Featured in ISRBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Uses Textron’s Scorpion Jet As the Latest Testbed for Its Modular Sensor PodThere’s still no indication the service is looking to buy the jet, but the test could still be mutually beneficial. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Wants Swarms of Cheap “Gray Wolf” Cruise Missiles That Can Overwhelm Enemy DefensesThe goal of the program is to demonstrate experimental low-cost weapons that can plot their own strikes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDocument Offers New Details About Those OV-10 Broncos That Went to Fight ISISFull of data links and radios, the aircraft could spot and track individual targets by their cellphone signals. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAfghan A-29s Aren’t Dropping Laser-Guided Bombs or Engaging Targets at NightAfter nearly two years of operations, the Afghan Air Force still can’t make anywhere near the most of their light attack planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDecades Ago The Navy Tested A Maritime Patrol U-2 Variant That Was Way Ahead Of Its TimeA state-of-the-art EP-Xs never came to be, but the Navy didn’t give up on the idea and it’s finally becoming a reality via the MQ-4C Triton. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBlackwater Founder’s Private Afghan Air Arm Pitch Included An-26 Gunships And AH-1 CobrasThe mix of aircraft, helicopters, drones, and aerostats would have taken over for US and coalition forces. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareF-22s, F-35s Join Hundreds of US and South Korean Jets in Drill as Fears of War RiseThe major exercise comes after North Korea’s test of a new monster missile and amid confusing US policy pronouncements. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareJaded Thunder Exercise Trains Elite Troops to Call in Almost Any Sort of Fire SupportJoint Special Operations Command brings in various aerial assets to teach its operators how to apply their deadly capabilities with finesse. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareChina Says It’s Building a “Ghost Imaging” Satellite to Detect Stealth JetsThe complex physics behind the system work in principle, but building an operational system is easier said than done. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareAward Reveals USAF Rivet Joint Spied on Iranian Forces During 2016 Hostage CrisisInformation from the Rivet Joint aircraft aided negotiations and helped avoid a more serious confrontation. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBristling With Antennas, Russia’s A-100 Is Likely More Than Just A New Radar PlaneThey may be able to gather signals intelligence, act as a flying command posts, or even launch electronic attacks. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNight Vision Goggle-Wearing Taliban Are Terrible News for Afghan and US ForcesThe insurgents’ capabilities are improving and may pose a real threat to the coalition’s ability to “own the night.” BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSaudi Arabia Puts Textron’s Scorpion Light Attack Jet Through Its PacesCould the Kingdom be the adaptable jet’s first customer? BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Is All The Stuff You Can Hang Out of a C-130’s Rear Paratrooper DoorsVarious kits use those openings to mount surveillance systems, communications antennas, firefighting gear, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Effort to Find Those Behind the Benghazi Attack Nets a Second SuspectSEAL Team Six and the FBI grab Mustafa Al Imam in Libya and spirit him off to the United States to stand trial. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareHere’s What You Should Know About Mattis and Dunford’s Trip to South KoreaSouth Korea confirms plans to expand strategic cooperation with the US and buy more American made high-tech weapons. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSouth Korea Reveals Plan to Hit The North With a Huge Missile Barrage If War EruptsThe strategy clearly aims to deter Kim Jong-un, but it could prompt new North Korean provocations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareJust How Closely Are US and French Forces Cooperating in Niger?New details suggest a more ad hoc arrangement than the Pentagon has previously suggested was the case. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe Army’s Latest Spy Planes Are Flying Hundreds of Hours OverseasThree of four MC-12S variants are gathering intelligence in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareHighlights From the Showroom Floor at the Army’s Biggest Arms Expo and ConferenceCompanies from around the world showed off armored vehicles, weapons, and other equipment at the annual gathering. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareGeneral Atomics Is the First to Show Off Its MQ-25 Drone Tanker DesignThe US Navy has sent out the final request for proposals and expects to pick a winning aircraft in September 2018. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMilitants Kill American and Nigerien Troops in Ambush Near the Mali Border (Updated)The unknown assailants reportedly killed a number of people in the patrol, possibly including a number of US troops. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy Has Created Its First Ever Underwater Drone SquadronThe service expects to have fully operational units specifically for unmanned undersea missions by 2020. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMysterious US Army Spy Plane Turns Up at the Boneyard in ArizonaThis aircraft and another just like it previously spent time flying secretive missions over Afghanistan and Libya. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareFour Big Takeaways From Day One Of The Air Force Association’s Big Annual BashAfter more than quarter century at war, the service celebrates its 70th birthday seeking to rebuild and evolve. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareObscure National Guard Spy Plane Assesses Hurricane Harvey’s AftermathThe RC-26B Condor’s main job is hunting drug smugglers, but the planes routinely help out after natural disasters. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareIt’s Official, the USAF’s Next Jamming Plane Will Be a Gulfstream BizJetThe US military is finding this type of aircraft increasingly attractive for various specialized missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Unique EPA Plane Is Monitoring Toxic Waste Dumps Around HoustonEnvironmental agency keeps the contractor-operated plane on standby 24/7 for chemical and radiological incidents. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Air Force B-1 Bombers Are Hunting Drug Smugglers From Key WestThe obscure flights give bomber crews real-world experience while helping make up chronic intelligence shortfalls. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareGeneral Atomics Gives First Clues About its MQ-25 Drone Tanker DesignA US government agency is already flying its Avenger and a foreign customer is interested in buying nearly 100 more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Is the Tech Special Operators Want for Their Light Attack PlanesWishlist includes reprogrammable weapons, air-dropped loitering munitions, sensors with AI, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman MQ-25 Drone Tanker Testbed Emerges At Plant 42 In CaliforniaIt’s not clear whether the company is using the X-47B aircraft as a surrogate or an actual prototype design. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUSAF Says Spec Ops Light Attack Program Will Complement Larger OA-X EffortWeapons and equipment from separate special operations tests could end up in a future joint light attack fleet. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBlackwater Founder Wants to Provide a “Turn Key” Mercenary Air Force for AfghanistanBut the new proposal from infamous Erik Prince could immediately face legal and logistical problems. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy May Have Watered Down Its MQ-25 Drone Even MoreReported draft requirements focus almost entirely on tanking with no clear mention of intelligence missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareLate Addition to the USAF’s Light Attack Experiment Sparks Drama OnlineNew accusations of collusion are just the latest development in a rivalry between suppliers of armed crop dusters. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 26, 2019ShareUSAF Wants To Network Its Precision Munitions Together Into A ‘Golden Horde’ SwarmThe goal is for missiles and bombs to be able to work together on their own in flight in order to maximize the impact on their targets. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 26, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareThe Air Force’s Special Operations PC-12s Finally Have An Official NicknameThe U-28As have already been in service for 13 years and have flown hundreds of thousands of flight hours in combat zones around the world. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareThese Secretive US SpecOps Spy Planes Are Getting New Sensors And Anti-GPS Jamming GearContracting documents offer new details about a fleet of secretive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and their operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 24, 2019ShareU.S. Military Is Sending Fighter Jets, Recon Aircraft, Engineers, and More To The Middle East (Updated)The deployments are in response to supposed Iranian threats and troops in the region will also see their tours extended. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 24, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 2, 2019ShareOptionally Manned Firebird Rapidly Matures Ahead Of International Debut This SummerWith three aircraft now in testing, Northrop Grumman looks toward the international market and new payload partners to make Firebird soar. BYTyler RogowayMay 2, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 19, 2019ShareThe Navy’s Last Active Duty P-3C Orion Squadron Is On Its Final DeploymentNearly six decades after the first Orions entered service, the Navy is getting close to retiring the P-3C from active duty for good. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 19, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareOne of Saudi Arabia’s RE-3A Spy Planes Now Looks Just Like a U.S. Air Force RC-135The unique signals intelligence aircraft now has an elongated nose and other features that appear almost identical to the American Rivet Joint. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareThat USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Caribbean Spy Flight Was Far More Common Than Most ThinkThe sortie might have been related to the crisis in Venezuela, but the big intelligence gathering platforms fly many other missions in the region. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareBoeing Is Building Big Orca Drone Subs For The Navy To Hunt And Lay Mines And MoreThe new drone submarines will help lay the groundwork for the service’s ambitious future unmanned undersea vehicle plans. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 4, 2019ShareNavy’s Sea Hunter Drone Ship Has Sailed Autonomously To Hawaii And Back Amid Talk Of New RolesThe service is now looking at using the unmanned ships as electronic warfare platforms to blind and distract opponents. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 4, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareUSAF’s New Excuses For Delaying Light Attack Aircraft Program Sound Like A Death SentenceThe service now wants to expand its light attack effort to include platforms it has now, shifting the focus away from the one it desperately needs. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2018ShareNorthrop Grumman Plans To Upend Aerial Surveillance Market With Their Optionally Manned FirebirdThe massively flexible and super-efficient design is intended to compete with both unmanned and manned aerial intel gathering platforms and win. BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2018ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareRussia To Put Captured Ukrainian Sailors On Trial As European Lawmakers Call For SanctionsThere is no sign of de-escalation days after the conflict begun and both sides are surging forces toward the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareUkraine Moves Toward Martial Law As Russia Refuses To Free Sailors And Ships Seized In Skirmish (Updated)Russia is spinning conspiratorial claims about the incident as condemnation from the international community grows. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareUSAF Frantically Stole Parts From One RC-135 To Get Another Airborne To Spy On A Missile LaunchThe swap meant the missile monitoring mission went ahead as planned, but it forced the service to delay another intelligence-gathering sortie. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 10, 2018ShareHere Are Some Of The Most Interesting Items On Display At The Army’s Huge Arms ExpoThe service has embarked on a major push to modernize its entire force as it prepares for potential large-scale conflicts. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 10, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 2, 2018ShareSyria Finally Gets Its S-300 SAM System, But It’s A Token Capability At BestAssad has only received four launchers and the Russians say it will take three months to train enough Syrians to operate them. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 2, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 28, 2018ShareCanada Considers Buying Huge Non-Flyable Drone From Germany To Meet Arctic Patrol NeedsThe Germans removed virtually all essential components and put what’s left of the aircraft into storage five years ago. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 28, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareMarine F-35Bs Flew Surveillance Missions Near Somalia And Were Ready To Strike If NecessaryNow the jets may be preparing for the first-ever American Joint Strike Fighter strikes in Afghanistan. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 24, 2018ShareGiving Syria S-300 Surface To Air Missile Systems Won’t Halt Israeli StrikesIf the missiles actually arrive and stay, they would represent a clear escalation, but Israel won’t stop its strikes because of them. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 24, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareRussia’s Claim That Israeli F-16s Used Their Doomed Il-20 Spy Plane As Cover Doesn’t Add UpIt’s not clear how the Kremlin might respond after the embarrassing incident in which Syrian forces accidentally shot down the Russian aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareBYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareRussian IL-20 Surveillance Plane Went Down Off Syrian Coast During Israeli Missile Barrage (Updated)The Il-20 disappeared as Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli strike. Russia has insinuated that a French frigate may have been involved. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 13, 2018ShareU.S. Refuses To Allow New Russian Planes To Fly Open Skies Flights Over Its TerritoryMembers of Congress argue that the Kremlin is abusing a treaty that allows for these reconnaissance missions by adding new aircraft and sensors. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 13, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 10, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Drastically Boost Flexibility of U-2s and RQ-4s By Adding Modular ‘Agile Pods’The plan is to try to cram a number of different cameras and a laser imager into one modular sensor pod. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 10, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 4, 2018ShareHere’s Why The USAF Is Suddenly Talking Cargo Drops From Space And Spying On Other GalaxiesAs the push for a Space Force gains momentum, the service seems intent on showing it’s serious about space. Maybe too serious. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 4, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 3, 2018ShareWait, The New York Police Department Has A Spy Plane For Hunting Dirty Bombs?A controversial incident involving a flight route shaped like a penis has focused attention on the federally-funded surveillance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 3, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Test A System Called ‘Symphony’ Inside An ‘Irascible Pod’ On A U-2 Spy PlaneThe Air Force is still exploring expanding the aircraft’s capabilities and mission sets even after more than 60 years of service. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2018ShareArmy Buys Small Suicide Drones To Break Up Hostile Swarms And Potentially MoreRaytheon’s Coyote is an inherently modular system that the United States has already tested as a possible weapon and a scientific tool. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2018Share1234
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Uses Textron’s Scorpion Jet As the Latest Testbed for Its Modular Sensor PodThere’s still no indication the service is looking to buy the jet, but the test could still be mutually beneficial. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUSAF Wants Swarms of Cheap “Gray Wolf” Cruise Missiles That Can Overwhelm Enemy DefensesThe goal of the program is to demonstrate experimental low-cost weapons that can plot their own strikes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDocument Offers New Details About Those OV-10 Broncos That Went to Fight ISISFull of data links and radios, the aircraft could spot and track individual targets by their cellphone signals. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAfghan A-29s Aren’t Dropping Laser-Guided Bombs or Engaging Targets at NightAfter nearly two years of operations, the Afghan Air Force still can’t make anywhere near the most of their light attack planes. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDecades Ago The Navy Tested A Maritime Patrol U-2 Variant That Was Way Ahead Of Its TimeA state-of-the-art EP-Xs never came to be, but the Navy didn’t give up on the idea and it’s finally becoming a reality via the MQ-4C Triton. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBlackwater Founder’s Private Afghan Air Arm Pitch Included An-26 Gunships And AH-1 CobrasThe mix of aircraft, helicopters, drones, and aerostats would have taken over for US and coalition forces. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareF-22s, F-35s Join Hundreds of US and South Korean Jets in Drill as Fears of War RiseThe major exercise comes after North Korea’s test of a new monster missile and amid confusing US policy pronouncements. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareJaded Thunder Exercise Trains Elite Troops to Call in Almost Any Sort of Fire SupportJoint Special Operations Command brings in various aerial assets to teach its operators how to apply their deadly capabilities with finesse. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareChina Says It’s Building a “Ghost Imaging” Satellite to Detect Stealth JetsThe complex physics behind the system work in principle, but building an operational system is easier said than done. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareAward Reveals USAF Rivet Joint Spied on Iranian Forces During 2016 Hostage CrisisInformation from the Rivet Joint aircraft aided negotiations and helped avoid a more serious confrontation. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBristling With Antennas, Russia’s A-100 Is Likely More Than Just A New Radar PlaneThey may be able to gather signals intelligence, act as a flying command posts, or even launch electronic attacks. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNight Vision Goggle-Wearing Taliban Are Terrible News for Afghan and US ForcesThe insurgents’ capabilities are improving and may pose a real threat to the coalition’s ability to “own the night.” BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSaudi Arabia Puts Textron’s Scorpion Light Attack Jet Through Its PacesCould the Kingdom be the adaptable jet’s first customer? BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Is All The Stuff You Can Hang Out of a C-130’s Rear Paratrooper DoorsVarious kits use those openings to mount surveillance systems, communications antennas, firefighting gear, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Effort to Find Those Behind the Benghazi Attack Nets a Second SuspectSEAL Team Six and the FBI grab Mustafa Al Imam in Libya and spirit him off to the United States to stand trial. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareHere’s What You Should Know About Mattis and Dunford’s Trip to South KoreaSouth Korea confirms plans to expand strategic cooperation with the US and buy more American made high-tech weapons. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSouth Korea Reveals Plan to Hit The North With a Huge Missile Barrage If War EruptsThe strategy clearly aims to deter Kim Jong-un, but it could prompt new North Korean provocations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareJust How Closely Are US and French Forces Cooperating in Niger?New details suggest a more ad hoc arrangement than the Pentagon has previously suggested was the case. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe Army’s Latest Spy Planes Are Flying Hundreds of Hours OverseasThree of four MC-12S variants are gathering intelligence in Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Central Asia. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareHighlights From the Showroom Floor at the Army’s Biggest Arms Expo and ConferenceCompanies from around the world showed off armored vehicles, weapons, and other equipment at the annual gathering. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareGeneral Atomics Is the First to Show Off Its MQ-25 Drone Tanker DesignThe US Navy has sent out the final request for proposals and expects to pick a winning aircraft in September 2018. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMilitants Kill American and Nigerien Troops in Ambush Near the Mali Border (Updated)The unknown assailants reportedly killed a number of people in the patrol, possibly including a number of US troops. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy Has Created Its First Ever Underwater Drone SquadronThe service expects to have fully operational units specifically for unmanned undersea missions by 2020. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMysterious US Army Spy Plane Turns Up at the Boneyard in ArizonaThis aircraft and another just like it previously spent time flying secretive missions over Afghanistan and Libya. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareFour Big Takeaways From Day One Of The Air Force Association’s Big Annual BashAfter more than quarter century at war, the service celebrates its 70th birthday seeking to rebuild and evolve. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareObscure National Guard Spy Plane Assesses Hurricane Harvey’s AftermathThe RC-26B Condor’s main job is hunting drug smugglers, but the planes routinely help out after natural disasters. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareIt’s Official, the USAF’s Next Jamming Plane Will Be a Gulfstream BizJetThe US military is finding this type of aircraft increasingly attractive for various specialized missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Unique EPA Plane Is Monitoring Toxic Waste Dumps Around HoustonEnvironmental agency keeps the contractor-operated plane on standby 24/7 for chemical and radiological incidents. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Air Force B-1 Bombers Are Hunting Drug Smugglers From Key WestThe obscure flights give bomber crews real-world experience while helping make up chronic intelligence shortfalls. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareGeneral Atomics Gives First Clues About its MQ-25 Drone Tanker DesignA US government agency is already flying its Avenger and a foreign customer is interested in buying nearly 100 more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Is the Tech Special Operators Want for Their Light Attack PlanesWishlist includes reprogrammable weapons, air-dropped loitering munitions, sensors with AI, and more. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareNorthrop Grumman MQ-25 Drone Tanker Testbed Emerges At Plant 42 In CaliforniaIt’s not clear whether the company is using the X-47B aircraft as a surrogate or an actual prototype design. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUSAF Says Spec Ops Light Attack Program Will Complement Larger OA-X EffortWeapons and equipment from separate special operations tests could end up in a future joint light attack fleet. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBlackwater Founder Wants to Provide a “Turn Key” Mercenary Air Force for AfghanistanBut the new proposal from infamous Erik Prince could immediately face legal and logistical problems. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThe US Navy May Have Watered Down Its MQ-25 Drone Even MoreReported draft requirements focus almost entirely on tanking with no clear mention of intelligence missions. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareLate Addition to the USAF’s Light Attack Experiment Sparks Drama OnlineNew accusations of collusion are just the latest development in a rivalry between suppliers of armed crop dusters. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 26, 2019ShareUSAF Wants To Network Its Precision Munitions Together Into A ‘Golden Horde’ SwarmThe goal is for missiles and bombs to be able to work together on their own in flight in order to maximize the impact on their targets. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 26, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019ShareThe Air Force’s Special Operations PC-12s Finally Have An Official NicknameThe U-28As have already been in service for 13 years and have flown hundreds of thousands of flight hours in combat zones around the world. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 20, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019ShareThese Secretive US SpecOps Spy Planes Are Getting New Sensors And Anti-GPS Jamming GearContracting documents offer new details about a fleet of secretive intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and their operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 14, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 24, 2019ShareU.S. Military Is Sending Fighter Jets, Recon Aircraft, Engineers, and More To The Middle East (Updated)The deployments are in response to supposed Iranian threats and troops in the region will also see their tours extended. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 24, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 2, 2019ShareOptionally Manned Firebird Rapidly Matures Ahead Of International Debut This SummerWith three aircraft now in testing, Northrop Grumman looks toward the international market and new payload partners to make Firebird soar. BYTyler RogowayMay 2, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 19, 2019ShareThe Navy’s Last Active Duty P-3C Orion Squadron Is On Its Final DeploymentNearly six decades after the first Orions entered service, the Navy is getting close to retiring the P-3C from active duty for good. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 19, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019ShareOne of Saudi Arabia’s RE-3A Spy Planes Now Looks Just Like a U.S. Air Force RC-135The unique signals intelligence aircraft now has an elongated nose and other features that appear almost identical to the American Rivet Joint. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 16, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareThat USAF RC-135 Rivet Joint Caribbean Spy Flight Was Far More Common Than Most ThinkThe sortie might have been related to the crisis in Venezuela, but the big intelligence gathering platforms fly many other missions in the region. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019ShareBoeing Is Building Big Orca Drone Subs For The Navy To Hunt And Lay Mines And MoreThe new drone submarines will help lay the groundwork for the service’s ambitious future unmanned undersea vehicle plans. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 15, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 4, 2019ShareNavy’s Sea Hunter Drone Ship Has Sailed Autonomously To Hawaii And Back Amid Talk Of New RolesThe service is now looking at using the unmanned ships as electronic warfare platforms to blind and distract opponents. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 4, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareUSAF’s New Excuses For Delaying Light Attack Aircraft Program Sound Like A Death SentenceThe service now wants to expand its light attack effort to include platforms it has now, shifting the focus away from the one it desperately needs. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2018ShareNorthrop Grumman Plans To Upend Aerial Surveillance Market With Their Optionally Manned FirebirdThe massively flexible and super-efficient design is intended to compete with both unmanned and manned aerial intel gathering platforms and win. BYTyler RogowayDec 14, 2018Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareRussia To Put Captured Ukrainian Sailors On Trial As European Lawmakers Call For SanctionsThere is no sign of de-escalation days after the conflict begun and both sides are surging forces toward the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018ShareUkraine Moves Toward Martial Law As Russia Refuses To Free Sailors And Ships Seized In Skirmish (Updated)Russia is spinning conspiratorial claims about the incident as condemnation from the international community grows. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickNov 27, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018ShareUSAF Frantically Stole Parts From One RC-135 To Get Another Airborne To Spy On A Missile LaunchThe swap meant the missile monitoring mission went ahead as planned, but it forced the service to delay another intelligence-gathering sortie. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 17, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 10, 2018ShareHere Are Some Of The Most Interesting Items On Display At The Army’s Huge Arms ExpoThe service has embarked on a major push to modernize its entire force as it prepares for potential large-scale conflicts. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 10, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 2, 2018ShareSyria Finally Gets Its S-300 SAM System, But It’s A Token Capability At BestAssad has only received four launchers and the Russians say it will take three months to train enough Syrians to operate them. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 2, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 28, 2018ShareCanada Considers Buying Huge Non-Flyable Drone From Germany To Meet Arctic Patrol NeedsThe Germans removed virtually all essential components and put what’s left of the aircraft into storage five years ago. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 28, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareMarine F-35Bs Flew Surveillance Missions Near Somalia And Were Ready To Strike If NecessaryNow the jets may be preparing for the first-ever American Joint Strike Fighter strikes in Afghanistan. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 24, 2018ShareGiving Syria S-300 Surface To Air Missile Systems Won’t Halt Israeli StrikesIf the missiles actually arrive and stay, they would represent a clear escalation, but Israel won’t stop its strikes because of them. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 24, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareRussia’s Claim That Israeli F-16s Used Their Doomed Il-20 Spy Plane As Cover Doesn’t Add UpIt’s not clear how the Kremlin might respond after the embarrassing incident in which Syrian forces accidentally shot down the Russian aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018Share
BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018ShareRussian IL-20 Surveillance Plane Went Down Off Syrian Coast During Israeli Missile Barrage (Updated)The Il-20 disappeared as Syrian air defenses responded to an Israeli strike. Russia has insinuated that a French frigate may have been involved. BYTyler Rogoway and Joseph TrevithickSep 18, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 13, 2018ShareU.S. Refuses To Allow New Russian Planes To Fly Open Skies Flights Over Its TerritoryMembers of Congress argue that the Kremlin is abusing a treaty that allows for these reconnaissance missions by adding new aircraft and sensors. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 13, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 10, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Drastically Boost Flexibility of U-2s and RQ-4s By Adding Modular ‘Agile Pods’The plan is to try to cram a number of different cameras and a laser imager into one modular sensor pod. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 10, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 4, 2018ShareHere’s Why The USAF Is Suddenly Talking Cargo Drops From Space And Spying On Other GalaxiesAs the push for a Space Force gains momentum, the service seems intent on showing it’s serious about space. Maybe too serious. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 4, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 3, 2018ShareWait, The New York Police Department Has A Spy Plane For Hunting Dirty Bombs?A controversial incident involving a flight route shaped like a penis has focused attention on the federally-funded surveillance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 3, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018ShareUSAF Plans To Test A System Called ‘Symphony’ Inside An ‘Irascible Pod’ On A U-2 Spy PlaneThe Air Force is still exploring expanding the aircraft’s capabilities and mission sets even after more than 60 years of service. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 27, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2018ShareArmy Buys Small Suicide Drones To Break Up Hostile Swarms And Potentially MoreRaytheon’s Coyote is an inherently modular system that the United States has already tested as a possible weapon and a scientific tool. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2018Share