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Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works advanced projects division has put forward a new vision for a stealthy pilot-optional aerial refueling tanker.
U.S. Air Force

Skunk Works’ Latest Stealthy Tanker Concept Revealed

The USAF is firming up requirements for a stealthy tanker to fit with its Next Generation Air Dominance ecosystem, which could change dramatically due to cost.

Ukraine struck a Russian Caspian Sea military port for the first time.
Russia

Ukraine Hits Caspian Sea Port For The First Time

The military port is home to the Russian Navy's Caspian Sea Flotilla, several military units and is along routes Iran uses to ship weapons.

A new large jet-powered Chinese armed drone said to have a 10-ton maximum takeoff weight, or a mockup thereof, has emerged, and the design looks to be at least configurable to be a swarm mothership.
Swarms

New Heavyweight Chinese Jet Drone Looks To Be A Swarm Mothership

The jet-powered Jiu Tian, which has its own surveillance and attack capabilities, is another intriguing addition to China's rapidly expanding stable of drones.

J-15T fighter jet arrives in Zhuhai ahead of the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China 2024, on November 6, 2024 in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province of China. The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition will be held in Zhuhai from November 12 to 17.
Flankers

China’s J-15T Enhanced Carrier-Based Flanker Officially Unveiled

Boasting advanced avionics, Chinese-made engines, and catapult launch compatibility, the J-15T will serve aboard all of China’s aircraft carriers.

The future outlook for the U.S. Air Force's top modernization efforts is even more uncertain after the service's civilian boss openly questioned the affordability of buying any combination of new stealth 'fighters,' advanced aerial refueling tankers, and highly autonomous drones.
NGAD

Crisis Brewing Over Air Force’s Future Air Dominance Plans Which It Cannot Afford

There is worrisome uncertainty about the Air Force's ability to pay for next-gen fighters, stealth tankers, and drones.

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.