Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 56)

NATO nations boosting naval presence and AI monitoring in response to undersea cable cuts.
Baltic Sea

NATO Boosting Naval Presence And AI Monitoring In Baltic Sea After Undersea Cables Cut

NATO is responding to the suspected severing of undersea cables linking Finland and Estonia by a Russian-linked oil tanker.

More new variants of the B61 nuclear gravity bomb could be on the horizon for the U.S. military.
Bunker Busters

Hints At More B61 Nuclear Bomb Variants In The U.S. Military’s Future

A true successor to the specialized deep bunker-busting B61-11 variant could be a future addition as adversaries increasingly go underground.

A recent satellite image shows what looks to be yet another fighter-esque airframe or test article at Shenyang's main plant in the city of the same name in China.
UCAVs

Tailless Fighter-Like Airframe Appears At Chinese Jet Manufacturer Shenyang’s Main Plant

The appearance of the object comes after two new tailless heavy tactical jet designs appeared in Chinese skies on Dec. 26.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have provided an even better look at the previously highly secretive remote vision system that is central to the operation of the Israeli Air Force’s critical Boeing 707 tanker fleet. TWZ has previously looked at this system — used by the boom operator to see what is happening at the rear of the aircraft while connecting the boom with the receiving aircraft — but the actual operator interface has, as far as we know, never been seen in such detail.
KC-46

Our Best Look So Far Inside Israel’s Once Secretive 707 Tankers

The Israeli Air Force provided unprecedented access to the rarely seen Remote Vision System refueling aid used in its 707 tankers.

With two weeks to go before Donald Trump takes office, Ukraine launched a new offensive in Russia's Kursk region
Russia

Ukraine Launches New Offensive In Russia’s Kursk Region

With Trump just weeks away from taking office and negotiations potentially on the horizon, both sides are scrambling to snap up territory.

Taiwan suspects China of latest attack on undersea cables.
China

Taiwan Coast Guard Blames Chinese-Owned Ship For Cutting Undersea Communications Cable

Taiwan has seen multiple incidents of damage to its underwater infrastructure in recent years, with China widely suspected of being the culprit.

The U.S. Navy is now officially using "Murder Hornet" to refer to F/A-18E/F fighters armed with five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinder.
F/A-18E/F

Murder Hornet Nickname For F/A-18s Equipped With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles Now Official

The Murder Hornet configuration that includes five AIM-120s and four AIM-9Xs made its combat debut over the Red Sea last year.

231014-N-GF955-1031 EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN SEA (Oct. 14, 2023) Sailors assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Carney (DDG 64), man their watch stations in the combat information center (CIC) during a general quarters drill, October 14, 2023. Carney is currently a part of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. The strike group is on a scheduled deployment conducting routine operations in the U.S. Naval Forces Europe area of operations, employed by the U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Lau)
Red Sea

Red Sea Attacks Are Testing Combat Information Centers Aboard U.S. Navy Warships Like Never Before

The chaotic, high-risk nature of the grinding Red Sea fight was starkly illustrated when a Navy cruiser shot down a friendly Super Hornet last month.

Picture released on August 16, 1965 of the HQ transmission post in a buried bunker in Duc Co Camp (or called Chu Dron Special Force camp), the US Army and Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) base, near Pleiku in the Gia Lai Province. On 10 August, the South Vietnamese infantry, with the support of American and RVNAF air strikes, killed over 400 PAVN and captured 71 weapons. On 17 August additional ARVN forces supported by two battalions of the 173rd Airborne Brigade arrived. (Photo by Alain Raymond / AFP) (Photo by ALAIN RAYMOND/AFP via Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

We kick-off a new year in the TWZ bunker!

The Metinvest company is beginning to add armor protection to Ukraine's Western-donated air defense systems.
Russia

New Armor Kits Being Installed On Ukraine’s Western Air Defense Systems

Ukraine Situation Report: The new armor plates are designed to add some protection for air defenders in their command vehicles.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has reportedly acquired a version of the 6.8x51mm M250 light machine gun that Sig Sauer developed for the U.S. Army, but chambered to fire the NATO-standard 7.62x51mm round.
Machine Guns

Israel Buys 7.62x51mm Version Of U.S. Army’s New Sig Sauer M250 Light Machine Gun: Report

Sig Sauer's Light Machine Gun offers the IDF a lighter and handier alternative to its existing Negev-series machine guns.

An inside look at the life of a Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker fighter pilot in the country’s war with Russia is the topic of a recently released video from the Ukrainian Air Force.
Su-27

Ukrainian Su-27 Flanker Pilot’s Rare Account Of The Changing Air War

The rare interview details combat operations over Ukraine, including the employment of Western guided munitions from Su-27 Flankers.

IDF raid on Iran underground missile base in Syria
Israeli Air Force

Inside Israel’s Commando Raid On Iran’s Underground Missile Factory In Syria

New details and footage are coming to light from one of Israel's most high-risk and complex commando operations ever.

The U.S. is reportedly building a new base in Kobani, northern Syria.
Syria

U.S. Reportedly Setting Up New Base In Northern Syria

With just a few weeks left before Donald Trump takes office, the Biden administration is said to be increasing U.S. presence in the key Syrian city of Kobani.

For the first time, Ukraine has released official video showing its Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack jets employing French-supplied Hammer rocket-boosted precision-guided munitions.
Su-25

Ukraine’s Su-25s Seen Launching Hammer Rocket-Boosted Bombs For The First Time

A video compilation provides a unique look at the French-made Hammer munition being used by Ukrainian Su-25 Frogfoot ground-attack jets.

Chinese Underwater Sea Glider Drone Caught By Fisherman In The Philippines
Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs)

Chinese Underwater Sea Glider Drone Caught By Fisherman In The Philippines

Similar underwater drones matching a Chinese type able to travel for weeks over long distances were found in the past around the South China Sea.

The New Year's deck log poem is a longstanding Navy tradition.
History

How Sailor Poets Take Over U.S. Navy Deck Logs On New Year’s Day

A longstanding tradition allows watch standers to use poetry to log their ship's activities in the wee hours of a new year.

The Biden administration spent the last of its funds earmarked to procure equipment for Ukraine from industry and partners.
Russia

Biden Spends Last Of Funds Set Aside To Purchase New Weapons For Ukraine

Ukraine Situation Report: With weeks left in office, the Biden administration is working to provide as much military aid to Kyiv as it can.

Ukrainian USV Mi-8 Hip R-73 missile kill Black Sea
Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)

Ukraine Claims Its Drone Boat Shot Down A Russian Mi-8 Helicopter With A Surface-To-Air Missile

A video purportedly shows the historic first kill scored by an uncrewed surface vessel against an aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force sent at least 39 A-10s to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona this year, more than double the number of Warthogs it sent into mothballs in 2023.
A-10

39 A-10 Warthogs Went To The Boneyard This Year, More Than Double Over Prior Year

The USAF is ramping up efforts to retire the A-10 Warthog by 2030, while the type continues to play a key role in Middle East combat operations.