Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 54)

The U.S. Air Force's XQ-67A drone is set to receive modifications and upgrades to demonstrate its ability to perform certain missions as part of a program called Demon Ape.
Loyal Wingman

XQ-67 Getting Overhauled With New Capabilities As Part Of Demon Ape Program

New XQ-67A testing is building on a modular chassis concept, which is feeding into the Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program.

North Korea rocket launcher truck MLRS in Russia
Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS)

Artillery Rocket Launcher Disguised As Civilian Truck May Have Just Appeared In Russia

A multiple launch rocket system concealed inside a civilian truck appears to be the latest example of North Korean weaponry arriving in Russia.

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated
Loyal Wingman

F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated

The F-35, along with the F-22, are gaining new capabilities to help pilots control Collaborative Combat Aircraft and other drones.

Type 054B Luohe
China

Chinese Navy Commissions First Type 054B Frigate

The Type 054B frigate is larger and more capable than its predecessor, and could eventually become the backbone of China's growing combat fleet.

South Korea's domestically developed Marine Attack Helicopter (MAH) completed its first flight test in December 2024, the country's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on January 15, 2025.
Helicopters

This Is South Korea’s New Heavily Armed Marine Attack Helicopter

The latest expression of the Korean Utility Helicopter family is a maritime attack platform bristling with armament.

Royal Navy warships tracked a suspected Russian spy ship as it sailed through waters close to the UK. Yantar, believed to be used by the Russian Navy for intelligence gathering, was shadowed by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne. Somerset covertly launched her Merlin helicopter, which used its powerful sensors to locate the Russian ship as it made its way north towards the English Channel. The Type 23 frigate closed in on Yantar’s location and intercepted it in the entrance to the Channel – south of the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France. The Plymouth-based warship took over monitoring duties from NATO allies after they shadowed Yantar in waters close to France. Somerset used her cutting-edge radars and sensors to report on every move during the operation, as she maintained a close distance to Yantar through the Channel and the Strait of Dover. Patrol ship Tyne was also monitoring the Yantar – last in waters around the UK in November when its activities were monitored by several Royal Navy units.
Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs)

Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Surfaced Next To Russian Spy Ship To Send A Clear Message

The Russian spy ship Yantar, accused of mapping underwater infrastructure, was back in U.K. waters this week.

F-35Bs on san clémente island for austere operations training during Steel Knight exercise.
C-17

We Went With Marine F-35Bs As They Fought A Mock War From A Pacific Island

F-35Bs and C-17As fighting their way to, from, and out of the island is the best glimpse yet at what Pacific combat may look like for Marine Joint Strike Fighters.

More North Korean Artillery Troops Heading To Russia: Ukraine Intel Chief
North Korea

More North Korean Artillery Troops Heading To Russia: Ukraine Intel Chief

The North Korean reinforcements will include gun and rocket artillery units and their hardware, as well as short-range ballistic missile capabilities.

F-22 Raptor To Get Distributed Infrared Search And Track System
F-22

F-22 Raptor To Get Distributed Infrared Search And Track System

The F-22 seemed slated to get a podded IRST system, but now a built-in one appears like it will be replacing or augmenting it.

NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) has confirmed to TWZ that four Dutch F-35A stealth fighters are now also participating in Baltic Sentry, a mission intended, among other things, to ensure the security of critical undersea infrastructure in the region. The jets were already in the region as part of the alliance’s Baltic Air Policing mission.
F-35A

F-35s Now Helping Prevent Baltic Seafloor Cable Sabotage

The Dutch stealth fighters, stationed in Estonia, are among the latest additions to the Baltic Sentry mission.

Cheap Cruise Missile Paired With Affordable Seeker From Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Eyed By USAF
U.S. Air Force

Cheap Cruise Missile Paired With Affordable Seeker From Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Eyed By USAF

The Quicksink seeker could turn the Extended Range Attack Munition into a new low-cost anti-ship weapon that could be bought quickly in large numbers.

The kit used by Air Force EOD techs was on displace in a recent photo staged during a controlled detonation.
U.S. Air Force

This Shot Of USAF Explosive Ordnance Disposal Techs In The Middle East Goes Hard

Air Force EOD personnel in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility started the new year off right with this epic shot.

An intense video has emerged in Russia, showing a portion of a Ukrainian drone strike, including the interception of one of the drones by what seems to be a Pantsir short-range air defense system. Footage showing the successful interception of Ukraine’s long-range one-way attack drones by Russian ground-based air defenses is not generally common and this one reinforces the challenge posed by these relentless Ukrainian attacks against Russian infrastructure and military facilities.
Unmanned

Extremely Low Altitude Shootdown Of Ukrainian Drone By Russian SAM Caught On Video

The dramatic interception in western Russia, purportedly by a Pantsir air defense system, came as Ukraine targeted a key missile manufacturing plant.

The Navy destroyer USS Pinckney.
News & Features

Navy Says It Won’t Repeat Cruiser Upgrade Blunder With Destroyer Modernization 2.0 Effort

Three more destroyers will return to the water this year as part of a program that will see them gain electronic warfare, radar and combat systems upgrades.

NASA’s new flying laboratory, an ex-commercial Boeing 777 airliner, has arrived in Waco, Texas, for modifications ahead of its entry to service. The aircraft will replace the agency’s now-retired Douglas DC-8.
Testbeds

NASA’s ‘New’ Boeing 777 Undergoes Modifications For Its Future Flying Laboratory Role

The modified Boeing 777 will be the biggest aircraft in NASA’s fleet, once it enters service, planned for later this year.

Drone scare New Jersey
Lasers

FBI’s New Jersey Drone Scare Investigation Has No Suspects

As the New Jersey drone scare fades from the news cycle, President Trump says he is going to release info on it to the public.

The U.S. Army is moving to establish a second production source for barrels for 155mm M777 towed howitzers in response to what it calls "unprecedented demand" from Ukraine.
M777 155mm Howitzter

Ukraine Is Burning Through 155mm M777 Howitzer Barrels So Fast The U.S. Army Can’t Keep Up

The U.S. Army is now trying to meet a requirement to produce at least 30 new barrels for M777 howitzers every month.

Houthi Pledge To Curtail Ship Attacks Sparks New Security Assessment
Israel

Houthi Pledge To Curtail Ship Attacks Sparks New Security Assessment

In the wake of the Gaza War ceasefire, the Houthis vowed to limit shipping attacks only to vessels directly affiliated with Israel.

The U.S. Navy's use of expendable Nulka decoys in combat has highlighted the need to expand the ability of its ships to launch off-board decoying electronic attacks, including ones lasting tens of minutes or more.
Drones

Nulka Combat Use Shows Warships Need Longer-Lasting Electronic Warfare-Enabled Decoys

The Navy wants ships to be able to launch decoys that are capable of luring away missiles for tens of minutes to help defend against incoming barrages.

USS Michael Murphy
News & Features

Arleigh Burke Destroyers Taking On Navy Air Defense Commander Role As Cruisers Disappear From Fleet

Arleigh Burke class Flight IIA destroyers were the air defense commanders for two carrier strike groups last year and plans are now underway to expand the practice.