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As well as being a key component of Russia’s attack helicopter force in the war in Ukraine, the Mil Mi-28 Havoc has been in the news recently on account of its apparent delivery to Iran. One less-known aspect of the Mi-28 is its ability to transport two or three passengers in a fuselage compartment, a feature that is seen clearly in a recently published video of the rotorcraft.
Russian Air Force

Russia’s Mi-28 Havoc Attack Helicopter Has Tiny Crew Compartment To Pick Up Downed Pilots

Like the Mi-24 Hind before it, albeit to a far more austere degree, the Mi-28’s fuselage compartment can be used in a pinch for rescues.

Four C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing perform an elephant walk at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, July 18, 2023. Elephant walks demonstrate the teamwork and capability of the 911th AW to perform rapid large-force to defend, mobilize and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi)
C-17

Straight Talk On State Of U.S. Airlift Capabilities From General Who Ran Air Mobility Command

General Minihan's frankness about the China threat ended his career, but now as a civilian, he has much more to say.

The U.S. Marine Corps has quietly axed the roll-on/roll-off Harvest Hawk armament kit for its KC-130J Hercules tanker/transport aircraft.
KC-130

KC-130J’s Hellfire Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits Retired By Marines

Developed to turn USMC C-130s into close air support platforms during the Global War on Terror, Harvest Hawk's relevance has waned.

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 151, prepares to launch from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) in the Arabian Sea, Feb. 15, 2026. Abraham Lincoln is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations to support maritime security and stability in the Middle East.
Iran

Iran Signals Possible “Fast Deal” To Be Made In Nuclear Talks As U.S. Military Build-Up Grinds On

Iran may be softening its negotiating stance as pressure builds in the form of hundreds of combat aircraft and dozens of warships arrayed around it.

YFQ-42A is now named Dark Merlin
Unmanned

Dark Merlin Is The Name Of General Atomics’ YFQ-42A Fighter Drone

Merlins are small but fierce birds that attack in groups and are known for their stealthy attacks.

WASSENAAR, NETHERLANDS - MAY 5: The remains of a communication room are visible as the Seyss-Inquart bunker opens its doors to the public on Liberation Day for a special "Freedom Meal" on May 5, 2025 in Wassenaar, Netherlands. The holiday marks the Netherlands' liberation from Nazi occupation 80 years ago. The bunker is named after Arthur Seyss-Inquart, a prominent Nazi official who served as Reich Commissioner during the German occupation of the Netherlands.He was found guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the Nuremberg Trials and subsequently executed. After the war, the bunker, concealed beneath a structure resembling a traditional Dutch farmhouse, was repurposed by the Dutch armed forces during the Cold War and served as a site for NATO military exercises. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

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

Concrete is so hot right now...

A group of Block 52 F-16CJ Vipers belonging to the South Carolina Air National Guard was recently spotted heading east across the Atlantic as part of a huge build-up of U.S. forces ahead of potential strikes on Iran.
F-16

F-16s Heading To Middle East Equipped With Angry Kitten Electronic Warfare Pods

The Angry Kitten pods will give the fourth-generation fighters often tasked with the Wild Weasel missions much-needed extra protection.

USS gerald R Ford has entered the Mediterranean.
Iran

Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Has Crossed Into The Mediterranean

The carrier's rush to the Middle East comes as the military build-up in the region appears to be approaching its crescendo.

The U.S. Marine Corps is aiming to acquire a new single "capability" to fill gaps left by the retirement of its AV-8 Harrier jump jets, AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters, and legacy F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters.
AH-1

New Vision To Fill Gaps After AV-8B Harrier And AH-1Z Viper Retirements Laid Out By Marines

The Marines also see what is called Future Attack Strike as addressing demands that will arise when the F/A-18C/D Hornet is finally retired.

The U.S. Navy is exploring options for a new long-range anti-radiation missile designed to home in on radars to help neutralize enemy air defense networks.
AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM)

Hunt For “AWACS Killer” Anti-Radiation Missile Kicked-Off By Navy

The Advanced Emission Suppression Missile will also be able to strike air defenses on land and sea.

A decision by the U.K. to block U.S. access to two key bases for an attack on Iran could impact President Donald Trump's plans.
Iran

U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign

The U.K. is reportedly preventing the U.S. from using Diego Garcia and RAF Fairford to attack Iran.

What looks to be a new 155mm naval gun has been installed on a Chinese weapons trials ship.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Largest Modern Naval Gun To Date Just Appeared On A Test Ship

A new 155mm gun could give Chinese warships added firepower for amphibious operations, as well as against targets at sea or even in the air.

Top Aces F-16s have gotten a major series of upgrades.
F-16

Private F-16 Aggressors Just Brought A Huge Upgrade To The Fight

Top Aces' advanced aggressor F-16 features an AESA, IRST, helmet mounted display, open architecture mission system and now Link 16 to tie it all together.

Russia is working on a balloon-borne communications network as SpaceX has cut off its use of Starlink.
Russia

Russia Eyes Balloon Communications System To Fill Massive Gap Left After Losing Starlink

SpaceX has cut off Russia's access to Starlink and now Moscow is scrambling to find a replacement.

The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force's future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
LGM-30 Minuteman III

Security Forces Guarding ICBMs Need Fresh Tactics To Defend New Sentinel Silos

Security Forces tasked with defending Minuteman III ICBMs currently train for everything from retaking captured silos to repelling ground assaults.

Iran is hosting a joint naval exercise with China and Russia amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran
Iran

What Iran’s Naval Exercise With China And Russia In The Strait Of Hormuz Actually Means

The Maritime Security Belt 2026 exercise comes as the U.S. is flowing forces to the Middle East ahead of a possible attack on Iran.

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe.
E-3

Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps

The shrunken E-3 fleet isn't getting any younger, and a replacement is still far off while demand for its services would be far greater in the Pacific.

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.
Drones

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

LongShot drones are also seen as a new way for bombers and cargo planes to engage aerial threats and reduce vulnerability.

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry, airborne warning and control system (AWACS).
Iran

Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran

The latest flurry of U.S. assets heading to the Middle East includes many of the missing capabilities needed for a sustained air campaign.

One of the U.S. Air Force's C-32A VIP aircraft has re-emerged wearing a new red, white, and blue paint scheme.
C-32

C-32A ‘Air Force Two’ Jet Emerges Wearing Trump’s New Air Force One Paint Job (Updated)

Donald Trump's controversial Air Force One livery has made it onto its first Air Force executive aircraft.