its Elite Helicopter Unit
Special Warfare

Marines Are Buying “M007” Glocks For Special Agents And Its Elite Helicopter Unit

The service is giving the guns to individuals who need to carry concealed, but there might be more orders on the way.

Three Navy Carriers Will Train Together Amid Concerns About Overall Readiness
U.S. Navy

Three Navy Carriers Will Train Together Amid Concerns About Overall Readiness

The huge exercise is a signal to North Korea and China, but also underscores unsustainable demands on the service.

Navy Trims New Missile Sub Cost to $7.2B, But Struggles to Keep Existing Subs Operational
Columbia Class

Navy Trims New Missile Sub Cost to $7.2B, But Struggles to Keep Existing Subs Operational

The service is looking to build three subs a year, or more, but more than a dozen boats sit idle waiting for repairs.

Germany Says the F-35 is the “Preferred Choice” to Replace its Tornados
Germany

Germany Says the F-35 is the “Preferred Choice” to Replace its Tornados

The country's air force says only a fifth generation design will do, but it's not clear if that's a realistic option.

The Presidential Motorcade Is on Full Display as Trump Tours Asia
Presidential Transport

The Presidential Motorcade Is on Full Display as Trump Tours Asia

With tensions simmering between the US and North Korea, the Secret Service has clearly spared no expense for the trip.

China Shows Off Hypersonic Vehicle Test Model After US Navy Weapon Test
China

China Shows Off Hypersonic Vehicle Test Model After US Navy Weapon Test

Both countries are steadily working toward operational designs for this revolutionary class of high-speed weapons.

USAF Hires Lockheed Martin to Build a Laser Cannon to Defend Its Fighter Jets
U.S. Air Force

USAF Hires Lockheed Martin to Build a Laser Cannon to Defend Its Fighter Jets

The service wants a working weapon ready for tests starting in 2021 and a more complete system two years later.

UAE Could Become the First Middle Eastern Country After Israel to Get the F-35
UAE

UAE Could Become the First Middle Eastern Country After Israel to Get the F-35

The interconnected nature of the jet's computer brain could help allay concerns about impacts to Israel's security.

Saudi Arabia Puts Textron’s Scorpion Light Attack Jet Through Its Paces
Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia Puts Textron’s Scorpion Light Attack Jet Through Its Paces

Could the Kingdom be the adaptable jet's first customer?

This Is All The Stuff You Can Hang Out of a C-130’s Rear Paratrooper Doors
C-130

This Is All The Stuff You Can Hang Out of a C-130’s Rear Paratrooper Doors

Various kits use those openings to mount surveillance systems, communications antennas, firefighting gear, and more.

No One Seems Sure What’s Been Holding up Drone Strikes in Niger
Africa

No One Seems Sure What’s Been Holding up Drone Strikes in Niger

US and Nigerien officials say they're in agreement, but politics and functional issues are clearly delaying the plan.