TWZ’s coverage direct from Navy League’s Sea Air Space 2025 >>

United Kingdom

Latest in United Kingdom

Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years
Air

Puma Helicopter Retires From UK Service After More Than 50 Years

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Apr 1, 2025

F-35 Hill AFB
Air

F-35s From Hill AFB Arrive In England

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 20, 2025

A-4 being loaded with bombs during the Falklands War.
Air

Argentine Air Force Went To War With Chaff Made By Pasta Machine

By Thomas Newdick, Mariano Sciaroni

Posted on Mar 14, 2025

In this handout image provided by the U.S. Air Force, 492nd FS commander, prepare to taxi their F-15E Strike Eagle prior to their departure from RAF Lakenheath in preparation for Operation Odyssey Dawn missions March 19, 2011 in Lakenheath, United, Kingdom. Approximately 112 cruise missiles fired from U.S. and British ships and submarines targeting about 20 radar and anti-aircraft sites along Libya's Mediterranean coast.
Air

USAF Air Base In England Is Nuclear Capable Again: Watchdog Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 27, 2025

A Russian SU-27 Flanker aircraft banks away with a RAF Typhoon in the background. RAF Typhoons were scrambled on Tuesday 17 June 2014 to intercept multiple Russian aircraft as part of NATO’s ongoing mission to police Baltic airspace. The Typhoon aircraft, from 3 (Fighter) Squadron, were launched after four separate groups of aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace near to the Baltic States. Once airborne, the British jets identified the aircraft as a Russian Tupolev Tu22 ‘Backfire’ bomber, four Sukhoi Su27 ‘Flanker’ fighters, one Beriev A50 ‘Mainstay’ early warning aircraft and an Antonov An26 ‘Curl’ transport aircraft who appeared to be carrying out a variety of routine training. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the RAF Typhoons and escorted on their way. The Typhoon pilots involved in the operation were Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) Mark Long of 29 (Reserve) Squadron (the Typhoon operational training unit) and a French Air Force exchange pilot Commandant Marc-antoine Gerrard who is currently attached to 1(Fighter) Squadron.
Air

This Is What A Peacekeeping Air Policing Mission Over Ukraine Could Look Like

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 20, 2025

European nations are debating whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of any deal to end the war.
News & Features

Europe Debates Sending Troops To Ukraine

By Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 17, 2025

The general in charge of coordinating U.S. counter-drone efforts said incursions over military installations may have been surveillance flights.
News & Features

Drones Over U.S. Bases May Be Threatening Spy Flights: NORTHCOM Commander

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 13, 2025

We now have our first look at the containerized Gravehawk surface-to-air missile system, which uses repurposed heat-seeking R-73 air-to-air missiles as interceptors, that the United Kingdom and Denmark have developed for Ukraine.
Land

Containerized SAM System That Fires Soviet Air-To-Air Missiles For Ukraine Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 12, 2025

A detail model has provided what’s likely our best idea of how the U.K. Royal Navy’s new Dreadnought class nuclear ballistic submarine, or SSBN will appear. The four Dreadnought ‘bombers’ represent one of the most important U.K. defense programs for many years and it’s notable to see how many advanced features the design includes, as the Royal Navy seeks to find the optimum balance between speed, stealth, and firepower. The four new SSBNs will replace the Vanguard class that entered service in the 1990s.
Sea

Our Best Look Yet At Britain’s New Dreadnought Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Design

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 31, 2025

Royal Navy warships tracked a suspected Russian spy ship as it sailed through waters close to the UK. Yantar, believed to be used by the Russian Navy for intelligence gathering, was shadowed by HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne. Somerset covertly launched her Merlin helicopter, which used its powerful sensors to locate the Russian ship as it made its way north towards the English Channel. The Type 23 frigate closed in on Yantar’s location and intercepted it in the entrance to the Channel – south of the traffic separation scheme at Ushant, near France. The Plymouth-based warship took over monitoring duties from NATO allies after they shadowed Yantar in waters close to France. Somerset used her cutting-edge radars and sensors to report on every move during the operation, as she maintained a close distance to Yantar through the Channel and the Strait of Dover. Patrol ship Tyne was also monitoring the Yantar – last in waters around the UK in November when its activities were monitored by several Royal Navy units.
Sea

Royal Navy Nuclear Submarine Surfaced Next To Russian Spy Ship To Send A Clear Message

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 23, 2025

Drone scare New Jersey
News & Features

FBI’s New Jersey Drone Scare Investigation Has No Suspects

By Howard Altman

Updated on Jan 21, 2025

A Russian decoy drone was engaged by Ukrainian air defenses over Kyiv today, close to where President Volodymyr Zelensky was meeting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, leader of one of Ukraine’s staunchest military allies. The drone’s presence further underscores the threat posed by long-range Russian uncrewed aerial vehicles, and the incident coincided with Starmer announcing that the United Kingdom would provide Ukraine with additional mobile air defense systems.
Air

This Is The Type Of Russian Decoy Drone Shot Down Over Kyiv As Britain’s Prime Minister Met Zelensky

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 16, 2025

The new Tempest configuration, this time with Japan Air Self-Defense Force markings.
Air

UK Emphasizes Need To Arm Tempest Stealth Fighter With Larger, Longer Range Air-To-Air Missiles

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 14, 2025

Soldiers driving Revised Weapons Mount Installation Kit (RWMIK) from Support Company, 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, on their way to defensive positions during Exercise Haraka Storm, Kenya, on the 19th of July 2023. The British Army’s global response force has tested its ability to deploy and fight at short notice in some of Africa’s most challenging environments. The soldiers of 3 PARA Battlegroup honed both their fighting and fieldcraft skills on the Kenyan savannah as part of the six-week long Exercise Haraka Storm. Dealing with the rough terrain, searing heat and potentially deadly animals - ranging from lions and elephants to scorpions and snakes – troops followed a progression of training, building from polishing their individual skills and specialities to a final mission which sees the whole force operating together to assault a heavily-defended objective. The 1,000-strong battlegroup is built around the airborne infantry of Colchester-based 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment, bolstered by artillery, engineers, signallers, medics, and logisticians from across 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team. Specially trained and equipped to deploy by parachute, helicopter or airlanding, the 3 PARA Battlegroup is currently held at very high readiness to respond to global crises. In April, it deployed to Sudan to provide security and logistic support to the evacuation of British civilians.
News & Features

Land Rover Replacement Program Kickstarted By U.K. Military After 76 Years Of Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jan 10, 2025

Hysteria about drones over New Jersey obscures the fact that there is a real national security concern.
News & Features

Coast Guard Ship Stalked By Unidentified Aircraft, Iran Drone Mothership Claim Shot Down By DoD

By Howard Altman

Posted on Dec 12, 2024

The United Kingdom has taken an important step toward its Tempest next-generation fighter, with the start of a trials campaign for the Flight Test Aircraft (FTA), nicknamed Excalibur, which will serve as a flying laboratory for the new combat aircraft. Based on a Boeing 757 airliner, the FTA joins a growing band of dedicated trials aircraft that are being used to prove out technologies for current and future-generation fighter programs, also in the United States and China.
Air

UK’s 757-Based ‘Excalibur’ Avionics Testbed For Tempest Future Fighter Emerges

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 9, 2024