Featured in stealthBYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2020ShareScaled Composites’ Mysterious Stealthy Jets Spotted Working With High-Flying Proteus (Updated)The highly unique aircraft flew between China Lake and Mojave Air and Space Port in what appears to have been an aerial test. BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayJun 6, 2020ShareSatellite Image Of RQ-170 Taxiing By MQ-9 Gives Best Size Estimate Yet Of Stealth DroneEstimates of the RQ-170’s size have varied greatly over the years. Now we can put the debate to rest. BYTyler RogowayJun 6, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 28, 2020ShareStealth Missile Marks On F-15Es All But Prove They Dealt Final Blow To Al Baghdadi’s CompoundThe use of Strike Eagles to launch the cruise missiles that flattened the ISIS mastermind’s compound has never been officially confirmed. BYTyler RogowayMay 28, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 20, 2020ShareF-117 Nighthawk Stealth Jets Just Flew A Mission Off The Southern California Coast12 years after their official retirement, a small number of F-117s are venturing farther from their home base to execute aggressor and test duties. BYTyler RogowayMay 20, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareF-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Crashes During Training Flight In Florida (Updated)The Raptor was on a local training mission when the pilot was forced to eject. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 10, 2020ShareB-1B Bomber Brandishes A Belly Full Of Stealth Cruise Missiles While Deployed To GuamThe messaging is abundantly clear: U.S. bombers haven’t tucked-tail and run from the region, and they stand ready to deliver a big, stealthy punch. BYTyler RogowayMay 10, 2020ShareBYAaron AmickApr 30, 2020ShareHow The Experimental USS Narwhal Ended Up Being The Navy’s Stealthiest Nuclear SubmarineThe sub had a range of exotic improvements over previous designs that allowed it to stalk Soviet submarines like no other. BYAaron AmickApr 30, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 30, 2020ShareExclusive: Unmasking Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-72A Great Horned Owl Spy DroneThe U.S. Intelligence Community led the development of this very quiet and high-efficiency unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 30, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayMar 25, 2020ShareThis Is The First Video Of An Su-57 Firing A Missile From Its Side Weapon Bay, Or Is It?A closer examination of the details visible in the video raises questions about exactly what we are seeing. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayMar 25, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 25, 2020ShareCIA’s Predecessor To The SR-71 Blackbird Tested Electron Guns To Hide From RadarsConcerns about advanced Soviet radars prompted the development of systems that could generate invisible radar-absorbing fields around the aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 25, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 10, 2020ShareEdwards AFB Upgrades Point To Unexpected Home For B-21 Raider, Other Secretive ProgramsIt was thought that the B-21 would be tested at the South Base complex, but it appears that won’t be the case. So what will live at South Base? BYTyler RogowayMar 10, 2020ShareBYTyler RogowayMar 4, 2020ShareMystery Objects Simultaneously Emerge From Hangars Again At Secretive Tonopah AirportWe first spotted this type of unprecedented activity in satellite imagery of the clandestine base three months ago. BYTyler RogowayMar 4, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 11, 2020ShareThe Navy Wants Money To Get Started On Its Future SSN(X) Attack SubmarineThe Navy’s goal is to design a submarine that is better-optimized for attacking other ships and subs than its existing Virginia class boats. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 11, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 31, 2020ShareHere’s Our Analysis Of The Air Force’s New B-21 Stealth Bomber RenderingsAlthough limited in detail, the new concept art offers new insights into the B-21’s inlets, other stealthy features, and overall size. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 31, 2020ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2020ShareDetails Emerge About The Secretive RQ-170 Stealth Drone’s First Trip To KoreaDocuments describe the unique planning that went into bringing the flying-wing reconnaissance drones to the Korean Peninsula and more. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2020ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 19, 2020ShareCongress Poised To Cancel Non-Nuclear Version Of Air Force’s Future Stealth Cruise MissileThe decision to eliminate this Congressional mandate could increase the emphasis on alternative conventional long-range cruise missile designs. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 19, 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 Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 15, 2020ShareNavy F/A-18 Super Hornet Takes Flight With New Infrared Search And Track PodThe infrared sensor is part of the Navy’s Block III upgrade program and will give its Super Hornets much needed new air-to-air capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 15, 2020ShareBYBrett TingleyDec 19, 2019ShareCan The U.S. Military Make An Airplane Invisible To The Naked Eye?The development of visual stealth began in WWII and continues today. So, just how close has the military has come to realizing an invisible plane? BYBrett TingleyDec 19, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 17, 2019ShareA Dozen Mystery Objects Suddenly Popped Out Of Hangars At Tonopah Test Range AirportThe base is known to be the shadowy home of aircraft that move from a developmental state at Area 51 and into an operational, but still secretive one. BYTyler RogowayDec 17, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 15, 2019ShareCheck Out This Rare Footage Of Red Eagle MiGs At Tonopah Test Range AirportThe rare piece of footage is from the 1980s when the U.S. was flying MiGs against its own jets out of a remote and secretive air base in Nevada. BYTyler RogowayDec 15, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 13, 2019ShareF-35 Cueing Artillery To Take Out Air Defense Site During Test Is A Glimpse Of The FutureWith new faster, longer-range weapons, artillery units will provide tactical aircraft an unlimited magazine for which to kick down the enemy’s door. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 13, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 10, 2019ShareF-117 Spotted Playing Stealthy Aggressor Against F-15s And F-22s Over Nellis RangeThe Nighthawk was working at low altitude with higher-flying aggressor F-16s to get the best of the opposing ‘blue’ force. BYTyler RogowayDec 10, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2019SharePhoto Emerges Showing Sweden’s Stealthy Visby Class Corvette’s Tiny Radar SignatureThe ships combine a radar-deflecting physical design with composite materials and other features to achieve an impressive level of low observability. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 5, 2019ShareThe Saga Of The AGM-129 Cruise Missile That Was Basically A Stealth Jet Designed Upside DownThe Advanced Cruise Missile was too far ahead of its time, so much so that it was eventually succeeded by the missile it was supposed to replace. BYTyler RogowayDec 5, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareChina’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Stuns By Brandishing Full Load Of Missiles At Zhuhai Air ShowBeijing’s stealth fighter shows its full set of teeth for the very first time. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThis Isn’t An Early B-2 Cockpit Mockup, It’s For A Previously Undisclosed Special Ops TransportThis revelation isn’t that surprising as there are long-standing and well-documented requirements for a penetrating tactical transport capability. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 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, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareTest Pilot Recounts F-117’s Wobbly First Flight And Entering Into Its Top Secret WorldSkunk Works test pilot Harold “Hal” Farley Jr. was at the controls of the YF-117 as it wobbled into the skies for the first time over Area 51. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareThe Army Nearly Adopted This Stealthy OH-58X Kiowa Warrior VariantAs the Army hunts for a new stealthy, high-speed, long-range attack reconnaissance helicopter, it’s interesting to look back at what might have been. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019SharePocket Force Of Stealthy Avenger Drones May Have Made Returning F-117s To Service UnnecessaryAvengers have flown over Syria and the secretive nature of who owns and operates the handful that have been delivered points to a clandestine program. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The Rumor That F-117s Have Flown Missions In The Middle East RecentlyThe rumor isn’t new and there is certainly some highly relevant logic to back it up, but is it actually true? BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe Mysterious Saga Of America’s Hunt For A Stealth Special Operations Transport, Part 2The requirement for this type of aircraft has only become more pressing in the new Millennium, which begs the question, where are the planes? BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareF-35’s Most Sinister Capability Are Towed Decoys That Unreel From Inside Its Stealthy SkinThese “little buddies” not only protect the jet, but they can be used creatively to goad the enemy into showing itself and dying as a result. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareOrigins Of Stealth Black Hawks Date Back Over Three Decades Before The Bin Laden RaidAt the dawn of the stealth revolution, the Army was already working to turn its new Black Hawk helicopter into a stealth special operations platform. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe Mysterious Saga Of America’s Hunt For A Stealth Special Operations Transport, Part 1A labyrinth of programs and initiatives spanning nearly four decades was born out of a disastrous attempt to rescue U.S. hostages in Tehran. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThis Image Of A Naval Strike Missile Launch Shows A Key Tenet Of Stealth DesignThe Navy’s newest ship-killing missile features critical stealth technology that dates back to the SR-71 Blackbird and its predecessor. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareNo, Passive Radar Isn’t Going To Make Stealth Technology Obsolete Anytime SoonWhile passive radars will become increasingly valuable pieces of advanced air defense ecosystems, they don’t invalidate stealth technology. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareHere’s Who Has Been Flying The F-117 Stealth Jets And Why According To The Air ForceThere have long been rumors and speculation about what the jets, which the Air Force is supposed to be destroying, are still doing up in the air. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe SR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Created “Plasma Stealth” By Burning Cesium-Laced FuelSkunk Works needed a way to hide the A-12’s radar reflecting behind, so they dumped cesium into its fuel to create a radar-absorbing exhaust plume. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThese Images Of An F-22 Raptor’s Crumbling Radar Absorbent Skin Are FascinatingThe photos are a reminder of just how much work goes into keeping the F-22’s skin ready for combat and the amazing science behind its stealthy design. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 18, 2019ShareRussia Says UAE Could Help Build Su-57s As Gulf Nation Puts F-35 Ambitions On HoldThe Russians need a partner to help share the costs of the Su-57 program and are offering a similar deal to other potential customers. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 18, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 13, 2019ShareCheck Out These Exclusive Shots Of An F-117 Stealth Jet Arriving At The Reagan LibraryThe F-117 will join an F-14 Tomcat, a VC-137 “Air Force One” jet, and a VH-3 “Marine One” helicopter that already call the Reagan Library home. BYTyler RogowayNov 13, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 8, 2019ShareStunning Video And Photos Of Skunk Works Preparing An F-117 For The Reagan LibraryThe stealth Nighthawk named Unexpected Guest flew more combat sorties than any other and will now sit alongside an F-14 Tomcat at the Reagan Library. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 8, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareAirbus’s Secret Stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Research Program Breaks Cover (Updated)The impressive-looking plane was part of a clandestine risk-reduction effort that will inform the firm’s future stealthy combat aircraft designs. BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 26, 2019ShareChinese Stealth Bomber Wind Tunnel Model Emerges And It Looks Very FamiliarIt’s no surprise that China would take a high interest in understanding everything it can about the world’s only operational stealth bomber. BYTyler RogowayOct 26, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 25, 2019ShareFormer Top U.S. Defense Official Questions B-21 Schedule As Air Force Hedges TimelineThe senior Air Force official overseeing the B-21 program says he would not “bet on” the new stealth bomber making its first flight in 2021. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 25, 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, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareChina’s Reported Plan To Deploy Weaponless Stealth Drones On Its Carriers Make Perfect SenseIt’s not about the weapons such a drone can carry, it’s about the targeting data it can reliably supply to far more powerful and longer-range weapons. BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 9, 2019ShareThe F-35A Is Set To Finally Get Chaff Countermeasures To Confuse Enemy RadarsThese cartridges full of radar-reflecting material have been curiously absent from the stealthy fighter’s already highly capable defense suite. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 9, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 5, 2019ShareUpgrades Needed For Sustained F-22 Operations During A Crisis In Europe Axed For Border WallThe Air Force had planned to award contracts for the infrastructure improvements, including a specialized repair facility, next year. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 5, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 30, 2019ShareCheck Out These Photos Of USAF B-2s And RAF F-35Bs Flying Together For The First TimeThree B-2s are in the United Kingdom to take part in various training exercises including these first-of-their-kind sorties with foreign F-35s. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 27, 2019Share“We’re Buying This One?” Turkey’s Erdogan Asks Putin In Front Of Su-57 Fighter At Air ShowTurkey is in the market for a new advanced fighter after getting locked out of the F-35 program over its purchase of the S-400 air defense system. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 27, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareRussia’s Sukhoi Shows Off Stealthier Vision For Its “Hunter” Unmanned Combat Air VehicleWe now know that Sukhoi intends to make its unmanned combat air vehicle very stealthy, which will help overcome some of the Su-57’s shortcomings. BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareStealthy Flying Wing Jet Pin Among Others From China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corp EmergesThe pin design shares numerous similarities to an equally curious unnamed drone that China unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow in 2018. 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 16, 2019ShareNavy’s Stealth Destroyers Now Part Of Experimental Squadron Alongside Drone ShipsThe Navy has struggled to find a place for the tiny fleet of just three Zumwalt class ships, but this change could also lead to the class’s demise. BYTyler RogowayJul 16, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareIndia Wants to Link Its Rebooted Fighter Jet Tender to Future Stealth Fighter DevelopmentIndian authorities say they will require whoever wins the new deal to help support separate work on a fifth generation fighter aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareRussia Admits Su-57s Were In Syria But Claims They Left After Just Two DaysRussian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu offers the first official confirmation, but his comments raise more questions than they answer. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 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, 2019ShareDid Russia Just Send Su-57 Stealth Fighters to Syria? (Updated)Even if these reports turn out to be false, it’s still likely only a matter of time before these aircraft make an appearance in the conflict. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareBoeing Unveils Prototype For The Navy’s MQ-25 Drone Tanker Competition (Updated)After teasing the reveal on social media, we finally get our first peak at the company’s clean-sheet, aircraft carrier-borne, unmanned tanker design. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019Share12345
BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2020ShareScaled Composites’ Mysterious Stealthy Jets Spotted Working With High-Flying Proteus (Updated)The highly unique aircraft flew between China Lake and Mojave Air and Space Port in what appears to have been an aerial test. BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayJun 6, 2020ShareSatellite Image Of RQ-170 Taxiing By MQ-9 Gives Best Size Estimate Yet Of Stealth DroneEstimates of the RQ-170’s size have varied greatly over the years. Now we can put the debate to rest. BYTyler RogowayJun 6, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 28, 2020ShareStealth Missile Marks On F-15Es All But Prove They Dealt Final Blow To Al Baghdadi’s CompoundThe use of Strike Eagles to launch the cruise missiles that flattened the ISIS mastermind’s compound has never been officially confirmed. BYTyler RogowayMay 28, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 20, 2020ShareF-117 Nighthawk Stealth Jets Just Flew A Mission Off The Southern California Coast12 years after their official retirement, a small number of F-117s are venturing farther from their home base to execute aggressor and test duties. BYTyler RogowayMay 20, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020ShareF-22 Raptor Stealth Fighter Crashes During Training Flight In Florida (Updated)The Raptor was on a local training mission when the pilot was forced to eject. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 15, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 10, 2020ShareB-1B Bomber Brandishes A Belly Full Of Stealth Cruise Missiles While Deployed To GuamThe messaging is abundantly clear: U.S. bombers haven’t tucked-tail and run from the region, and they stand ready to deliver a big, stealthy punch. BYTyler RogowayMay 10, 2020Share
BYAaron AmickApr 30, 2020ShareHow The Experimental USS Narwhal Ended Up Being The Navy’s Stealthiest Nuclear SubmarineThe sub had a range of exotic improvements over previous designs that allowed it to stalk Soviet submarines like no other. BYAaron AmickApr 30, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 30, 2020ShareExclusive: Unmasking Northrop Grumman’s XRQ-72A Great Horned Owl Spy DroneThe U.S. Intelligence Community led the development of this very quiet and high-efficiency unmanned reconnaissance aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 30, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayMar 25, 2020ShareThis Is The First Video Of An Su-57 Firing A Missile From Its Side Weapon Bay, Or Is It?A closer examination of the details visible in the video raises questions about exactly what we are seeing. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayMar 25, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 25, 2020ShareCIA’s Predecessor To The SR-71 Blackbird Tested Electron Guns To Hide From RadarsConcerns about advanced Soviet radars prompted the development of systems that could generate invisible radar-absorbing fields around the aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 25, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 10, 2020ShareEdwards AFB Upgrades Point To Unexpected Home For B-21 Raider, Other Secretive ProgramsIt was thought that the B-21 would be tested at the South Base complex, but it appears that won’t be the case. So what will live at South Base? BYTyler RogowayMar 10, 2020Share
BYTyler RogowayMar 4, 2020ShareMystery Objects Simultaneously Emerge From Hangars Again At Secretive Tonopah AirportWe first spotted this type of unprecedented activity in satellite imagery of the clandestine base three months ago. BYTyler RogowayMar 4, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 11, 2020ShareThe Navy Wants Money To Get Started On Its Future SSN(X) Attack SubmarineThe Navy’s goal is to design a submarine that is better-optimized for attacking other ships and subs than its existing Virginia class boats. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 11, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 31, 2020ShareHere’s Our Analysis Of The Air Force’s New B-21 Stealth Bomber RenderingsAlthough limited in detail, the new concept art offers new insights into the B-21’s inlets, other stealthy features, and overall size. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 31, 2020Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2020ShareDetails Emerge About The Secretive RQ-170 Stealth Drone’s First Trip To KoreaDocuments describe the unique planning that went into bringing the flying-wing reconnaissance drones to the Korean Peninsula and more. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 28, 2020Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 19, 2020ShareCongress Poised To Cancel Non-Nuclear Version Of Air Force’s Future Stealth Cruise MissileThe decision to eliminate this Congressional mandate could increase the emphasis on alternative conventional long-range cruise missile designs. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 19, 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 Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 15, 2020ShareNavy F/A-18 Super Hornet Takes Flight With New Infrared Search And Track PodThe infrared sensor is part of the Navy’s Block III upgrade program and will give its Super Hornets much needed new air-to-air capabilities. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJan 15, 2020Share
BYBrett TingleyDec 19, 2019ShareCan The U.S. Military Make An Airplane Invisible To The Naked Eye?The development of visual stealth began in WWII and continues today. So, just how close has the military has come to realizing an invisible plane? BYBrett TingleyDec 19, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 17, 2019ShareA Dozen Mystery Objects Suddenly Popped Out Of Hangars At Tonopah Test Range AirportThe base is known to be the shadowy home of aircraft that move from a developmental state at Area 51 and into an operational, but still secretive one. BYTyler RogowayDec 17, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 15, 2019ShareCheck Out This Rare Footage Of Red Eagle MiGs At Tonopah Test Range AirportThe rare piece of footage is from the 1980s when the U.S. was flying MiGs against its own jets out of a remote and secretive air base in Nevada. BYTyler RogowayDec 15, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 13, 2019ShareF-35 Cueing Artillery To Take Out Air Defense Site During Test Is A Glimpse Of The FutureWith new faster, longer-range weapons, artillery units will provide tactical aircraft an unlimited magazine for which to kick down the enemy’s door. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 13, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 10, 2019ShareF-117 Spotted Playing Stealthy Aggressor Against F-15s And F-22s Over Nellis RangeThe Nighthawk was working at low altitude with higher-flying aggressor F-16s to get the best of the opposing ‘blue’ force. BYTyler RogowayDec 10, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2019SharePhoto Emerges Showing Sweden’s Stealthy Visby Class Corvette’s Tiny Radar SignatureThe ships combine a radar-deflecting physical design with composite materials and other features to achieve an impressive level of low observability. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 5, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 5, 2019ShareThe Saga Of The AGM-129 Cruise Missile That Was Basically A Stealth Jet Designed Upside DownThe Advanced Cruise Missile was too far ahead of its time, so much so that it was eventually succeeded by the missile it was supposed to replace. BYTyler RogowayDec 5, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareChina’s J-20 Stealth Fighter Stuns By Brandishing Full Load Of Missiles At Zhuhai Air ShowBeijing’s stealth fighter shows its full set of teeth for the very first time. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThis Isn’t An Early B-2 Cockpit Mockup, It’s For A Previously Undisclosed Special Ops TransportThis revelation isn’t that surprising as there are long-standing and well-documented requirements for a penetrating tactical transport capability. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 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
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareTest Pilot Recounts F-117’s Wobbly First Flight And Entering Into Its Top Secret WorldSkunk Works test pilot Harold “Hal” Farley Jr. was at the controls of the YF-117 as it wobbled into the skies for the first time over Area 51. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareThe Army Nearly Adopted This Stealthy OH-58X Kiowa Warrior VariantAs the Army hunts for a new stealthy, high-speed, long-range attack reconnaissance helicopter, it’s interesting to look back at what might have been. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019SharePocket Force Of Stealthy Avenger Drones May Have Made Returning F-117s To Service UnnecessaryAvengers have flown over Syria and the secretive nature of who owns and operates the handful that have been delivered points to a clandestine program. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareLet’s Talk About The Rumor That F-117s Have Flown Missions In The Middle East RecentlyThe rumor isn’t new and there is certainly some highly relevant logic to back it up, but is it actually true? BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe Mysterious Saga Of America’s Hunt For A Stealth Special Operations Transport, Part 2The requirement for this type of aircraft has only become more pressing in the new Millennium, which begs the question, where are the planes? BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareF-35’s Most Sinister Capability Are Towed Decoys That Unreel From Inside Its Stealthy SkinThese “little buddies” not only protect the jet, but they can be used creatively to goad the enemy into showing itself and dying as a result. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareOrigins Of Stealth Black Hawks Date Back Over Three Decades Before The Bin Laden RaidAt the dawn of the stealth revolution, the Army was already working to turn its new Black Hawk helicopter into a stealth special operations platform. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe Mysterious Saga Of America’s Hunt For A Stealth Special Operations Transport, Part 1A labyrinth of programs and initiatives spanning nearly four decades was born out of a disastrous attempt to rescue U.S. hostages in Tehran. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThis Image Of A Naval Strike Missile Launch Shows A Key Tenet Of Stealth DesignThe Navy’s newest ship-killing missile features critical stealth technology that dates back to the SR-71 Blackbird and its predecessor. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareNo, Passive Radar Isn’t Going To Make Stealth Technology Obsolete Anytime SoonWhile passive radars will become increasingly valuable pieces of advanced air defense ecosystems, they don’t invalidate stealth technology. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019ShareHere’s Who Has Been Flying The F-117 Stealth Jets And Why According To The Air ForceThere have long been rumors and speculation about what the jets, which the Air Force is supposed to be destroying, are still doing up in the air. BYJoseph TrevithickDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThe SR-71 Blackbird’s Predecessor Created “Plasma Stealth” By Burning Cesium-Laced FuelSkunk Works needed a way to hide the A-12’s radar reflecting behind, so they dumped cesium into its fuel to create a radar-absorbing exhaust plume. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019ShareThese Images Of An F-22 Raptor’s Crumbling Radar Absorbent Skin Are FascinatingThe photos are a reminder of just how much work goes into keeping the F-22’s skin ready for combat and the amazing science behind its stealthy design. BYTyler RogowayDec 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 18, 2019ShareRussia Says UAE Could Help Build Su-57s As Gulf Nation Puts F-35 Ambitions On HoldThe Russians need a partner to help share the costs of the Su-57 program and are offering a similar deal to other potential customers. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 18, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 13, 2019ShareCheck Out These Exclusive Shots Of An F-117 Stealth Jet Arriving At The Reagan LibraryThe F-117 will join an F-14 Tomcat, a VC-137 “Air Force One” jet, and a VH-3 “Marine One” helicopter that already call the Reagan Library home. BYTyler RogowayNov 13, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 8, 2019ShareStunning Video And Photos Of Skunk Works Preparing An F-117 For The Reagan LibraryThe stealth Nighthawk named Unexpected Guest flew more combat sorties than any other and will now sit alongside an F-14 Tomcat at the Reagan Library. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayNov 8, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019ShareAirbus’s Secret Stealth Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Research Program Breaks Cover (Updated)The impressive-looking plane was part of a clandestine risk-reduction effort that will inform the firm’s future stealthy combat aircraft designs. BYTyler RogowayNov 5, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 26, 2019ShareChinese Stealth Bomber Wind Tunnel Model Emerges And It Looks Very FamiliarIt’s no surprise that China would take a high interest in understanding everything it can about the world’s only operational stealth bomber. BYTyler RogowayOct 26, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 25, 2019ShareFormer Top U.S. Defense Official Questions B-21 Schedule As Air Force Hedges TimelineThe senior Air Force official overseeing the B-21 program says he would not “bet on” the new stealth bomber making its first flight in 2021. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 25, 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
BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019ShareChina’s Reported Plan To Deploy Weaponless Stealth Drones On Its Carriers Make Perfect SenseIt’s not about the weapons such a drone can carry, it’s about the targeting data it can reliably supply to far more powerful and longer-range weapons. BYTyler RogowaySep 25, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 9, 2019ShareThe F-35A Is Set To Finally Get Chaff Countermeasures To Confuse Enemy RadarsThese cartridges full of radar-reflecting material have been curiously absent from the stealthy fighter’s already highly capable defense suite. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 9, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share“B-21s With Air-To-Air Capabilities,” Drones, Not 6th Gen Fighters To Dominate Future Air CombatThe Air Force’s vision of the future of aerial combat has evolved greatly as of late and has moved away from plans for new, costly manned fighters. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowaySep 6, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 5, 2019ShareUpgrades Needed For Sustained F-22 Operations During A Crisis In Europe Axed For Border WallThe Air Force had planned to award contracts for the infrastructure improvements, including a specialized repair facility, next year. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 5, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 30, 2019ShareCheck Out These Photos Of USAF B-2s And RAF F-35Bs Flying Together For The First TimeThree B-2s are in the United Kingdom to take part in various training exercises including these first-of-their-kind sorties with foreign F-35s. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 27, 2019Share“We’re Buying This One?” Turkey’s Erdogan Asks Putin In Front Of Su-57 Fighter At Air ShowTurkey is in the market for a new advanced fighter after getting locked out of the F-35 program over its purchase of the S-400 air defense system. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 27, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019ShareRussia’s Sukhoi Shows Off Stealthier Vision For Its “Hunter” Unmanned Combat Air VehicleWe now know that Sukhoi intends to make its unmanned combat air vehicle very stealthy, which will help overcome some of the Su-57’s shortcomings. BYTyler RogowayAug 25, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 13, 2019ShareStealthy Flying Wing Jet Pin Among Others From China’s Chengdu Aircraft Corp EmergesThe pin design shares numerous similarities to an equally curious unnamed drone that China unveiled at the biennial Zhuhai Airshow in 2018. 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 16, 2019ShareNavy’s Stealth Destroyers Now Part Of Experimental Squadron Alongside Drone ShipsThe Navy has struggled to find a place for the tiny fleet of just three Zumwalt class ships, but this change could also lead to the class’s demise. BYTyler RogowayJul 16, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareIndia Wants to Link Its Rebooted Fighter Jet Tender to Future Stealth Fighter DevelopmentIndian authorities say they will require whoever wins the new deal to help support separate work on a fifth generation fighter aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareRussia Admits Su-57s Were In Syria But Claims They Left After Just Two DaysRussian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu offers the first official confirmation, but his comments raise more questions than they answer. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 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, 2019ShareDid Russia Just Send Su-57 Stealth Fighters to Syria? (Updated)Even if these reports turn out to be false, it’s still likely only a matter of time before these aircraft make an appearance in the conflict. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019ShareBoeing Unveils Prototype For The Navy’s MQ-25 Drone Tanker Competition (Updated)After teasing the reveal on social media, we finally get our first peak at the company’s clean-sheet, aircraft carrier-borne, unmanned tanker design. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 30, 2019Share