Read the latest articles from The War Zone (Page 96)

A government approved air raid shelter on display at Stern's department store
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.

The US Air Force has awarded its first contract for the purchase of production Joint Strike Missiles which are set to give its F-35A Joint Strike Fighters a new and capable stand-off strike option against targets on land and at sea.
F-35

USAF F-35s Are Officially Getting Joint Strike Cruise Missiles That Fit In Their Bays

Joint Strike Missiles will give Air Force F-35A new options for conducting stand-off strikes, especially in the maritime domain.

Testing at the Upside-Down Air Force, RADC
U.S. Homeland

The Fascinating Story Of The USAF’s “Upside-Down Air Force”

From fighters to tankers, the Upside-Down Air Force has tested numerous inverted aircraft since the early 1970s.

Progressively clearer photos of one of Shenyang’s prototype fighters seems to reveal key features different to those found on the carrier-based J-35, as well as on the earlier FC-31 prototypes. This raises questions about China’s own plans for a potential land-based variant, as well as future export plans, with Pakistan known to have made official plans to acquire a version of the jet.
J-31

Land-Based Variant Of China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter Makes Sense

Mounting evidence of a new land-based version of the J-35 fighter points to what could be a big boost for PLAAF modernization efforts.

A U.S. B-2A Spirit bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing and a Royal Netherlands air force F-35A conduct aerial operations in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-2 over the North Sea March 18, 2020. Bomber missions provide opportunities to train and work with NATO allies and theater partners in combined and joint operations and exercises.
F-35A

Dutch F-35s Take On A Full Nuclear Role

As of tomorrow, a Dutch F-35A squadron will be the first in Europe to have full responsibility for nuclear strike with the stealth fighter.

Ukraine released satellite imagery it says showed two Russian ships damaged by U.S. donated ATACMS.
Russia

Ukraine Situation Report: Claims Swirl Around Missile Strike On Kerch Ferries

Ukraine provided satellite imagery it says shows two Russian ships in Kerch damaged by U.S. donated ATACMS.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office says that "unplanned weight growth" and design instability have been major factors in the huge delays with the Constellation class, and that the ship's top speed could take a hit as a result.
U.S. Navy

Navy’s New Constellation Class Frigate Is A Mess

Endless changes to the base FREMM design have contributed to major delays and now "unplanned weight growth" could lead to a loss of speed.

Ukraine can now use long-range weapons from the U.S. to strike targets in Russia near Kharkiv.
Russia

Ukraine Can Now Use U.S.-Supplied Weapons To Strike Inside Russia

The White House has officially granted Kyiv's wish of allowing it to shoot back at Russian positions across the border with U.S. weapons.

Officials at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina are looking into the possibility of erecting physical barriers to protect F-15E Strike Eagles there from drones.
Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS)

Enclosures To Defend F-15Es From Drone Attacks Eyed At Seymour Johnson AFB

The threat posed by lower-end drones isn't just overseas and now a U.S. F-15E base is looking to cocoon its jets from them.

Tamir air-o-air variant
Israeli Air Force

The Case For Arming Drone-Hunting Fighters With Iron Dome’s Tamir Missile

With fighter jets increasingly being tasked to shoot down drones, the cheaper but proven Tamir interceptor could be a big help.

Martin baker 75 years of ejections
Military Aviation History

Martin-Baker Ejection Seat Made Its First Of 7,722 Saves 75 Years Ago Today

Jo Lancaster escaped from a stricken flying-wing test plane almost 75 years to the day that a Martin Baker seat saved an F-35 pilot.

New video purports to show the first Russian FPV drone attack on a Ukrainian sea drone.
Russia

Russian FPV Drone Seen Attacking Ukrainian Uncrewed Surface Vessel For The First Time

The FPV drone strike on a kamikaze USV is the latest example of rapidly evolving drone-on-drone warfare in Ukraine.

North Korea sent hundreds of balloons, many filled with manure, into South Korea.
Airships & Blimps

Poop-Filled North Korean Balloons Descend On The South Stoking Fears Of Deadlier Payloads

While in this case the balloons were simply offensive, more deadly balloon tactics could be used in the opening stages of a major conflict.

Experimental Alpha Draco hypersonic boost-glide vehicle preparing for launch, 1959.
Air-launched hypersonic boost glide vehicles

Alpha Draco Paved The Way In The Late 1950s For Future Hypersonic Boost-Glide Vehicles

McDonnell's work in the late 1950s, while often overlooked, was critical in the development of hypersonic boost-glide vehicles.

Russia has presented its latest take on the bizarre-looking ‘turtle tank’ concept, with a main battle tank now adapted as an armored personnel carrier, complete with the now familiar sheet-metal carapace. The new development provides another example of Russia repurposing vehicles to meet battlefield demands but also suggests deeper difficulties in fielding new-build, purpose-designed armored personnel carriers.
Russian Army

Russia Now Building ‘Turtle Tank’ Armored Personnel Carriers

At least one veteran T-62 tank has been repurposed as an ad-hoc armored personnel carrier with the shed-like metal covering.

China's first example of a new class of big deck amphibious assault ship, which may also be able to act as drone-focused light aircraft carrier, is continuing to take shape, and that shape is big.
People's Liberation Army Navy (China)

China’s Type 076 Is Shaping Up To Be A Monster Amphibious Warship

From what we can see of China's newest class of amphibious assault ship so far, its width may be its most significant feature.

In a major new development for the Ukrainian military, Sweden is to donate it Saab 340 airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft equipped with Erieye radar. The aircraft is being provided as part of Sweden’s biggest military aid package for Ukraine so far and they will bring an entirely new capability for the Ukrainian Air Force, providing much enhanced air and sea surveillance and working together with its forthcoming F-16 fighters.
Northern Europe

Ukraine Getting Swedish Airborne Early Warning Radar Planes Is A Big Deal

The Saab airborne early warning and control capability will provide a massive, force-multiplying boost to Ukrainian air and maritime defense.

Satellite imagery looks to show a recent Ukrainian strike targeted a prized Russian long-range radar system.
Russia

Prized Russian Long Range Radar System Attacked In Eastern Ukraine

The potential loss of a Nebo-M radar system would hamper Russia's ability to detect and track aerial threats, including ballistic missiles.

F-16 Belgium ukraine
F-16

Ukraine Situation Report: First Of 30 Belgian F-16s To Be Delivered “This Year”

With the first group of pilots now trained on the F-16, Ukraine is now in line to receive around 85 F-16s from European allies.

An F-35 Joint Strike Fighter crashed in Albuquerque New Mexico.
F-35B

F-35 Crashes In New Mexico (Updated)

The mishap took place outside the Albuquerque International Sunport and the pilot reportedly safely ejected.