Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 84)

F-22s being sent to Middle East to protect Israel.
Iran

Scramble Underway To Prepare For Looming Iranian Retribution Strike On Israel

A potential Iranian attack could be larger in scope and more complex, including deeper use of multiple proxies, than what Israel experienced in April.

The US Air Force says an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship has operated from a highway for the first time as part of the service's larger push to reduce its dependence on traditional runways. This is also comes amid questions about the future of the gunships in future high-end fights.
AC-130

AC-130J Ghostrider Gunship Has Operated From A Highway For The First Time

Operating from highways could make AC-130J gunships more survivable and flexible, but questions remain about their role in high-end fights.

A remarkable video has emerged, taken by a Russian fighter pilot after ejecting from his Flanker series jet, during the conflict in Ukraine. The footage joins a growing collection of air combat incidents captured on camera, by pilots on both sides involved in the war. Although it’s unclear exactly when or where the incident took place, it’s another reminder of the high-intensity air campaign being fought in and around Ukraine and the frequent life-or-death situations that the pilots involved face on a daily basis.
Flankers

Russian Pilot Films His Flanker Falling Away After Ejecting During Combat Mission

The Russian pilot used a selfie video while parachuting to the ground to explain his jet had fallen victim to some kind of surprise attack.

F-16s for Ukraine arrive with weapons
F-16

F-16 Officially In Ukrainian Service, Self Protection Pods Included

After years of work, F-16s have officially entered service with Ukraine's Air Force, and they are already sporting some interesting features.

Ukraine claims it sunk the Russian Improved Kilo class submarine Rostov-on-Don
Air

Ukraine Situation Report: Russian Submarine Destroyed, Kyiv Claims

A very peculiar and recently erected floating facility in Sevastopol appears to have been damaged within the last 48 hours.

October 1917: A crowd lining up to enter an air raid shelter at Hither Green. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Bunker Talk

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

The bunker is open!

Video clips have emerged showing Chinese maritime special operations forces using multiple types of bird-like drones.
Unmanned

Chinese Sea Dragon Commandos Show Off Drones That Look Just Like Birds

Weaponized drones that look and fly like birds may sound like something out of a movie, but they are very real with a long history.

Baba Yaga Drone Ukraine
Unmanned

Ukraine’s “Baba Yaga” Drones Now Appear Capable Of Launching Guided Munitions

Making Ukraine's large multi-rotor industrial drones capable of launching guided munitions at targets behind enemy lines would certainly be a major capability upgrade.

F-16 Iran Middle East
U.S. Air Force

More U.S. Combat Aircraft Heading To Middle East Ahead Of Expected Iranian Attack On Israel (Updated)

Iran has vowed to attack Israel to avenge the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh who was assassinated Wednesday in Tehran.

More NATO members are now 'read into' top-secret Special Access Programs (SAP) related to the Joint Strike Fighter as part of a broader push to improve information sharing and interoperability.
F-35

More Top Secret F-35 Stealth Fighter Data Given To NATO Members

Giving NATO allies a deeper understanding of the F-35 will help them better use the jets, including together with fourth-generation fighters.

The Army has laid out a requirement for an AIM-120 AMRAAM-like interceptor that is the same general size as an AIM-9X SIdewinder for its Enduring Shield air defense system.
AIM-120 AMRAAM

Army Seeking AIM-9X-Sized Surface-To-Air Missile With AIM-120-Like Range

The Army's Enduring Shield SAM system is set to use AIM-9X first, but the service wants a new missile to drastically expand its capabilities.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in Tehran by a bomb smuggled into the guesthouse where he was staying, according to The New York Times.
Iran

Planted Bomb Was Used To Kill Hamas Leader In Tehran: Report

While the details of the assassination remain murky, Iran appears to be preparing for what could be a massive vengeance strike on Israel.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company - Fort Worth - Chris Hanoch Subject: Document F-35 production line from crane monorail FP#: 20-16433 POC: Shane Nicholson Other info: Monorail, crane, F-35 production line; Brett Ashworth This image is public release approved per Angel DelCueto on 05/05/2021

Building The F-35 – One Of The Most Advanced Machines Ever Made

Branded Content: From assembly to getting airborne for first flight, this is the story of F-35 stealth fighter production.

The entire fleet of U.S. V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft has been temporarily grounded after a mishap involving an AFSOC CV-22 last month at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.
CV-22

CV-22 Osprey Crash In Japan Was Caused By Gearbox Failure

An accident investigation board has released its findings into the fatal crash of a CV-22 off the Japanese coast last year.

An US Air Force AC-130J Ghostrider gunship recently used its 30mm and 105mm to help sink a decommissioned amphibious warship during an exercise, which comes amid a larger discussion about the relevance of these aircraft in future higher-end operations.
AC-130

AC-130J Ghostrider Hammers Amphibious Warship During Rare Appearance At Sinking Exercise

An AC-130 brought its 105mm howitzer and 30mm chain gun to bear on the ex-USS Dubuque during the RIMPAC 2024 exercise.

Ukraine F-16s
F-16

F-16s Arrive In Ukraine: Report

The arrival of F-16s would mark a moment long pined for by Ukrainian officials and the country's beleaguered air arm.

Composite image from Navy's Silent Swarm 2024 event
U.S. Navy

Silent Swarm Exercise Accelerates Navy’s Path To Distributed Electronic Warfare Future

The Navy recently experimented with hundreds of electronic warfare technologies mounted on aerial drones and swarms of uncrewed boats.

The USS Florida nuclear powered guided missile submarine returned to its homepart in Kings Bay July 27, 2024 after 727 days at sea.
Air

Secretive Guided Missile Submarine USS Florida’s Leadership Talks About Their 727-Day Deployment

The 41-year-old prized submarine traveled more than 60,000 miles while packed with special operators and fired Tomahawk cruise missiles at Houthi targets.

The US Air Force's top officer in Europe has highlighted how kamikaze drones present threats, as well as opportunities, especially for smaller friendly countries that might not be able to afford higher-end capabilities.
Loitering Munitions

Long-Range Kamikaze Drones Offer ‘Cheap’ Strike Opportunities For U.S., Allies: USAF General

Kamikaze drones are very real threats in the hands of enemies, but also present valuable opportunities for friendly forces.

Demonstrators wave flags and hold pictures of the leader of the Palestinian militant Hamas group, Ismail Haniyeh, (C) and senior leader Saleh al-Arouri during a protest on July 31, 2024 in Beirut's Burj al-Barajneh camp for Palestinian refugees, denouncing his killing. Hamas said on July 31 its political leader Ismail Haniyeh was killed in an Israeli strike in Iran, where he was attending the swearing-in of the new president, and vowed the act "will not go unanswered".
Iran

Claims Swirl Around How Israel Assassinated Hamas Leader In Tehran (Updated)

Israel has various ways to assassinate high-value targets, even in Iran, including urban warfare drones, long-range missiles, and operatives.