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A U.S. Navy F/A-18F and F-35, both assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 9, fly over the Point Mugu Sea Range in Southern California with a U.S. Air Force F-15 during Gray Flag 2024 on Sept. 24, 2024. Gray Flag is an annual large-force test event that brings the joint force together to test and evaluate multi-domain systems in a maritime environment, ensuring our nation’s warfighters are equipped with effective, interoperable systems that will help them deter aggression, protect our nation’s prosperity and security, and return home safely to their families. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kory Hughs)
F/A-18E/F

Navy Posts Its First AIM-174 Missile-Armed F/A-18F Super Hornet ‘Glamour Shots’

The F/A-18F was carrying a very heavy air-to-air loadout during a Gray Flag exercise mission over Southern California.

China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter Officially Breaks Cover
People's Liberation Army Air Force (China)

China’s J-35A Stealth Fighter Officially Breaks Cover

The J-35A's development has been a meandering one but now it's clear China's Air Force has interest and export possibilities are significant.

European cargo aircraft targeted in suspected Russian plot.
Air

Suspected Russian Airplane Sabotage Plot Sparks Call For NATO Action

Camouflaged incendiary devices were allegedly shipped via air courier services by Russian operatives.

Full Retirement Of Ticonderoga Cruisers On Hold, Trio To Remain In Service Into 2029
U.S. Navy

Full Retirement Of Ticonderoga Cruisers On Hold, Trio To Remain In Service Into 2029

The Navy has backtracked on plans to decommission the last of its Ticonderoga class cruisers by 2027, but their reprieve will be short.

The arrival of two Su-57 Felon prototypes for the upcoming Airshow China has provided a good look at details of the next-generation fighter, although the most interesting has been a first up-close view of its small wing-root weapons bays. At TWZ we have previous examined this feature as well as the air-to-air missiles that are understood to be accommodated in the bays. While long known about, the weapons bays had long remained something of a mystery.
Su-57

We Finally Get A Clear Look At The Su-57 Felon’s Side Weapons Bays

A clear view of the Su-57’s wing-root bays was seen for the first time after one of the jets arrived by An-124 at Airshow China in Zhuhai.

Russia has launched a record number of Shahed drones at Ukraine.
Russia

Russia Firing Record Number Of Shahed-136s At Ukraine

Ukraine Situation Report: The massive spike in Shahed-136 use comes as Russia pauses the employment of its most capable long-range missiles.

President Donald Trump's administration reportedly considered employing a secret Central Intelligence Agency system capable of "covertly (and nonviolently)" disabling ships, including very large ones, in some way, against Venezuela oil tankers.
South America

CIA Has Secret “Nonviolent” Way To Disable Large Ships: Report

President Trump's administration is said to have considered using the CIA's secret ship-stopping system against Venezuelan oil tankers.

Notoriously underarmed F125 frigate will have to avoid the Red Sea.
Around The Globe

German Navy Confirms Its Supersized Frigate Will Avoid The Red Sea

Strictly limited air defense armament has long been a puzzling feature of the German F125 class frigate.

Four soldiers in a captured German dugout
Bunker Talk

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

It's that time again, folks.

Ukraine's defenses in the east are buckling against intense Russian pressure.
Russia

Ukrainian Defenses In The East Are Buckling, Russian Advance Is Accelerating

Ukraine continues to lose ground in Donetsk as Russian forces grind their way through defenses.

North Korea has tested an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) that it claims is its longest-ranged so far. The announcement of the test of the Hwasong-19 comes amid large-scale U.S.-South Korean military maneuvers during which their aircraft have bombed mock-ups of North Korean ballistic missile launchers.
Around The Globe

North Korea’s New ICBM May Have Biggest Transporter-Erector-Launcher We’ve Ever Seen

The Hwasong-19 is North Korea’s biggest missile yet and its test comes during a time of notable tensions on the peninsula.

The Army has racked up 170 kills with Coyote counter-drone interceptors in operational deployments globally.
U.S. Army

Army Coyote Drone Hunting Drones Have Scored 170 Combat Kills

Coyote interceptors represent a key part of the Army's counter-drone arsenal, which it is still trying to expand to tackle evolving threats.

Lasers, Microwaves, Missiles, Guns Not On The Table For Domestic Drone Defense
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Lasers, Microwaves, Missiles, Guns Not On The Table For Domestic Drone Defense

Policy hurdles are limiting what capabilities the U.S. military can even consider to help provide critical domestic anti-drone defenses after years of inaction.

USMC F-35B
F-35B

Final Conclusions On Bizarre Crash Of ‘Zombie’ F-35B That Flew Without A Pilot For 64 Miles Released

The Marines say the pilot was responsible for the mishap that resulted in the total loss of an F-35B in South Carolina.

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN has for the first time conducted dual-carrier operations in the South China Sea. The drills, involving the country’s first two in-service carriers, the Liaoning and Shandong, as well as at least 11 other vessels, also showcased the PLAN’s fast-growing air wing, with a flyby conducted by a dozen J-15 carrier-based multirole fighters. While clearly engineered for public consumption, the photo opportunity also points to the very rapid progress made by the PLAN in developing its aircraft carrier and wider blue-water capabilities.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

Two New Versions Of China’s J-15 Carrier Fighter Now Appear To Be Operational

The new Chinese jets appeared during unprecedented dual-carrier operations in the strategically important South China Sea.

The U.S. Navy plans to keep all 12 of its Flight I Arleigh Burke class destroyers in service beyond their originally 35-year expected service life.
U.S. Navy

Oldest Arleigh Burke Destroyers Get Reprieve, Service Extended Into 2030s

Plans to extend the life of 12 more Flight I Arleigh Burkes is part of a highly ambitious Navy push to increase combat readiness.

A fire has ripped through the BAE Systems’ nuclear submarine shipyard in Cumbria, England, where the U.K. Royal Navy’s Dreadnought class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), among others are being built. While the cause of the blaze is yet to be determined, it comes at a time of increasing concern about Russian-inspired sabotage activities across Europe.
Around The Globe

Cause Of Fire At UK’s Critical Nuclear Submarine Shipyard Still Unclear

Key to Britain's nuclear submarine program, the facility builds the Astute class attack submarines and the Dreadnought class in the future.

How The Army Will Use Its Super Integrated Air Defense System

How The Army Will Use Its Super Integrated Air Defense System

Branded Content: Northrop Grumman's Bill Lamb provides an in-depth look at the soon-to-be-fielded Integrated Battle Command System.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has released a rare picture of an F-16I fighter armed with four Rampage missiles, an adaptation of a ground-launched precision-guided artillery rocket.
F-16

Israeli F-16I Shown Loaded-Up With Four Rampage Stand-Off Missiles (Updated)

Air-launched guided artillery rockets and ballistic missiles have become Israel's weapon of choice for striking well defended targets at standoff ranges.

Taiwan is lining up to become the next customer for the combat-proven National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System or NASAMS air defense system, after the United States approved its sale to the country.
Republic Of China Air Force (Taiwan)

Battle-Proven NASAMS Air Defense Systems Approved For Taiwan

NASAMS would be armed with advanced AMRAAM-ER missiles, but could also tap into existing Taiwanese AIM-120 stocks.