The War Zone

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

The Night Stalkers’ famed AH/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters are looking at a “resurrection,” but for how long and what comes after is uncertain.

By Joseph Trevithick

Latest

AEVEX Aerospace, makers of the Phoenix Ghost loitering munition, now makes sea drones.

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

The personal watercraft-based uncrewed vessel can take on many missions, from cargo delivery to acting as a kamikaze against enemy ships.

By Howard Altman

5:54 PM EDT May 9

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which won the contract to build the U.S. Air Force’s highly specialized Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) aircraft last month, has acquired five Boeing 747-8s from Korean Air. The likelihood is that these will be converted as the successors to the Air Force’s aging 747-200-based E-4B Nightwatch ‘doomsday planes,’ although at this stage we still don’t know how many of the new SAOC aircraft will be fielded.

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

Korean Air has confirmed the sale of five of its 747-8s to SNC, which is building the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft.

By Thomas Newdick

2:21 PM EDT May 9

We now have our first look at a mini-cruise missile U.S. Special Operations Command is developing that could arm AC-130J gunships and other aircraft.

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

Special Operations Command sees a mini-cruise missile as a top priority that will help ensure the relevance of AC-130s and other aircraft.

By Joseph Trevithick

9:16 PM EDT May 8

STRAIT OF SAN JUAN DE FUCA, Wash. (May 6, 2024) The Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN 739) transits the Strait of San Juan de Fuca escorted by U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and U.S. Coast Guard screening escort vessels. Joint operations, such as this one which involved the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy, ensure the U.S. military is ready to meet its security commitments at home and abroad including commitments to our allies and partners. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Gwendelyn Ohrazda/Released)

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

The A-10 is highly capable of force protection, including against boats that could threaten a submarine loaded with nuclear-tipped missiles.

By Oliver Parken

8:28 PM EDT May 8

Air

KH-101s are now being fired at Ukraine with two warheads onboard.

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

The modification likely halves the range of the missile, but a separate fragmentation warhead makes it considerably more lethal.

By Thomas Newdick

7:23 PM EDT May 8

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick

4:57 PM EDT May 8

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

3:45 PM EDT May 8

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

2:12 PM EDT May 8

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Sea

Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

Thanks to a recent upgrade, five AIM-120s, four AIM-9Xs and an ATFLIR pod offer considerable ‘magazine depth’ for tackling Houthi drones.

By Thomas Newdick

7:56 PM EDT May 7

Ukrainian Drone Boats Now Armed With Adapted Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

1:34 PM EDT May 6

More SM-3 Interceptors Needed After Downing Iranian Ballistic Missiles: Navy Secretary

By Howard Altman

8:14 PM EDT May 2

Navy Names Next Amphibious Assault Ship USS Helmand Province

By Howard Altman

3:13 PM EDT May 2

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Land

Russian 'turtle tank' seen operating with additional cage armor and an attached mine roller

New Russian Turtle Tank With Cage-Like Armor Emerges On Ukrainian Battlefield

byOliver Parken

5:08 PM EDT May 6

Our First Look At The Army’s Unmanned HIMARS Launcher Truck Firing
byJoseph Trevithick
1:31 PM EDT May 6
Our First Look At Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Firing
byJoseph Trevithick
3:17 PM EDT May 3
Marines Poised To Get Their 30mm Cannon-Armed Amphibious Combat Vehicle
byThomas Newdick
1:10 PM EDT May 2

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Space

Russia’s Anti-Satellite Nuke Could Leave Lower Orbit Unusable, Test Vehicle May Already Be Deployed

byJoseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

7:00 PM EDT May 3

If SpaceX’s Secret Constellation Is What We Think It Is, It’s Game Changing (Updated)
byJoseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway
4:44 PM EDT Mar 20
Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks
byJoseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway
7:29 PM EDT Mar 15
Russia’s “Highly Concerning” Anti-Satellite Super Weapon: What Are The Possibilities?
byJoseph Trevithick
5:34 PM EST Feb 15

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Nukes

Putin Orders Tactical Nuclear Drills In Response To Western “Threats”

byThomas Newdick

8:12 PM EDT May 6

Ukraine Situation Report: Poland “Ready” To Host Nuclear Weapons
byThomas Newdick
6:31 PM EDT Apr 22
How The U.K. Will Test Its New Nuclear Warhead Without Setting One Off
byJoseph Trevithick
5:11 PM EDT Mar 25
Russian Submarines Now Appear To Be Getting Anti-Drone “Cope Cages”
byJoseph Trevithick
8:26 PM EDT Mar 20

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SOF Week '24

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

byHoward Altman

5:54 PM EDT May 9

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter
byJoseph Trevithick
1:47 PM EDT May 9
Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships
byJoseph Trevithick
9:16 PM EDT May 8
Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa
byHoward Altman, Joseph Trevithick
3:45 PM EDT May 8

View all

Latest

BYHoward Altman

5:54 PM EDT May 9

Sea

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

The personal watercraft-based uncrewed vessel can take on many missions, from cargo delivery to acting as a kamikaze against enemy ships.

5:54 PM EDT May 9

2:21 PM EDT May 9

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

Korean Air has confirmed the sale of five of its 747-8s to SNC, which is building the new Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft.

2:21 PM EDT May 9

1:47 PM EDT May 9

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

The Night Stalkers’ famed AH/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters are looking at a “resurrection,” but for how long and what comes after is uncertain.

The famed Little Bird helicopters used by the Army's elite 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment are seeing a 'resurrection' after the Army's cancellation of the Future Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft program, but their future is still murky.

1:47 PM EDT May 9

9:16 PM EDT May 8

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

Special Operations Command sees a mini-cruise missile as a top priority that will help ensure the relevance of AC-130s and other aircraft.

9:16 PM EDT May 8

8:28 PM EDT May 8

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

The A-10 is highly capable of force protection, including against boats that could threaten a submarine loaded with nuclear-tipped missiles.

8:28 PM EDT May 8

7:23 PM EDT May 8

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

The modification likely halves the range of the missile, but a separate fragmentation warhead makes it considerably more lethal.

7:23 PM EDT May 8

4:57 PM EDT May 8

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

The product of a long program to field a low-cost, long-endurance surveillance drone, ULTRA is now flying missions around the Persian Gulf.

Unmanned Long-Endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft crew chiefs, assigned within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, prep an ULTRA aircraft for taxi across the flightline before an early morning takeoff at an undisclosed location, May 7, 2024. ULTRA is an unmanned aerial system capable of flight times up to 80 hours, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities to combatant commanders, with a smaller operational footprint than other UAS in its class.

4:57 PM EDT May 8

3:45 PM EDT May 8

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

Paragliding Marines went on a mock drone hunt at the event, but this is a capability that could be valuable for a host roles.

An annual special operations capability demonstration has included paragliding Marines on a mock drone hunt.

3:45 PM EDT May 8

2:12 PM EDT May 8

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

Rogue 1 is being procured alongside two other types that are competing to give the USMC more robust man-portable loitering munitions.

2:12 PM EDT May 8

10:32 PM EDT May 7

Rifle-Armed Robot Dogs Now Being Tested By Marine Special Operators (Updated)

MARSOC is using robotic dogs equipped with remote weapon stations to detect targets automatically before being given approval to fire.

10:32 PM EDT May 7

8:42 PM EDT May 7

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

The grand on again, off again plan for putting a special operations MC-130 on floats is not moving forward.

US Special Operations Command says it has 'hit pause' on plans to convert an MC-130J special operations tanker/transport in a floatplane.

BYJoseph Trevithick

8:42 PM EDT May 7

Air

Features from the Archive

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

Super Hornets Now Flying With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles To Counter Houthi Drones

Ukrainian Drone Boats Now Armed With Adapted Air-To-Air Missiles

More SM-3 Interceptors Needed After Downing Iranian Ballistic Missiles: Navy Secretary

Navy Names Next Amphibious Assault Ship USS Helmand Province

Land

New Russian Turtle Tank With Cage-Like Armor Emerges On Ukrainian Battlefield

Our First Look At The Army’s Unmanned HIMARS Launcher Truck Firing

Our First Look At Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Firing

Marines Poised To Get Their 30mm Cannon-Armed Amphibious Combat Vehicle

Space

Russia’s Anti-Satellite Nuke Could Leave Lower Orbit Unusable, Test Vehicle May Already Be Deployed

If SpaceX’s Secret Constellation Is What We Think It Is, It’s Game Changing (Updated)

Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks

Russia’s “Highly Concerning” Anti-Satellite Super Weapon: What Are The Possibilities?

Nukes

Putin Orders Tactical Nuclear Drills In Response To Western “Threats”

Ukraine Situation Report: Poland “Ready” To Host Nuclear Weapons

How The U.K. Will Test Its New Nuclear Warhead Without Setting One Off

Russian Submarines Now Appear To Be Getting Anti-Drone “Cope Cages”

SOF Week '24

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

Latest

Mako Is A Jet Ski Turned Into A Weaponized Drone

Former Korean Air 747s Slated To Become USAF Doomsday Planes (Updated)

H-6 Little Bird’s Future Upended Due To Army Axing Armed Scout Helicopter

Our First Look At The Tiny Cruise Missile That Aims To Arm AC-130 Gunships

A-10 Warthogs Escorting A Ballistic Missile Submarine Is Certainly Different

Russia Now Firing Kh-101 Cruise Missiles Modified With Two Warheads At Ukraine

Air Force’s ULTRA Long-Endurance Glider-Like Drone Is Now Operating In The Middle East

Marine Special Operations Paragliding Capabilities Emerge At Demonstration In Tampa

Rogue 1 Is One Of The Marine Corps’ Newest Kamikaze Drone

Rifle-Armed Robot Dogs Now Being Tested By Marine Special Operators (Updated)

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command

Features from the Archive

Check Out This Stunning Photo Of The Qatari-British Typhoon Squadron In Action

Here Is What Each Of The Navy’s Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Costs

What It’s Really Like Piloting Private Jets For The Rich And Famous

The U.S. Sold This Unique Stealth Drone Called ‘Scarab’ To Egypt In The 1980s

This Bolt-On Launcher Can Give Nearly Any Ship The Same Weaponry As A U.S. Navy Destroyer

These Are The Briefings President-Elect Trump Got On The F-35, Air Force One, and Nukes

This C-17 Rocketed Through Star Wars Canyon Like A Fighter Jet

Nothing But Images Of Precision Guided Weapons Taken Just Before They Obliterate Their Targets