Featured in usmcBYTyler RogowayJul 25, 2019ShareConfessions Of A U.S. Marine F/A-18 Hornet MaintainerWhat it really takes to keep the USMC’s tired Hornet fleet in the air and first-hand experience of Marine Aviation’s waning readiness. BYTyler RogowayJul 25, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 19, 2019ShareMarines Winding Down Weapon Systems Officer Position, F/A-18Ds To Fly With Pilot OnlyThe long-established Weapon Systems Officer position is in the twilight of its existence within the Marine Corps tactical jet community. BYTyler RogowayJul 19, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 19, 2019ShareMarine Anti-Drone Buggies On USS Boxer Knocked Down “Threatening” Iranian Drone (Updated)We also have a full analysis of the photos of Boxer and the rest of her convoy transiting the Strait of Hormuz around the time of the incident. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 19, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2019ShareU.S. F-35s Won’t Hit 80 Percent Mission Capable Goal Amid Spare Parts Supply ProblemsThe U.S. government’s official decision to kick Turkey out of the Joint Strike Fighter Program may exacerbate these issues. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJul 8, 2019ShareMarines Moving To Composite Hornet Squadrons Made Up Of F/A-18Ds And F/A-18CsAs the Legacy Hornet fleet is consolidated within the USMC, F/A-18Ds will be distributed to single-seat F/A-18C squadrons and vice-versa. BYTyler RogowayJul 8, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareMarines “Burned Out” Two Howitzer Barrels During the Raqqa OffensiveNew details highlight how important traditional artillery has been in the fighting against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAll US Military Branches, Including The Coast Guard, Are Buying The Army’s New PistolThe guns look set to become to the US military’s default sidearm, but nagging issues with the weapons could cause problems down the line. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareMarine Corps Is Finished With Its Long-Troubled Lightweight 120mm Mortar SystemsAfter decades of issues with the weapons, particularly with the small trucks that haul them around, the Marines will put their resources elsewhere. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareMassive US Counterstrike Against Assad’s Forces Signals New Stage Of Syrian Civil WarThree hour battle with Assad’s forces is a reminder that other parties may not give the US the choice of staying out of Syria’s civil war. 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, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Marines Get Upgraded SMAW Rocket Launcher, But It Could Already Be ObsoleteThe improved weapons are arriving just as the service is transforming and considering replacing them entirely. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Navy Expects Its Carrier Onboard Delivery Ospreys to be Fully Operational By 2024The tilt-rotors will fully replace the old C-2As by 2028, but it’s still not clear if they are up to the job. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe USMC’s Beloved M27 Automatic Rifle Gets Another Job As The M38 Marksman RifleThe service wants to get more rifles based on Heckler and Koch’s HK416 into the hands of Marines in general. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDraken Picks Up a Dozen South African Cheetahs to Emulate 4th Generation AdversariesMany private companies are buying up new fighters jets in to meet demands for more advanced aggressors to duel against. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe Marine Corps Wants to Craft a Fleet of 1,000 “Itty Bitty Boats”The small watercraft force could give marines more flexibility and offer up new avenues of attack. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Military Goes on Alert Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Move US Embassy into JerusalemThe first wave of American reaction forces are reportedly already on the ground and more are waiting in the wings. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMarines Are Buying “M007” Glocks For Special Agents And Its Elite Helicopter UnitThe service is giving the guns to individuals who need to carry concealed, but there might be more orders on the way. 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, 2019ShareThe Army Rushes 1,000 Recoilless Rifles to Troops, But What’s a “Carl Gustaf” Anyway?After more than five years, the service is rushing hundreds of recoilless rifles to troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Marines Want Pint-Sized Rocket Artillery They can Carry in an MV-22 OspreyA senior Marine general is looking for a weapon akin to the popular HIMARS, but on a vehicle smaller than a Humvee. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUSAF and Raytheon Say Cost Overruns Won’t Slow Delivery of Vital New BombThe Small Diameter Bomb II is set to become a key weapon for American and allied F-35 stealth fighters in particular. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 29, 2019ShareUSMC KC-130 Hercules Crashes and Burns in Mississippi Killing 16 (Updated)The aircraft came down in a rural field, tragically killing everyone on board. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSenators Add Big Bucks for a Fleet Of Light Attack Planes to the Defense BudgetProposed spending plan includes more than a billion for a type of aircraft the U.S. Air Force desperately needs. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareU.S. Special Operators and Marines Want A New Long-Range Machine GunThe weapon would fill a capability gap in between 7.62-mm light machine guns and the venerable .50 caliber M2. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Throw-Away Drone Could Rush Supplies to Marines in NeedThe Supply Glider concept is simple, cheap, and disposable, and that might make it vital for future operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMiniature Smart Bombs Could Help Give the F-35 Firepower It Desperately NeedsATK Orbital says its up-coming family of tiny weapons might be a good fit, but the Joint Strike fighters still can’t attack fast-moving targets with any weapon. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareU.S. Marines Secretly Set Up Artillery Base North of RaqqaDeployment to Syria is a significant escalation of the American campaign in the country. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareCheck Out the Marine Corps’ Fearsome-Looking Upgraded ShotgunsUpgrade kits make the guns safer and handier for Marines, but shotguns are still very much niche weapons on the modern battlefield. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareBYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 18, 2019ShareLockheed And Airbus Join Forces To Disrupt U.S. Aerial Refueling Marketplace And MoreThe team plans to pitch the A330-based tanker’s services to the Pentagon and jointly develop all new tanker concepts. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 18, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2019SharePentagon To Sell-Off Its AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter FleetThe still very relevant and capable “Whiskey Cobras” are certain to be very sought after weapons once they hit the market. BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJun 5, 2019ShareAmerica’s Top General In Afghanistan Packs An Old School 1911 PistolGeneral Scott Miller, who was previously a member of the elite Delta Force, was spotted with this increasingly rare government issued sidearm. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 5, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayMay 21, 2019ShareMarine AV-8B Harrier Crashed In North Carolina, Fourth U.S. Military Aircraft Lost In May (Updated)2018 was a terrible year for U.S. military aviation mishaps, but 2019 is now looking quite grim, as well. BYTyler RogowayMay 21, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 20, 2019ShareThe U.S. Military Wants Tiny Road Mobile Nuclear Reactors That Can Fit In A C-17The power demands to sustain American military operations are only increasing, but small nuclear power plants could present new problems. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 20, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMay 8, 2019ShareUSMC’s CH-53K King Stallion’s Woes Have Put It In A Duel With The CH-47 ChinookCongress has ordered the Pentagon to examine any potential alternatives as the CH-53K program’s schedule continues to slip. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 8, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 9, 2019ShareU.S. Amphibious Assault Ship Loaded With F-35s Operating Off Disputed South China Sea ShoalChina and the Philippines have competing claims to the area, which has turned into a major flashpoint in the past. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 9, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayApr 8, 2019ShareMarine F-5 Aggressors Becoming Far More Threatening Via “Red Net” Data Link UpgradeThe USMC’s F-5 adversaries are getting an upgrade that will drastically improve their ability to pose a credible threat to fleet aircrews. BYTyler RogowayApr 8, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 5, 2019ShareHere’s What’s In The Army’s Requirements For A Future High-Speed Assault HelicopterThe goal is to replace the Army’s Black Hawks and some Marine helos, but the new design might ultimately replace a number of other helicopters too. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 5, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickApr 1, 2019ShareU.S. Amphibious Assault Ship In South China Sea With Unprecedentedly Large Load of F-35BsThe Marines are hoping to make this a more common occurrence and it could be a stepping stone to “Lighting Carriers” packed with even more F-35Bs. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 21, 2019ShareMarines To Finally Add 30mm Cannon To Bolt-On “Harvest Hawk” Armament Kits For KC-130JsThe guns will add a new and valuable capability to the add-on weapon and sensor packages, which already include precision guided missiles and bombs. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 21, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 20, 2019ShareThe Navy’s “Operational” F-35C Is Fully Mission Capable Less Than Five Percent Of The TimeA stunning deficiency in readiness rates for Navy and Marine F-35s calls into question whether the stealth jets can fight a prolonged conflict. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 20, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 13, 2019ShareThe USAF’s Plans To Buy Six Aircraft As Part Of Its Never Ending Light Attack ExperimentThe service will now partner with the Marines, too, but has made it clear this is about helping foreign allies, not acquiring planes for its own use. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 13, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickMar 12, 2019ShareMarines Lay Out Plans For Their Own MQ-9 Reaper Drone Force In New Budget RequestThis would give the service its first long-endurance drones and help pave the way for future unmanned aircraft capabilities. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 12, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 6, 2019ShareThe Pocket-Sized Black Hornet Drone Is About To Change Army Operations ForeverEven the service’s smallest units will soon have the ability to scout ahead and see into hard to reach spaces from behind cover. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 6, 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, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareUSMC’s Older F-35Bs May Only Be Able To Fly Around A Quarter Of Their Expected Service Life (Updated)Structural defects continue to plague the F-35B, which could lead to billions of dollars worth of unflyable, but otherwise young aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 29, 2019ShareThe USMC Already Wants To Up-Gun Its New Amphibious Combat Vehicle With A 30mm CannonThe Corps is looking to fast-track plans for a ‘lethality upgrade’ for at least some of the forthcoming family of wheeled armored vehicles. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 29, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayJan 21, 2019ShareUSS Kearsarge Transits The Suez Canal With Anti-Drone Buggies Keeping Watch On DeckThe USMC is putting its new drone defense capabilities to work in creative ways, like protecting a multi-billion dollar capital ship. BYTyler RogowayJan 21, 2019ShareBYJoseph TrevithickJan 11, 2019ShareUSMC’s Huge New CH-53K King Stallion Helicopter Has Not So Tiny Problems, Faces More DelaysPersistent technical issues continue to hound the program as the Corps’ aging Super Stallions are in ever more dire need of replacement. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 11, 2019ShareBYTyler RogowayNov 19, 2018ShareFirst Images Of New VH-92 Marine One Helicopter Landing On White House LawnWe not only get our very first good look at a VH-92 painted in the iconic colors of Marine One, but also of one landing on the South Lawn. BYTyler RogowayNov 19, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 15, 2018ShareMarines Riding On Cargo Ship To Pacific Exercises A Sign Of A More Flexible Deployment StrategyUsing the cargo ship helps reduce demand on warships and puts more Marines in more places at any given time. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 15, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 5, 2018ShareUS Troops Train With Tiny German Wiesel ‘Tankettes’ That Fit Inside A CH-53 HelicopterNATO’s largest exercise in decades is letting the alliance’s members show off unique capabilities, including a particularly tiny armored vehicle. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 5, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickNov 1, 2018ShareCatalina Island’s Famous Cliffside Airport To Get Rebuilt In Marine Training ExerciseIt’s a great training opportunity since rapidly building air bases in hard to access areas is becoming a cornerstone of U.S. military doctrine. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 1, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 31, 2018ShareUSMC Wants Truck-Mounted Plasma Weapon To Temporarily Blind, Deafen, And Even Yell At PeopleThe service is hoping the same less-than-lethal weapons will be able to do double duty as communication systems and short-range sensors, too. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 31, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 29, 2018ShareArmy’s Newest Airborne Unit Gets Second-Hand But Air Droppable USMC LAV-25 Armored VehiclesThe 82nd Airborne Division has been without its own light armored vehicles since it retired its M551 Sheridan light tanks in the 1990s. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 29, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2018ShareUS, South Korea Cancel Another Big Combat Exercise As Ties Between Seoul and Pyongyang GrowCanceling exercises could help negotiations with the North moving forward, but also could hurt the readiness of US and South Korean forces. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2018ShareArmy’s New Huge Barrel Packing 155mm Howitzer Doubles Range To 40 Miles In TestsNow the service already wants to double that range and get the guns hitting targets out to 80 miles. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickOct 11, 2018ShareU.S. Military, Foreign Operators Ground Their F-35s To Look For Faulty Fuel TubesThe parts are linked to a recent Marine Corps F-35B crash and should hopefully be easy to replace. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 11, 2018ShareBYTyler RogowayOct 6, 2018ShareReadiness Of Navy And Marine Aircraft And Crews Is Improving, But It’s Still Pretty DismalAfter enduring years of sequester and dubious funding priorities, Navy and USMC flying communities are slowly digging out of a deep, dark hole. BYTyler RogowayOct 6, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2018ShareMarine F-35Bs Fly First-Ever Strike Missions Against ‘Fixed Targets’ in Afghanistan (Updated)The debut combat missions for American Joint Strike Fighters came after the same jets conducted armed reconnaissance patrols near Somalia. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 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 25, 2018ShareBell Unveils V-247 Vigilant Tilt-Rotor Combat Drone Mock-Up at USMC Tech ExpoThe Marines are looking at the design as part of their own multi-role drone program, but it could be appealing to other services, as well. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareUSMC Cancels Upgrades For Amphibious Vehicles With Replacements Still Years AwayThe older vehicles are set to serve through at least 2030, but will now do so without the improvements the design sorely needs. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickSep 6, 2018ShareMarine Corps F-35Bs Have Arrived Off the Coast of Africa For The Very First TimeThe jets are there for training, not combat, but the deployment reflects the steady integration of the planes into routine Marine activities. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 6, 2018ShareBYJoseph TrevithickAug 22, 2018ShareMarines Need Special Lightning Rods To Shield Their F-35s In Japan From StormsLightning strikes remain a serious danger to the stealthy fighter jets that could hamper their operations from bases without adequate protection. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 22, 2018Share1234
BYTyler RogowayJul 25, 2019ShareConfessions Of A U.S. Marine F/A-18 Hornet MaintainerWhat it really takes to keep the USMC’s tired Hornet fleet in the air and first-hand experience of Marine Aviation’s waning readiness. BYTyler RogowayJul 25, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 19, 2019ShareMarines Winding Down Weapon Systems Officer Position, F/A-18Ds To Fly With Pilot OnlyThe long-established Weapon Systems Officer position is in the twilight of its existence within the Marine Corps tactical jet community. BYTyler RogowayJul 19, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 19, 2019ShareMarine Anti-Drone Buggies On USS Boxer Knocked Down “Threatening” Iranian Drone (Updated)We also have a full analysis of the photos of Boxer and the rest of her convoy transiting the Strait of Hormuz around the time of the incident. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 19, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2019ShareU.S. F-35s Won’t Hit 80 Percent Mission Capable Goal Amid Spare Parts Supply ProblemsThe U.S. government’s official decision to kick Turkey out of the Joint Strike Fighter Program may exacerbate these issues. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 17, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJul 8, 2019ShareMarines Moving To Composite Hornet Squadrons Made Up Of F/A-18Ds And F/A-18CsAs the Legacy Hornet fleet is consolidated within the USMC, F/A-18Ds will be distributed to single-seat F/A-18C squadrons and vice-versa. BYTyler RogowayJul 8, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019ShareMarines “Burned Out” Two Howitzer Barrels During the Raqqa OffensiveNew details highlight how important traditional artillery has been in the fighting against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. BYJoseph TrevithickJul 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareAll US Military Branches, Including The Coast Guard, Are Buying The Army’s New PistolThe guns look set to become to the US military’s default sidearm, but nagging issues with the weapons could cause problems down the line. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareMarine Corps Is Finished With Its Long-Troubled Lightweight 120mm Mortar SystemsAfter decades of issues with the weapons, particularly with the small trucks that haul them around, the Marines will put their resources elsewhere. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareMassive US Counterstrike Against Assad’s Forces Signals New Stage Of Syrian Civil WarThree hour battle with Assad’s forces is a reminder that other parties may not give the US the choice of staying out of Syria’s civil war. 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
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Marines Get Upgraded SMAW Rocket Launcher, But It Could Already Be ObsoleteThe improved weapons are arriving just as the service is transforming and considering replacing them entirely. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareUS Navy Expects Its Carrier Onboard Delivery Ospreys to be Fully Operational By 2024The tilt-rotors will fully replace the old C-2As by 2028, but it’s still not clear if they are up to the job. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe USMC’s Beloved M27 Automatic Rifle Gets Another Job As The M38 Marksman RifleThe service wants to get more rifles based on Heckler and Koch’s HK416 into the hands of Marines in general. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareDraken Picks Up a Dozen South African Cheetahs to Emulate 4th Generation AdversariesMany private companies are buying up new fighters jets in to meet demands for more advanced aggressors to duel against. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019ShareThe Marine Corps Wants to Craft a Fleet of 1,000 “Itty Bitty Boats”The small watercraft force could give marines more flexibility and offer up new avenues of attack. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 30, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Military Goes on Alert Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Move US Embassy into JerusalemThe first wave of American reaction forces are reportedly already on the ground and more are waiting in the wings. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMarines Are Buying “M007” Glocks For Special Agents And Its Elite Helicopter UnitThe service is giving the guns to individuals who need to carry concealed, but there might be more orders on the way. 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, 2019ShareThe Army Rushes 1,000 Recoilless Rifles to Troops, But What’s a “Carl Gustaf” Anyway?After more than five years, the service is rushing hundreds of recoilless rifles to troops in Afghanistan and elsewhere. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUS Marines Want Pint-Sized Rocket Artillery They can Carry in an MV-22 OspreyA senior Marine general is looking for a weapon akin to the popular HIMARS, but on a vehicle smaller than a Humvee. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareUSAF and Raytheon Say Cost Overruns Won’t Slow Delivery of Vital New BombThe Small Diameter Bomb II is set to become a key weapon for American and allied F-35 stealth fighters in particular. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 29, 2019ShareUSMC KC-130 Hercules Crashes and Burns in Mississippi Killing 16 (Updated)The aircraft came down in a rural field, tragically killing everyone on board. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareSenators Add Big Bucks for a Fleet Of Light Attack Planes to the Defense BudgetProposed spending plan includes more than a billion for a type of aircraft the U.S. Air Force desperately needs. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareU.S. Special Operators and Marines Want A New Long-Range Machine GunThe weapon would fill a capability gap in between 7.62-mm light machine guns and the venerable .50 caliber M2. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareThis Throw-Away Drone Could Rush Supplies to Marines in NeedThe Supply Glider concept is simple, cheap, and disposable, and that might make it vital for future operations. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareMiniature Smart Bombs Could Help Give the F-35 Firepower It Desperately NeedsATK Orbital says its up-coming family of tiny weapons might be a good fit, but the Joint Strike fighters still can’t attack fast-moving targets with any weapon. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareU.S. Marines Secretly Set Up Artillery Base North of RaqqaDeployment to Syria is a significant escalation of the American campaign in the country. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019ShareCheck Out the Marine Corps’ Fearsome-Looking Upgraded ShotgunsUpgrade kits make the guns safer and handier for Marines, but shotguns are still very much niche weapons on the modern battlefield. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 29, 2019Share
BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 18, 2019ShareLockheed And Airbus Join Forces To Disrupt U.S. Aerial Refueling Marketplace And MoreThe team plans to pitch the A330-based tanker’s services to the Pentagon and jointly develop all new tanker concepts. BYJoseph Trevithick and Tyler RogowayJun 18, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2019SharePentagon To Sell-Off Its AH-1W Super Cobra Attack Helicopter FleetThe still very relevant and capable “Whiskey Cobras” are certain to be very sought after weapons once they hit the market. BYTyler RogowayJun 11, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJun 5, 2019ShareAmerica’s Top General In Afghanistan Packs An Old School 1911 PistolGeneral Scott Miller, who was previously a member of the elite Delta Force, was spotted with this increasingly rare government issued sidearm. BYJoseph TrevithickJun 5, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayMay 21, 2019ShareMarine AV-8B Harrier Crashed In North Carolina, Fourth U.S. Military Aircraft Lost In May (Updated)2018 was a terrible year for U.S. military aviation mishaps, but 2019 is now looking quite grim, as well. BYTyler RogowayMay 21, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 20, 2019ShareThe U.S. Military Wants Tiny Road Mobile Nuclear Reactors That Can Fit In A C-17The power demands to sustain American military operations are only increasing, but small nuclear power plants could present new problems. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 20, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMay 8, 2019ShareUSMC’s CH-53K King Stallion’s Woes Have Put It In A Duel With The CH-47 ChinookCongress has ordered the Pentagon to examine any potential alternatives as the CH-53K program’s schedule continues to slip. BYJoseph TrevithickMay 8, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 9, 2019ShareU.S. Amphibious Assault Ship Loaded With F-35s Operating Off Disputed South China Sea ShoalChina and the Philippines have competing claims to the area, which has turned into a major flashpoint in the past. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 9, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayApr 8, 2019ShareMarine F-5 Aggressors Becoming Far More Threatening Via “Red Net” Data Link UpgradeThe USMC’s F-5 adversaries are getting an upgrade that will drastically improve their ability to pose a credible threat to fleet aircrews. BYTyler RogowayApr 8, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 5, 2019ShareHere’s What’s In The Army’s Requirements For A Future High-Speed Assault HelicopterThe goal is to replace the Army’s Black Hawks and some Marine helos, but the new design might ultimately replace a number of other helicopters too. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 5, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickApr 1, 2019ShareU.S. Amphibious Assault Ship In South China Sea With Unprecedentedly Large Load of F-35BsThe Marines are hoping to make this a more common occurrence and it could be a stepping stone to “Lighting Carriers” packed with even more F-35Bs. BYJoseph TrevithickApr 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 21, 2019ShareMarines To Finally Add 30mm Cannon To Bolt-On “Harvest Hawk” Armament Kits For KC-130JsThe guns will add a new and valuable capability to the add-on weapon and sensor packages, which already include precision guided missiles and bombs. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 21, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 20, 2019ShareThe Navy’s “Operational” F-35C Is Fully Mission Capable Less Than Five Percent Of The TimeA stunning deficiency in readiness rates for Navy and Marine F-35s calls into question whether the stealth jets can fight a prolonged conflict. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 20, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 13, 2019ShareThe USAF’s Plans To Buy Six Aircraft As Part Of Its Never Ending Light Attack ExperimentThe service will now partner with the Marines, too, but has made it clear this is about helping foreign allies, not acquiring planes for its own use. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 13, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickMar 12, 2019ShareMarines Lay Out Plans For Their Own MQ-9 Reaper Drone Force In New Budget RequestThis would give the service its first long-endurance drones and help pave the way for future unmanned aircraft capabilities. BYJoseph TrevithickMar 12, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 6, 2019ShareThe Pocket-Sized Black Hornet Drone Is About To Change Army Operations ForeverEven the service’s smallest units will soon have the ability to scout ahead and see into hard to reach spaces from behind cover. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 6, 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
BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019ShareUSMC’s Older F-35Bs May Only Be Able To Fly Around A Quarter Of Their Expected Service Life (Updated)Structural defects continue to plague the F-35B, which could lead to billions of dollars worth of unflyable, but otherwise young aircraft. BYJoseph TrevithickFeb 1, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 29, 2019ShareThe USMC Already Wants To Up-Gun Its New Amphibious Combat Vehicle With A 30mm CannonThe Corps is looking to fast-track plans for a ‘lethality upgrade’ for at least some of the forthcoming family of wheeled armored vehicles. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 29, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayJan 21, 2019ShareUSS Kearsarge Transits The Suez Canal With Anti-Drone Buggies Keeping Watch On DeckThe USMC is putting its new drone defense capabilities to work in creative ways, like protecting a multi-billion dollar capital ship. BYTyler RogowayJan 21, 2019Share
BYJoseph TrevithickJan 11, 2019ShareUSMC’s Huge New CH-53K King Stallion Helicopter Has Not So Tiny Problems, Faces More DelaysPersistent technical issues continue to hound the program as the Corps’ aging Super Stallions are in ever more dire need of replacement. BYJoseph TrevithickJan 11, 2019Share
BYTyler RogowayNov 19, 2018ShareFirst Images Of New VH-92 Marine One Helicopter Landing On White House LawnWe not only get our very first good look at a VH-92 painted in the iconic colors of Marine One, but also of one landing on the South Lawn. BYTyler RogowayNov 19, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 15, 2018ShareMarines Riding On Cargo Ship To Pacific Exercises A Sign Of A More Flexible Deployment StrategyUsing the cargo ship helps reduce demand on warships and puts more Marines in more places at any given time. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 15, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 5, 2018ShareUS Troops Train With Tiny German Wiesel ‘Tankettes’ That Fit Inside A CH-53 HelicopterNATO’s largest exercise in decades is letting the alliance’s members show off unique capabilities, including a particularly tiny armored vehicle. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 5, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickNov 1, 2018ShareCatalina Island’s Famous Cliffside Airport To Get Rebuilt In Marine Training ExerciseIt’s a great training opportunity since rapidly building air bases in hard to access areas is becoming a cornerstone of U.S. military doctrine. BYJoseph TrevithickNov 1, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 31, 2018ShareUSMC Wants Truck-Mounted Plasma Weapon To Temporarily Blind, Deafen, And Even Yell At PeopleThe service is hoping the same less-than-lethal weapons will be able to do double duty as communication systems and short-range sensors, too. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 31, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 29, 2018ShareArmy’s Newest Airborne Unit Gets Second-Hand But Air Droppable USMC LAV-25 Armored VehiclesThe 82nd Airborne Division has been without its own light armored vehicles since it retired its M551 Sheridan light tanks in the 1990s. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 29, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2018ShareUS, South Korea Cancel Another Big Combat Exercise As Ties Between Seoul and Pyongyang GrowCanceling exercises could help negotiations with the North moving forward, but also could hurt the readiness of US and South Korean forces. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 19, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2018ShareArmy’s New Huge Barrel Packing 155mm Howitzer Doubles Range To 40 Miles In TestsNow the service already wants to double that range and get the guns hitting targets out to 80 miles. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 15, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickOct 11, 2018ShareU.S. Military, Foreign Operators Ground Their F-35s To Look For Faulty Fuel TubesThe parts are linked to a recent Marine Corps F-35B crash and should hopefully be easy to replace. BYJoseph TrevithickOct 11, 2018Share
BYTyler RogowayOct 6, 2018ShareReadiness Of Navy And Marine Aircraft And Crews Is Improving, But It’s Still Pretty DismalAfter enduring years of sequester and dubious funding priorities, Navy and USMC flying communities are slowly digging out of a deep, dark hole. BYTyler RogowayOct 6, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 2018ShareMarine F-35Bs Fly First-Ever Strike Missions Against ‘Fixed Targets’ in Afghanistan (Updated)The debut combat missions for American Joint Strike Fighters came after the same jets conducted armed reconnaissance patrols near Somalia. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 27, 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 25, 2018ShareBell Unveils V-247 Vigilant Tilt-Rotor Combat Drone Mock-Up at USMC Tech ExpoThe Marines are looking at the design as part of their own multi-role drone program, but it could be appealing to other services, as well. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018ShareUSMC Cancels Upgrades For Amphibious Vehicles With Replacements Still Years AwayThe older vehicles are set to serve through at least 2030, but will now do so without the improvements the design sorely needs. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 25, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickSep 6, 2018ShareMarine Corps F-35Bs Have Arrived Off the Coast of Africa For The Very First TimeThe jets are there for training, not combat, but the deployment reflects the steady integration of the planes into routine Marine activities. BYJoseph TrevithickSep 6, 2018Share
BYJoseph TrevithickAug 22, 2018ShareMarines Need Special Lightning Rods To Shield Their F-35s In Japan From StormsLightning strikes remain a serious danger to the stealthy fighter jets that could hamper their operations from bases without adequate protection. BYJoseph TrevithickAug 22, 2018Share