Featured in ISRBYThomas NewdickMay 14, 2021ShareThe Army Is Testing Arming Its Light Tactical Vehicles With Drones (Updated)A DAGOR ultra-light tactical vehicle appeared at the recent Edge 21 exercise packing tube-launched drones. BYThomas NewdickMay 14, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 7, 2021ShareGlobal Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy AircraftThe Global Hawks cannot survive in highly contested airspace, so the Air Force is doubling down on surveillance assets that can. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 7, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 28, 2021SharePhoto Emerges Of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering “Ghost Plane” In SomaliaThe modified Beechcraft King Air has a unique configuration and doesn’t officially exist or belong to any real operator. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 28, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2021ShareOne of US Special Operations Command’s Newest Spy Planes Is Hunting Terrorists In LibyaA pair of de Havilland Dash-8-based aircraft appear to have taken over directly from two older, shadowy surveillance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2021ShareBYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareIsrael’s New Surveillance Jet Combines Two Other Aircraft’s Missions Into A Single AirframeThe Nachshon Oron is the first of an undisclosed number of advanced multi-mission intelligence-gathering aircraft for Israel. BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 2, 2021ShareU-2 Flight Along The Border Yesterday Wasn’t A Surveillance MissionThe sortie had caught people’s attention due to the current headlines and because other US military aircraft have supported border security missions. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 2, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 18, 2021ShareMassive New Chinese Military Heliport Taking Shape Right Across From TaiwanThe coastal base is right across from Taiwan and even closer to other islands Taiwanese authorities control. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 18, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 5, 2021ShareThis Is The Pentagon’s $27 Billion Master Plan To Deter China In The PacificThe plans include calls for deploying long-range missiles in the Western Pacific, new missile defenses and sensor networks, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 5, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 3, 2021ShareBritish Troops Get Small Swarming Drones They Can Fire From 40mm Grenade LaunchersThe tiny drones can carry various payloads, including video cameras and explosive warheads, and fly together as a swarm after launch. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 3, 2021ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 19, 2021ShareThe Ultimate Guide To Surveillance Aircraft Available To Help Safeguard The InaugurationJoe Biden’s inauguration will be historic for a number of reasons, likely including the sheer number of surveillance aircraft orbiting above it. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 19, 2021ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 21, 2020ShareMessage To Iran: Navy Sends Guided-Missile Submarine On Rare Trip Into The Persian Gulf (Updated)This is the first time one of these Tomahawk missile-laden submarines has been in the Persian Gulf in eight years. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 21, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 16, 2020ShareArtificial Intelligence Takes Control Of A U-2 Spy Plane’s Sensors In Historic Flight TestThe Air Force says the flight test was the first time ever that AI-driven software had been trusted to safely operate a U.S. military system. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 16, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 14, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Taps Into Computers On The Ground To Expand Data Processing Ability Mid-MissionThe test demonstrated how an aircraft could link up with computers on the ground for tasks that demand high levels of computing power. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 14, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 30, 2020ShareThe Army Wants To Launch Drone Swarms Behind Enemy Lines From High-Altitude BalloonsThe balloons could also collect intelligence, serve as communications relays, and send sensors falling down to the ground to watch for enemy activity. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 30, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareThe Potentially Revolutionary Celera 500L Aircraft Officially Breaks CoverOtto Aviation aims to disrupt the aviation landscape with a design that flies at jet speeds, but uses a fraction of the gas, and has more range. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareMIT Lincoln Lab’s Storied 707 Military Testbed Jet Is Now At The BoneyardFor almost 30 years, the aircraft supported a wide variety of radar, communications, and other flight test programs in cooperation with the Air Force. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareAll The Crazy Proposed Variants Of The B-70 Valkyrie Super BomberThe different adaptations of the B-70 included recon planes, tankers, transports, and even motherships to launch hypersonic vehicles and spacecraft. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 3, 2020ShareNavy Prepares For Integration Of MQ-25 Tanker Drones With E-2 Hawkeye SquadronsThe MQ-25s will be attached to E-2 squadrons during deployments and Hawkeye crews will cross-train to also fly the Stingrays. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 3, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 23, 2020ShareAir Force Confirms, Then Retracts Statement That One Of Its RC-135W Spy Planes Flew Over TaiwanThe United States has also just approved three arms deals for Taiwan, one of which includes short-range ballistic missiles that can hit the mainland. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 23, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Got New Target Recognition Capabilities In First-Ever In-Flight Software UpdateThe ability to generate Star Wars-themed logs of software changes was another part of the recent game-changing experiment. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2020ShareThe Navy Is Building A Network Of Drone Submarines And Sensor Buoys In The ArcticAs the Arctic literally and figuratively heats up, the Navy is looking to drastically increase its awareness of what is going on up there. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 4, 2020ShareMQ-9 Reaper Flies With AI Pod That Sifts Through Huge Sums Of Data To Pick Out TargetsThe system is designed to help parse through mountains of intelligence data quickly so that operators only get data-linked objects of interest. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 4, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 26, 2020ShareChina Tests Long-Range Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles As U.S. Spy Plane Watches It AllChina’s anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities remain something of a mystery, but their strategic purpose is anything but. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 26, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 17, 2020ShareThe Army Has Unveiled Its Plan For Swarms Of Electronic Warfare Enabled Air-Launched DronesThe drones will be able to scout ahead, act as decoys, and launch electronic warfare and other strikes directly against threats they find. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 17, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 7, 2020ShareRoyal Air Force P-8A Poseidon Shadows Russian Warship On The Jet’s First Operational SortieRAF Typhoon fighter jets and the service’s VIP-configured Voyager aerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft also took part in the mission. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 7, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 14, 2020ShareAir Force Close To Test Firing Low-Cost Cruise Missile As Work On Swarming Munitions ProgressesThe service is developing inexpensive stand-off munitions that can be networked together and with other weapons. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 14, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 10, 2020ShareAmerican Surveillance Aircraft Have Been Flooding Into The Airspace South Of Taiwan (Updated)For the past three weeks, there has been a big increase in U.S. military air activity in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 10, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 8, 2020ShareNavy To Add Laser Weapons To At Least Seven More Ships In The Next Three YearsThe laser dazzlers will help protect ships from certain kinds of attacks and shield them from surveillance from other ships, aircraft, and drones. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 8, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share15 Questions With One of VP-5’s ‘Mad Foxes’ on Flying the P-8 PoseidonWe talk with a P-8 pilot about how the jet is rapidly maturing into one of the Pentagon’s most versatile and in-demand assets—one that has now been deployed to most of the major hotspots around the globe. BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareThose Old OV-10 Broncos Sent To Fight ISIS Were Laser Rocket-Slinging ManhuntersTheir mission was to find, fix, and finish the enemy—and they did just that. BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2020ShareMysterious Wave Glider Spotted Off Florida Keys Had Electronic Intel Gathering System (Updated)The craft could be part of one of a number of programs aimed at providing persistent maritime surveillance coverage for the U.S. Navy. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 8, 2020SharePentagon Has Tested A Suicide Drone That Gets To Its Target Area At Hypersonic SpeedThe system would allow a drone to be delivered to a defended target far away in a matter of minutes, where it could then hunt down its target. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 8, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Amphibious Warship USS Portland Has Shot Down A Drone With Its New High-Power LaserThe successful test of the powerful laser is a major step forward for the Navy’s directed energy weapons ambitions. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareNavy P-8 With Secretive Radar Pod Surveils Massive Chinese Naval Base In South China SeaThe flight comes amid escalating friction between China, the U.S. and various countries in the South China Sea, as well as Taiwan. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 4, 2020ShareNew Team Pitches South Africa’s Bronco II Light Attack Plane To American Special OperatorsU.S. Special Operations Command wants to buy up to 75 light attack aircraft, starting with five in the next fiscal year. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 4, 2020ShareBYBrett TingleyFeb 5, 2020ShareWe Talk Giant V-Shaped Airships, Space, And Phoenix Lights With JP Aerospace’s FounderAfter years of flying exotic airships, the company plans to create massive orbital platforms and V-shaped airships that float slowly up to space. BYBrett TingleyFeb 5, 2020ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 6, 2020Share1 U.S. Serviceperson, 2 Contractors Dead, 6 Planes Struck, Including Rare Spy Plane, In Kenya Attack (Updated)The base in Kenya is an important part of the American campaign against terrorists in neighboring Somalia. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 6, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 17, 2019ShareAir Force General Says His Planes Are Keeping An Eye Out For North Korea’s “Christmas Gift”The general said that he expects a North Korean test of a “long-range ballistic missile,” such as an ICBM, in the coming weeks. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 17, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe U.S. Sold This Unique Stealth Drone Called ‘Scarab’ To Egypt In The 1980sThe Egyptians never even unboxed most of the unmanned aircraft, which were state-of-the-art for their time, but they may still be flying some of them. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareDeclassified: US Honors Swedish Pilots For Escorting Stricken SR-71 To Safety During Cold WarThe Blackbird had suffered an engine failure during a mission over the Baltic Sea and its crew feared that Soviet jets might be hunting for them. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 3, 2019ShareU.S. Intelligence Agency Eyes The Navy’s MQ-25 Drone For Maritime Surveillance MissionsThe Navy’s primary task for this unmanned aircraft will be aerial refueling, but it’s clear that there is interest in expanding its mission set. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 3, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareChina Showcases Stealthier Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ConfigurationThe rear of the design on display during a parade to mark the 70th founding of Communist China is completely different from an earlier prototype. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 29, 2019ShareUSAF MC-130J Spec Ops Transport Flies Through Taiwan Strait With U.S. Spy Plane NearbyAnother unidentified aircraft also flew a mysterious orbit in the southern end of the Strait shortly after the MC-130J left the area. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareOnly One Of Iraq’s Chinese CH-4B Drones Is Mission Capable As Other Buyers Give Up On ThemIraq’s fleet of these unmanned aircraft is struggling with maintenance issues amid reports that other customers have been displeased with the design. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareFull Analysis Of The First Flight Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThis is a significant achievement for the program, but serious questions remain about the drone’s design and exact capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 17, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman’s Optionally Manned Firebird Aircraft Has Its First Official CustomersFirebird has been flown aboard a 747 to the U.K. for the country’s biggest air show and aerospace expo that kicks off this weekend. BYTyler RogowayJul 17, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 13, 2019ShareFrance Launches The First Of Its New Class Of Super Quiet “Barracuda” Attack SubmarinesThe Suffren and her sisters are set to usher in a new era of French Navy submarine operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 13, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 10, 2019ShareNearly All F-15Es Photographed Arriving In Middle East Carried Dragon’s Eye Radar PodsThe radar pods give the F-15E a highly potent surveillance and targeting capability that can peer through clouds, smoke, and dust. BYTyler RogowayJul 10, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLockheed Is Proposing a Major ‘Triple Intelligence’ Upgrade for the U-2 Spy PlaneA new configuration with three types of sensor systems could make the planes even more versatile and keep them relevant for years to come. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Says It Could Speed Up Buying Light Attack Aircraft, But Doesn’t Have an Actual PlanSenior officials explain ways they could begin buying the planes before 2020, but still have yet to firm up any actual requirements. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF’s New Ground Tracking Radar Plan Desperately Needs Stealthy Flying Sensor TrucksThe service will replace the E-8C JSTARS with a mix of upgraded existing aircraft and drones, but that might not work for high risk missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAfrican Firm Has Big Hopes For Rebranded Bronco II Surveillance Plane In Americas MarketThe aircraft has some vague similarities to the Bronco, but really it’s more of an alternative to complex unmanned aircraft than anything else. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareWe Now Know Exactly What Sensors the Army’s Powerful New RO-6A Spy Planes Will CarryA recent contracting notice includes a detailed breakdown of the various cameras, radars, and signals intelligence gear that will go into the planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe US Air Force Admits It Won’t Be Buying Any Light Attack Aircraft For YearsThe service claims the project is moving along quickly, but it won’t disclose any details until it releases its fiscal year 2020 budget request. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareNavy’s Sea Hunter Drone Ship Is Getting A New Owner, New Abilities, and a SisterThe service has taken over the project from DARPA and is looking to transform it from an experiment to an operational asset as fast as possible. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLet’s Face It, The USAF Isn’t Serious About Buying a Light Attack AircraftThe service says it somehow still needs more information, despite a decade of studies, evaluations, and other experiments with the concept. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe French Army Eyes All-New Fleet of Light Attack AirplanesThe head of the service’s aviation arm is eager to get modern choppers, too, but says fixed-wing planes make more sense in various situations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareNow Russia Is Demanding US Stop Spying Near Its Borders After Buzzing Navy Spy PlaneThe Kremlin looks to be using the intercepts to try and force the United States to accept a new status quo around Crimea. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe USAF Expands MQ-9 Reaper Drone Force in Afghanistan to Its Largest Size EverThe air war over Afghanistan is rapidly heating up and a huge deployment of Reapers drones is the latest major development. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareChina Is Hard At Work Developing Swarms Of Small Drones With Big Military ApplicationsTerrorist have shown the threat of swarm attacks is real, but nations such as China can make them much more dangerous. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Navy Wants to Hire Contractors to Fly Their Own MQ-9 Reaper Drones in AfghanistanThe Marine Corps task force in Helmand Province has an urgent requirement for the unmanned aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share1234
BYThomas NewdickMay 14, 2021ShareThe Army Is Testing Arming Its Light Tactical Vehicles With Drones (Updated)A DAGOR ultra-light tactical vehicle appeared at the recent Edge 21 exercise packing tube-launched drones. BYThomas NewdickMay 14, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 7, 2021ShareGlobal Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy AircraftThe Global Hawks cannot survive in highly contested airspace, so the Air Force is doubling down on surveillance assets that can. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 7, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 28, 2021SharePhoto Emerges Of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering “Ghost Plane” In SomaliaThe modified Beechcraft King Air has a unique configuration and doesn’t officially exist or belong to any real operator. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 28, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2021ShareOne of US Special Operations Command’s Newest Spy Planes Is Hunting Terrorists In LibyaA pair of de Havilland Dash-8-based aircraft appear to have taken over directly from two older, shadowy surveillance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 8, 2021Share
BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021ShareIsrael’s New Surveillance Jet Combines Two Other Aircraft’s Missions Into A Single AirframeThe Nachshon Oron is the first of an undisclosed number of advanced multi-mission intelligence-gathering aircraft for Israel. BYThomas NewdickApr 5, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 2, 2021ShareU-2 Flight Along The Border Yesterday Wasn’t A Surveillance MissionThe sortie had caught people’s attention due to the current headlines and because other US military aircraft have supported border security missions. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 2, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 18, 2021ShareMassive New Chinese Military Heliport Taking Shape Right Across From TaiwanThe coastal base is right across from Taiwan and even closer to other islands Taiwanese authorities control. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 18, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 5, 2021ShareThis Is The Pentagon’s $27 Billion Master Plan To Deter China In The PacificThe plans include calls for deploying long-range missiles in the Western Pacific, new missile defenses and sensor networks, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 5, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 3, 2021ShareBritish Troops Get Small Swarming Drones They Can Fire From 40mm Grenade LaunchersThe tiny drones can carry various payloads, including video cameras and explosive warheads, and fly together as a swarm after launch. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 3, 2021Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 19, 2021ShareThe Ultimate Guide To Surveillance Aircraft Available To Help Safeguard The InaugurationJoe Biden’s inauguration will be historic for a number of reasons, likely including the sheer number of surveillance aircraft orbiting above it. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 19, 2021Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 21, 2020ShareMessage To Iran: Navy Sends Guided-Missile Submarine On Rare Trip Into The Persian Gulf (Updated)This is the first time one of these Tomahawk missile-laden submarines has been in the Persian Gulf in eight years. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 21, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 16, 2020ShareArtificial Intelligence Takes Control Of A U-2 Spy Plane’s Sensors In Historic Flight TestThe Air Force says the flight test was the first time ever that AI-driven software had been trusted to safely operate a U.S. military system. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 16, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 14, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Taps Into Computers On The Ground To Expand Data Processing Ability Mid-MissionThe test demonstrated how an aircraft could link up with computers on the ground for tasks that demand high levels of computing power. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 14, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 30, 2020ShareThe Army Wants To Launch Drone Swarms Behind Enemy Lines From High-Altitude BalloonsThe balloons could also collect intelligence, serve as communications relays, and send sensors falling down to the ground to watch for enemy activity. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 30, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 27, 2020ShareThe Potentially Revolutionary Celera 500L Aircraft Officially Breaks CoverOtto Aviation aims to disrupt the aviation landscape with a design that flies at jet speeds, but uses a fraction of the gas, and has more range. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 27, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareMIT Lincoln Lab’s Storied 707 Military Testbed Jet Is Now At The BoneyardFor almost 30 years, the aircraft supported a wide variety of radar, communications, and other flight test programs in cooperation with the Air Force. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020ShareAll The Crazy Proposed Variants Of The B-70 Valkyrie Super BomberThe different adaptations of the B-70 included recon planes, tankers, transports, and even motherships to launch hypersonic vehicles and spacecraft. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 27, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 3, 2020ShareNavy Prepares For Integration Of MQ-25 Tanker Drones With E-2 Hawkeye SquadronsThe MQ-25s will be attached to E-2 squadrons during deployments and Hawkeye crews will cross-train to also fly the Stingrays. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 3, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 23, 2020ShareAir Force Confirms, Then Retracts Statement That One Of Its RC-135W Spy Planes Flew Over TaiwanThe United States has also just approved three arms deals for Taiwan, one of which includes short-range ballistic missiles that can hit the mainland. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 23, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020ShareU-2 Spy Plane Got New Target Recognition Capabilities In First-Ever In-Flight Software UpdateThe ability to generate Star Wars-themed logs of software changes was another part of the recent game-changing experiment. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2020ShareThe Navy Is Building A Network Of Drone Submarines And Sensor Buoys In The ArcticAs the Arctic literally and figuratively heats up, the Navy is looking to drastically increase its awareness of what is going on up there. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 4, 2020ShareMQ-9 Reaper Flies With AI Pod That Sifts Through Huge Sums Of Data To Pick Out TargetsThe system is designed to help parse through mountains of intelligence data quickly so that operators only get data-linked objects of interest. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 4, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 26, 2020ShareChina Tests Long-Range Anti-Ship Ballistic Missiles As U.S. Spy Plane Watches It AllChina’s anti-ship ballistic missile capabilities remain something of a mystery, but their strategic purpose is anything but. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 26, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 17, 2020ShareThe Army Has Unveiled Its Plan For Swarms Of Electronic Warfare Enabled Air-Launched DronesThe drones will be able to scout ahead, act as decoys, and launch electronic warfare and other strikes directly against threats they find. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 17, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 7, 2020ShareRoyal Air Force P-8A Poseidon Shadows Russian Warship On The Jet’s First Operational SortieRAF Typhoon fighter jets and the service’s VIP-configured Voyager aerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft also took part in the mission. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 7, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 14, 2020ShareAir Force Close To Test Firing Low-Cost Cruise Missile As Work On Swarming Munitions ProgressesThe service is developing inexpensive stand-off munitions that can be networked together and with other weapons. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 14, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 10, 2020ShareAmerican Surveillance Aircraft Have Been Flooding Into The Airspace South Of Taiwan (Updated)For the past three weeks, there has been a big increase in U.S. military air activity in the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 10, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 8, 2020ShareNavy To Add Laser Weapons To At Least Seven More Ships In The Next Three YearsThe laser dazzlers will help protect ships from certain kinds of attacks and shield them from surveillance from other ships, aircraft, and drones. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 8, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share15 Questions With One of VP-5’s ‘Mad Foxes’ on Flying the P-8 PoseidonWe talk with a P-8 pilot about how the jet is rapidly maturing into one of the Pentagon’s most versatile and in-demand assets—one that has now been deployed to most of the major hotspots around the globe. BYTyler RogowayJul 3, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020ShareThose Old OV-10 Broncos Sent To Fight ISIS Were Laser Rocket-Slinging ManhuntersTheir mission was to find, fix, and finish the enemy—and they did just that. BYTyler RogowayJul 2, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2020ShareMysterious Wave Glider Spotted Off Florida Keys Had Electronic Intel Gathering System (Updated)The craft could be part of one of a number of programs aimed at providing persistent maritime surveillance coverage for the U.S. Navy. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020ShareGlitzy Air Force Video Lays Out “Skyborg” Artificial Intelligence Combat Drone ProgramThe presentation outlines potential future mission sets, including air-to-air combat, and how the drones will fit into the service’s larger plans. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 24, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 8, 2020SharePentagon Has Tested A Suicide Drone That Gets To Its Target Area At Hypersonic SpeedThe system would allow a drone to be delivered to a defended target far away in a matter of minutes, where it could then hunt down its target. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 8, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020ShareThe Amphibious Warship USS Portland Has Shot Down A Drone With Its New High-Power LaserThe successful test of the powerful laser is a major step forward for the Navy’s directed energy weapons ambitions. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 22, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareNavy P-8 With Secretive Radar Pod Surveils Massive Chinese Naval Base In South China SeaThe flight comes amid escalating friction between China, the U.S. and various countries in the South China Sea, as well as Taiwan. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 4, 2020ShareNew Team Pitches South Africa’s Bronco II Light Attack Plane To American Special OperatorsU.S. Special Operations Command wants to buy up to 75 light attack aircraft, starting with five in the next fiscal year. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 4, 2020Share
BYBrett TingleyFeb 5, 2020ShareWe Talk Giant V-Shaped Airships, Space, And Phoenix Lights With JP Aerospace’s FounderAfter years of flying exotic airships, the company plans to create massive orbital platforms and V-shaped airships that float slowly up to space. BYBrett TingleyFeb 5, 2020Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020ShareThe Pentagon May Finally Get The Fighter-Sized Stealth Aerial Target Drone It Badly NeedsWell over a decade in the making, we finally got our first look at the 5th Generation Aerial Target, or 5GAT, that is slated to fly soon. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickJan 18, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 6, 2020Share1 U.S. Serviceperson, 2 Contractors Dead, 6 Planes Struck, Including Rare Spy Plane, In Kenya Attack (Updated)The base in Kenya is an important part of the American campaign against terrorists in neighboring Somalia. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 6, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 17, 2019ShareAir Force General Says His Planes Are Keeping An Eye Out For North Korea’s “Christmas Gift”The general said that he expects a North Korean test of a “long-range ballistic missile,” such as an ICBM, in the coming weeks. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 17, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe U.S. Sold This Unique Stealth Drone Called ‘Scarab’ To Egypt In The 1980sThe Egyptians never even unboxed most of the unmanned aircraft, which were state-of-the-art for their time, but they may still be flying some of them. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareDeclassified: US Honors Swedish Pilots For Escorting Stricken SR-71 To Safety During Cold WarThe Blackbird had suffered an engine failure during a mission over the Baltic Sea and its crew feared that Soviet jets might be hunting for them. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 3, 2019ShareU.S. Intelligence Agency Eyes The Navy’s MQ-25 Drone For Maritime Surveillance MissionsThe Navy’s primary task for this unmanned aircraft will be aerial refueling, but it’s clear that there is interest in expanding its mission set. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 3, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019ShareChina Showcases Stealthier Sharp Sword Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ConfigurationThe rear of the design on display during a parade to mark the 70th founding of Communist China is completely different from an earlier prototype. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019ShareWatch Russia’s S-70 Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Fly With An Su-57 For The First TimeRussia says one of the primary goals of the program is to be able to operate both of these aircraft together in manned-unmanned teams. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 29, 2019ShareUSAF MC-130J Spec Ops Transport Flies Through Taiwan Strait With U.S. Spy Plane NearbyAnother unidentified aircraft also flew a mysterious orbit in the southern end of the Strait shortly after the MC-130J left the area. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareOnly One Of Iraq’s Chinese CH-4B Drones Is Mission Capable As Other Buyers Give Up On ThemIraq’s fleet of these unmanned aircraft is struggling with maintenance issues amid reports that other customers have been displeased with the design. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019ShareFull Analysis Of The First Flight Of Russia’s ‘Hunter’ Unmanned Combat Air VehicleThis is a significant achievement for the program, but serious questions remain about the drone’s design and exact capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayAug 13, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 17, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman’s Optionally Manned Firebird Aircraft Has Its First Official CustomersFirebird has been flown aboard a 747 to the U.K. for the country’s biggest air show and aerospace expo that kicks off this weekend. BYTyler RogowayJul 17, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 13, 2019ShareFrance Launches The First Of Its New Class Of Super Quiet “Barracuda” Attack SubmarinesThe Suffren and her sisters are set to usher in a new era of French Navy submarine operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 13, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 10, 2019ShareNearly All F-15Es Photographed Arriving In Middle East Carried Dragon’s Eye Radar PodsThe radar pods give the F-15E a highly potent surveillance and targeting capability that can peer through clouds, smoke, and dust. BYTyler RogowayJul 10, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLockheed Is Proposing a Major ‘Triple Intelligence’ Upgrade for the U-2 Spy PlaneA new configuration with three types of sensor systems could make the planes even more versatile and keep them relevant for years to come. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Says It Could Speed Up Buying Light Attack Aircraft, But Doesn’t Have an Actual PlanSenior officials explain ways they could begin buying the planes before 2020, but still have yet to firm up any actual requirements. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF’s New Ground Tracking Radar Plan Desperately Needs Stealthy Flying Sensor TrucksThe service will replace the E-8C JSTARS with a mix of upgraded existing aircraft and drones, but that might not work for high risk missions. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAfrican Firm Has Big Hopes For Rebranded Bronco II Surveillance Plane In Americas MarketThe aircraft has some vague similarities to the Bronco, but really it’s more of an alternative to complex unmanned aircraft than anything else. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareWe Now Know Exactly What Sensors the Army’s Powerful New RO-6A Spy Planes Will CarryA recent contracting notice includes a detailed breakdown of the various cameras, radars, and signals intelligence gear that will go into the planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe US Air Force Admits It Won’t Be Buying Any Light Attack Aircraft For YearsThe service claims the project is moving along quickly, but it won’t disclose any details until it releases its fiscal year 2020 budget request. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareNavy’s Sea Hunter Drone Ship Is Getting A New Owner, New Abilities, and a SisterThe service has taken over the project from DARPA and is looking to transform it from an experiment to an operational asset as fast as possible. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareLet’s Face It, The USAF Isn’t Serious About Buying a Light Attack AircraftThe service says it somehow still needs more information, despite a decade of studies, evaluations, and other experiments with the concept. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe French Army Eyes All-New Fleet of Light Attack AirplanesThe head of the service’s aviation arm is eager to get modern choppers, too, but says fixed-wing planes make more sense in various situations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareNow Russia Is Demanding US Stop Spying Near Its Borders After Buzzing Navy Spy PlaneThe Kremlin looks to be using the intercepts to try and force the United States to accept a new status quo around Crimea. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe USAF Expands MQ-9 Reaper Drone Force in Afghanistan to Its Largest Size EverThe air war over Afghanistan is rapidly heating up and a huge deployment of Reapers drones is the latest major development. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareChina Is Hard At Work Developing Swarms Of Small Drones With Big Military ApplicationsTerrorist have shown the threat of swarm attacks is real, but nations such as China can make them much more dangerous. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Navy Wants to Hire Contractors to Fly Their Own MQ-9 Reaper Drones in AfghanistanThe Marine Corps task force in Helmand Province has an urgent requirement for the unmanned aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share