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Russian Forces Appear To Be Pulling Out Of Prized Syrian Air Base
An-124

Russian Forces Appear To Be Pulling Out Of Prized Syrian Air Base

Satellite imagery and drone footage show the packing up of the base's S-400 air defense system and major airlifter activity.

A U.S. C-17 Globemaster military transport aircraft takes off from Ramstein Air Base. A conference on the Ukraine war was held at the U.S. air base.
Luftwaffe

U.S. Air Force Confirms Drone Sightings Over Ramstein Air Base In Germany

As well as over the major U.S. military air base and logistics hub, drones have been reported around critical infrastructure in Germany.

The U.S. Army has finally test-fired its Dark Eagle hypersonic missile from its trailer-based launcher after attempting to do so for some two years.
Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)

Army’s Dark Eagle Hypersonic Missile Finally Blasts Out Of Its Launcher

Unspecified problems with the Dark Eagle launcher have already set back plans for the weapon system by years.

Federal, state, and local authorities have not been able to corroborate any claimed visual sightings of mysterious drones in the skies over New Jersey, according to a top White House spokesperson.
Unmanned

None Of The New Jersey Visual Drone Sightings Have Been Corroborated: White House

The use of "very sophisticated electronic detection technologies" has confirmed none of the visual sightings, and regular aircraft are being mistaken for drones.

A Standard-Missile 6 is fired from a Mk 70 mobile missile launcher in 2023.
News & Features

Littoral Combat Ships To Sail With Mk70 Vertical Launchers Strapped To Their Decks

The LCS is notorious for lacking firepower and the modular launcher could help with correcting that, but there are tradeoffs in doing so.

Apparent drones spotted in the skies over New Jersey, some as big as six feet across, look to be operating in a coordinated manner not consistent with hobbyists, according to state and local officials.
Unmanned

Drones Over New Jersey Show Signs Of Coordination, Elude Helicopters: State Officials

New statements about what is happening in New Jersey's skies comes amid frustration over muddled messaging and erroneous claims.

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Solutions Aim To Keep Fourth-Generation Aircraft Lethal And Survivable

Northrop Grumman’s Mission Solutions Aim To Keep Fourth-Generation Aircraft Lethal And Survivable

Branded Content: Advanced radar, electronic warfare, and passive targeting upgrades keep fourth-generation aircraft relevant for decades to come.

We have gotten our best look at a Ukrainian 9K33 Osa (SA-8 Gecko) mobile short-range air defense system (SHORADS) armed with the Soviet-era R-73 (AA-11 Archer) infrared-guided air-to-air missile. While other such systems have typically integrated Western missile armament on existing Ukrainian ground-based air defense systems — known as ‘FrankenSAMs’ — this one is notable for combining a Soviet-era SHORADS vehicle with Soviet-era missiles.
Ukrainian Army

Ukraine’s SA-8 Gecko ‘FrankenSAM’ Adapted To Fire Air-To-Air Missiles Seen In New Detail

All Ukrainian units operating Soviet-era Osa air defense systems have reportedly received upgraded versions armed with R-73 air-to-air missiles.

Any plans the Air Force might have for new hardened aircraft shelters or other physical defenses at bases are prominently absent from a new infrastructure modernization strategy rolled out today.
U.S. Air Force

Plans For New Hardened Aircraft Shelters Notably Absent From New USAF Base Modernization Strategy

The USAF also says that its bases can no longer be treated as sanctuaries and need to be better prepared to operate while under attack.

Hysteria about drones over New Jersey obscures the fact that there is a real national security concern.
Iran

Coast Guard Ship Stalked By Unidentified Aircraft, Iran Drone Mothership Claim Shot Down By DoD

While a credible national security issue appears to be unfolding in New Jersey, erroneous drone reports are being peddled, fueling hysteria.

T-7 at Edwards AFB undergoing testing.
T-7

Inside T-7 Red Hawk Test Operations At Edwards AFB

T-7 Red Hawk Integrated Test Force director details testing progress that will enable a desperately needed production green light.

V-BAT Drone Has Proven Its Ability To Operate In Heavily-Contested Skies

V-BAT Drone Has Proven Its Ability To Operate In Heavily-Contested Skies

Branded Content: V-BAT can fly for many hours, operates from pretty much anywhere and is rapidly evolving with new capabilities.

A U2 Dragon Lady Pilot is integrated into his spacesuit for a flight to the Edge of Space. This photoshoot was done by Blair Bunting, a commercial photographer from Phoenix, AZ.
U-2

Dressing For Success At 70,000-Feet Aboard The U-2 Dragon Lady

Pro photographer Blair Bunting provides a firsthand experience of donning the lifesaving mission equipment behind the iconic U-2 spy plane.

he U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy could soon be tasked with exploring whether extending the range of existing AIM-120 and AIM-9 air-to-air missiles is one path to help right-size stocks of those weapons.
U.S. Air Force

Extended Range AIM-120s, AIM-9s Eyed To Meet Future Air-to-Air Missile Demands

Calls are growing for ways to rapidly bolster stocks of more capable air-to-air missiles with a particular eye to a future fight with China.

Mohamed Bashir, who heads HTS's so-called "Salvation Government", holds a press conference in the rebel-held northwestern Syrian city of Idlib on November 28, 2024. The Syrian rebels now in power in Damascus have appointed Mohammed al-Bashir as head of a transitional government that will be in place until March 1, state media said on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Omar HAJ KADOUR / AFP) (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Israel

New Syrian Prime Minister Assumes Power Amid Airstrikes, Continued Fighting

In the wake of Assad's demise, the first steps of forming a new government are being taken, but the violence throughout the country appears far from over.

Imagery has appeared showing Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter fitted with a new type of thrust-vectoring engine nozzle. The radical-looking design is intended to improve the low-observable features of the Felon, although the future of the new engine nozzle is far from certain.
Su-57

Su-57 Felon’s Two-Dimensional Thrust-Vectoring Engine Nozzle Breaks Cover

The flattened exhaust nozzle installed at an angle is planned to reduce the signature of advanced versions of the Su-57.

Mk 41 launcher MDA Guam
MIM-104 Patriot

Tilting Mark 41 Launcher Emerges During Guam’s First Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test

The test that saw an SM-3 swat down target is a big step forward for the massive air defense system being installed on the island.

North Korea is set to receive MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker fighter aircraft from Russia in return for Pyongyang having sent thousands of troops to fight in Moscow’s war in Ukraine. This is the assessment of the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), after much speculation about the nature of the support that might be headed to North Korea to reward that country for its growing military backing of Russia. The prospect of fighter aircraft being transferred by Russia is something that TWZ has discussed in the past.
MiG-29

Russia Giving North Korea MiG-29s And Su-27s Isn’t That Straightforward

A U.S. admiral says that the fighters will be given to North Korea in exchange for sending troops and ammo to help Russia in Ukraine.

Pictures and videos have now emerged of the aftermath of Israeli strikes on the Syrian port of Latakia overnight, which destroyed at least six Soviet-era Osa II class missile boats.
Israel

Israel Lays Waste To Syria’s Missile Boats (Updated)

Israel targeted Syrian Navy vessels as part of hundreds of strikes aimed at preventing former Assad regime assets falling into rebel hands.

Israel strikes targets in Syria after Assad falls.
Iran

Syria’s Suddenly Permissive Airspace Prompts Flurry Of Foreign Airstrikes (Updated)

The fall of Assad has resulted in open season on legacy Syrian military capabilities and ISIS from the air.