Crooked Bough News Round-up

— Pentagon Creating Amazon-Like Shopping Portal For Counter-Drone Equipment

 

at 11/14/25 5:37pm

The new Pentagon task force established to counter threats posed by small drones on Friday announced the creation a hub for agencies to purchase counter-drone equipment and ways to improve how these systems work together. The effort comes as the U.S. faces an increasing number of incursions over these facilities, and about a year after a spate of them began popping up across the continent. “Were going to use all the tools at our disposal to be able to acquire new technology as quickly as possible to get it into the hands of the warfighter,” Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of the newly created Joint Interagency Task Force-401 (JIATF-401). Ross spoke on Friday to a small group of reporters, including from The War Zone. The Army-led task force is creating what Ross calls a “UAS and counter-UAS marketplace” that will allow the installation commanders and interagency partners like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement to shop for equipment and components.  A task force spokesman described the effort as an Amazon-like marketplace for the procurement of counter-drone technology and equipment where people can go online, look for capabilities and user feedback. It will be similar to one being launched by the Army for the procurement of drones. Tech. Sgt. Ian Kay, a member of the U.S. Northern Command Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System fly-away kit team, sets an Anvil drone interceptor on its platform during an exercise at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 27, 2025. (Department of Defense photo by John Ingle) John Ingle The marketplace “will provide authoritative data on how each of these systems performs under varying conditions and allow users or customers to select the tool thats right for them,” Ross explained. “Weve got a wide variety of counter-UAS tools, and I actually think that we need all of them, because depending on where you are or what threat youre focused on, your requirements will be slightly different. So we want to ensure that we provide a range of options both to the Department of War and to our interagency partners.” The task force is looking at systems and components already on the market as well as working with industry partners to develop new ones. There are “hundreds of components of counter-UAS systems that could go on to the marketplace today, and we need to start thinking about these counter-UAS systems as components that are interchangeable.” He did not offer specific examples but said it includes a wide range of sensors to detect drones and low-collateral and non-kinetic effectors to defeat them. The task force is not looking at explosive interceptors because, as we pointed in in the past, there are concerns about collateral damage and what works in a combat zone is not applicable in the homeland. We have profiled a number of these systems in previous articles. Providing individual components in addition to complete systems allows individual purchasers to better obtain what they need, Ross noted. “When you look at a full-stack system, you may settle for a less-than-optimal configuration of your radar, your EO/IR camera, and your layered effectors,” Ross explained. “If I only need to sense 20 kilometers and not 40 kilometers and I could change out that radar, put a lower-cost radar on there, then I could put more systems out into the field. As we look at that marketplace, I really want it to be components, similar to what you would see on any other online marketplace, that are plug-and-play as part of a counter-UAS system.” A system designed to detect drones via the radiofrequency signals they put out and hijack the control link between them and their operators on display at Falcon Peak 2025. (Howard Altman) Beyond offering equipment, the task force is streamlining the command and control of the wide array of systems being used by the military and its agency partners. “Whats critical in any counter-UAS system is the mission command that allows you to tie together disparate sensors and effectors,” he posited. “And so what we are going to do inside of JIATF-401 is ensure that we standardize the communications protocols on how we send and receive information so that every component of a counter-UAS system is plug and play. For too long, weve struggled with integration, Ross suggested. And as people use different mission command systems, they had to specifically integrate a new component. And just like when you buy something to put on your Wi-Fi network at home, you know its going to work because the communication protocols are already established. We want to do the exact same thing for counter-UAS systems, both internal to the Department of War and for our interagency partners.” The task force has yet to settle on a specific system. The Engagement Operation Center, which is the primary data process and communication component of the Armys Integrated Battle Command System. (U.S. Army) NATHANIEL PIERCE “We evaluated every services mission command system last month in Operation Clear Horizon,” the task force director explained. “We did that specifically to assess their quantitative performance and then qualitatively how the workflows affected the outcome of those mission command systems. And were evaluating that now.” While the task force is creating a more unified mission command system, Ross said it is important for individual installations to be able to act quickly on their own. “It’s important that we remain decentralized,” he said. “If you look at the speed at which these systems can present a threat, you have to have operators that are empowered, trained, and they understand their authorities to be able to counter those threats, because they just dont have time to go up to a higher level for approval.” The U.S., he added, has improved how installations respond to incursions after the ones last year over Picatinny Arsenal, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and several others, as well as those over Langley Air Force Base in 2023 that we were also the first to report. Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was one of several military installations to report drone overflights last year. (Wright Patterson Air Force Base) Wright Patterson Air Force Base “I think theres a number of things that have changed,” the director pointed out. “Number one, we are consistently fielding new counter-UAS capabilities at our installations, and as we do that, we prioritize them based off what we have to protect at each of those installations.” In addition, the task force has “also worked with the services that are responsible for each of the installations in NORTHCOM to provide additional options. So what you described is a very complex problem, and as you look at it at scale, theres a lot of work to do.” “We are helping the services with their assessments of critical infrastructure, determining what they need to close gaps, and then were helping them get it quickly. In areas where the services require assistance inside of the homeland.” One example Ross pointed to is NORTHCOM’s new flyaway kits equipment procured from Anduril and trained personnel that can board C-130 transports and respond within 24 hours to drone incursions at homeland installations. According to the Army, the kits themselves are “an amalgamation of sensors and effectors that creates a total detect, track, identify and mitigation system including: The Heimdal mobile sensor trailer that includes a continuous 360-degree pan and tilt unit, thermal optics and a radar, all working together autonomously for target acquisition. Anvil drone interceptors and launch box, which operate autonomously to detect, track, shadow and mitigate threats. An electromagnetic warfare effector called Pulsar that features radio frequency detect, track, classify and deny options. The Wisp, a wide-area infrared system that is AI-enabled and offers 360-degree, full-motion sensoring that provides an accurate sight picture for operators.” An Anvil non-kinetic drone interceptor from Anduril launches from its platform in response to a drone threat during an exercise at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 23, 2025. (Department of Defense photo by John Ingle) John Ingle Last month, the kits attained operational certification, according to the Army. NORTHCOM told us they are the “final option in a series of escalating measures for the Department of War’s response to drone threats,” only called upon if an installation or the service that owns it can’t provide the needed tools and personnel. Still, Ross insisted that military installations “are equipped to handle UAS incursions.” “The specific equipment varies by location,” Ross proffered, “but what were trying to build at each location where we have critical infrastructure that needs to be protected is a layered defense that includes distributed sensing and layered effectors so that we have the ability to counter any and all threats.” Another huge area of concern for the military are attacks like Ukraine’s Spider Web strike on Russian aviation and Israel’s Operation Rising Lion attack on air defense systems and other military targets and personnel. The incidents have highlighted the danger presented by near-field drone attacks launched deep within enemy territory, in close proximity to their targets. As we have pointed out for many years, military assets and other high-value targets are extremely vulnerable to these types of operations within the homeland.  One of the most visible counter-drone efforts is taking place on the southern border, where President Donald Trump has ordered thousands of troops and equipment to prevent the flow of undocumented aliens and drugs into the country. “I was actually at the southern border last week, spending time both with the NORTHCOM team and with the Joint Task Force Southern Border to understand the challenges that theyre facing,” he said. “I do that because understanding their challenges very specifically will allow us to focus our effort on closing that next gap. If you look across the 1,954-mile border, I think that we do face a challenge of unmanned systems, and NORTHCOM is focused on addressing those challenges now, in conjunction with other lead federal agencies.” The task force is working toward “an integrated, distributed sensing network that includes both passive and active sensors, and then layering in effectors, or counter UAS effectors that will allow us to defeat a threat as it crosses the border,” Ross explained. “Were working closely with DHS, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Interior and other agencies that are working along the southern border.” The U.S. Army is contributing ground-based radars to help spot and track drones as part of the continued build-up of U.S. military support along with the U.S.-Mexican border. (DoD/US Army) In addition, JIATF-401 is “also looking to integrate new technology like low-cost attritable interceptors that will provide additional options and more tools to our service members as theyre defending our southern border.” These include “RF defeat. absolutely low-cost interceptors, a variety of different sensors that would include acoustic and active radar. And then were going to make sure that all of those sensors provide an integrated air awareness or air picture, so that we can choose the best effector to counter a UAS depending on its size, its activity in the location.” Drones have already been taken down coming over the border, Ross stated, but he did not specifically say how. We reached out to NORTHCOM and the task force for further details. U.S. Army soldiers stand outside of a Stryker armored infantry transport vehicle, which has been deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the militarys Joint Task Force Southern Border mission, in Sunland Park, New Mexico on Friday, April 4, 2025. Paul Ratje It is one thing to have the equipment and personnel, but the task force is also pushing for increased authorities to act. That includes making sure all bases fall under the provisions of “130(i),” federal law covering current authorities for the “protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft.” Under 130i, the U.S. military has the authority to take “action” to defend against drones including with measures to “disrupt control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, without prior consent, including by disabling the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft by intercepting, interfering, or causing interference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communications used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft” and the “use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.” The new counter-drone task force is pushing for additional authorities to protect bases from drones. (Air Force photo by Peter Borys) (U.S. Air Force photo by Peter Borys) However, only a portion of U.S. bases are covered and Ross wants to make it a blanket protection for all. “We want to make sure that those authorities enable installation commanders with everything they need to be able to protect that critical infrastructure,” Ross explained. “Thats one part of it. The second part of it is making sure that whats actually in the law is clearly communicated to those installation commanders so theres no ambiguity, and they know exactly what they can do, both inside the fence line, outside the fence line, and in coordination with local law enforcement around those installations.” On Nov. 25, JIATF-401 is going to hold what Ross calls “a counter-UAS summit attended by subject matter experts from interagency partners. The summit will focus on intelligence gathering, policy, science and technology, and operations. “We want to make sure that weve got an enduring partnership with each of those agencies because we know this problem is going to continue to evolve,” said Ross, “and we want to be able to move at the speed of relevance.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Pentagon Creating Amazon-Like Shopping Portal For Counter-Drone Equipment appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Land, Armies, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS), Drones, News & Features, U.S. Army] [Link to media]

— Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

 

at 11/14/25 4:47pm

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread. This weeks caption reads: Members of the 576th Flight Test Squadron install launch control panels Feb. 26, 2015, during the start-up of the Missile Alert Facility for Glory Trip-214 and Glory Trip-215 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The launch control panels are a vital safeguard for launching the Minuteman III missile in both test and field environments. For the operational test launches, unarmed Minuteman III missiles are used, with specialized data monitoring and test equipment. — Airman 1st Class Ian Dudley Also, a reminder: Prime Directives! If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you.  If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else. No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like.  Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.   So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on.  Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard. The Bunker is open! The post Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Bunker Talk] [Link to media]

— Pentagon Creating ‘Amazon-Like’ Shopping Portal For Counter-Drone Equipment

 

at 11/14/25 4:18pm

The new Pentagon task force established to counter threats posed by small drones on Friday announced the creation a hub for agencies to purchase counter-drone equipment and ways to improve how these systems work together. The effort comes as the U.S. faces an increasing number of incursions over these facilities, and about a year after a spate of them began popping up across the continent. “Were going to use all the tools at our disposal to be able to acquire new technology as quickly as possible to get it into the hands of the warfighter,” Brig. Gen. Matt Ross, director of the newly created Joint Interagency Task Force-401 (JIATF-401). Ross spoke on Friday to a small group of reporters, including from The War Zone. The Army-led task force is creating what Ross calls a “UAS and counter-UAS marketplace” that will allow the installation commanders and interagency partners like the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement to shop for equipment and components.  A task force spokesman described the effort as an Amazon-like marketplace for the procurement of counter-drone technology and equipment where people can go online, look for capabilities and user feedback. It will be similar to one being launched by the Army for the procurement of drones. Tech. Sgt. Ian Kay, a member of the U.S. Northern Command Counter-small Unmanned Aerial System fly-away kit team, sets an Anvil drone interceptor on its platform during an exercise at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 27, 2025. (Department of Defense photo by John Ingle) John Ingle The marketplace “will provide authoritative data on how each of these systems performs under varying conditions and allow users or customers to select the tool thats right for them,” Ross explained. “Weve got a wide variety of counter-UAS tools, and I actually think that we need all of them, because depending on where you are or what threat youre focused on, your requirements will be slightly different. So we want to ensure that we provide a range of options both to the Department of War and to our interagency partners.” The task force is looking at systems and components already on the market as well as working with industry partners to develop new ones. There are “hundreds of components of counter-UAS systems that could go on to the marketplace today, and we need to start thinking about these counter-UAS systems as components that are interchangeable.” He did not offer specific examples but said it includes a wide range of sensors to detect drones and low-collateral and non-kinetic effectors to defeat them. The task force is not looking at explosive interceptors because, as we pointed in in the past, there are concerns about collateral damage and what works in a combat zone is not applicable in the homeland. We have profiled a number of these systems in previous articles. Providing individual components in addition to complete systems allows individual purchasers to better obtain what they need, Ross noted. “When you look at a full-stack system, you may settle for a less-than-optimal configuration of your radar, your EO/IR camera, and your layered effectors,” Ross explained. “If I only need to sense 20 kilometers and not 40 kilometers and I could change out that radar, put a lower-cost radar on there, then I could put more systems out into the field. As we look at that marketplace, I really want it to be components, similar to what you would see on any other online marketplace, that are plug-and-play as part of a counter-UAS system.” A system designed to detect drones via the radiofrequency signals they put out and hijack the control link between them and their operators on display at Falcon Peak 2025. (Howard Altman) Beyond offering equipment, the task force is streamlining the command and control of the wide array of systems being used by the military and its agency partners. “Whats critical in any counter-UAS system is the mission command that allows you to tie together disparate sensors and effectors,” he posited. “And so what we are going to do inside of JIATF-401 is ensure that we standardize the communications protocols on how we send and receive information so that every component of a counter-UAS system is plug and play. For too long, weve struggled with integration, Ross suggested. And as people use different mission command systems, they had to specifically integrate a new component. And just like when you buy something to put on your Wi-Fi network at home, you know its going to work because the communication protocols are already established. We want to do the exact same thing for counter-UAS systems, both internal to the Department of War and for our interagency partners.” The task force has yet to settle on a specific system. The Engagement Operation Center, which is the primary data process and communication component of the Armys Integrated Battle Command System. (U.S. Army) NATHANIEL PIERCE “We evaluated every services mission command system last month in Operation Clear Horizon,” the task force director explained. “We did that specifically to assess their quantitative performance and then qualitatively how the workflows affected the outcome of those mission command systems. And were evaluating that now.” While the task force is creating a more unified mission command system, Ross said it is important for individual installations to be able to act quickly on their own. “It’s important that we remain decentralized,” he said. “If you look at the speed at which these systems can present a threat, you have to have operators that are empowered, trained, and they understand their authorities to be able to counter those threats, because they just dont have time to go up to a higher level for approval.” The U.S., he added, has improved how installations respond to incursions after the ones last year over Picatinny Arsenal, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, and several others, as well as those over Langley Air Force Base in 2023 that we were also the first to report. Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was one of several military installations to report drone overflights last year. (Wright Patterson Air Force Base) Wright Patterson Air Force Base “I think theres a number of things that have changed,” the director pointed out. “Number one, we are consistently fielding new counter-UAS capabilities at our installations, and as we do that, we prioritize them based off what we have to protect at each of those installations.” In addition, the task force has “also worked with the services that are responsible for each of the installations in NORTHCOM to provide additional options. So what you described is a very complex problem, and as you look at it at scale, theres a lot of work to do.” “We are helping the services with their assessments of critical infrastructure, determining what they need to close gaps, and then were helping them get it quickly. In areas where the services require assistance inside of the homeland.” One example Ross pointed to is NORTHCOM’s new flyaway kits equipment procured from Anduril and trained personnel that can board C-130 transports and respond within 24 hours to drone incursions at homeland installations. According to the Army, the kits themselves are “an amalgamation of sensors and effectors that creates a total detect, track, identify and mitigation system including: The Heimdal mobile sensor trailer that includes a continuous 360-degree pan and tilt unit, thermal optics and a radar, all working together autonomously for target acquisition. Anvil drone interceptors and launch box, which operate autonomously to detect, track, shadow and mitigate threats. An electromagnetic warfare effector called Pulsar that features radio frequency detect, track, classify and deny options. The Wisp, a wide-area infrared system that is AI-enabled and offers 360-degree, full-motion sensoring that provides an accurate sight picture for operators.” An Anvil non-kinetic drone interceptor from Anduril launches from its platform in response to a drone threat during an exercise at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Oct. 23, 2025. (Department of Defense photo by John Ingle) John Ingle Last month, the kits attained operational certification, according to the Army. NORTHCOM told us they are the “final option in a series of escalating measures for the Department of War’s response to drone threats,” only called upon if an installation or the service that owns it can’t provide the needed tools and personnel. Still, Ross insisted that military installations “are equipped to handle UAS incursions.” “The specific equipment varies by location,” Ross proffered, “but what were trying to build at each location where we have critical infrastructure that needs to be protected is a layered defense that includes distributed sensing and layered effectors so that we have the ability to counter any and all threats.” Another huge area of concern for the military are attacks like Ukraine’s Spider Web strike on Russian aviation and Israel’s Operation Rising Lion attack on air defense systems and other military targets and personnel. The incidents have highlighted the danger presented by near-field drone attacks launched deep within enemy territory, in close proximity to their targets. As we have pointed out for many years, military assets and other high-value targets are extremely vulnerable to these types of operations within the homeland.  One of the most visible counter-drone efforts is taking place on the southern border, where President Donald Trump has ordered thousands of troops and equipment to prevent the flow of undocumented aliens and drugs into the country. “I was actually at the southern border last week, spending time both with the NORTHCOM team and with the Joint Task Force Southern Border to understand the challenges that theyre facing,” he said. “I do that because understanding their challenges very specifically will allow us to focus our effort on closing that next gap. If you look across the 1,954-mile border, I think that we do face a challenge of unmanned systems, and NORTHCOM is focused on addressing those challenges now, in conjunction with other lead federal agencies.” The task force is working toward “an integrated, distributed sensing network that includes both passive and active sensors, and then layering in effectors, or counter UAS effectors that will allow us to defeat a threat as it crosses the border,” Ross explained. “Were working closely with DHS, Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Interior and other agencies that are working along the southern border.” The U.S. Army is contributing ground-based radars to help spot and track drones as part of the continued build-up of U.S. military support along with the U.S.-Mexican border. (DoD/US Army) In addition, JIATF-401 is “also looking to integrate new technology like low-cost attritable interceptors that will provide additional options and more tools to our service members as theyre defending our southern border.” These include “RF defeat. absolutely low-cost interceptors, a variety of different sensors that would include acoustic and active radar. And then were going to make sure that all of those sensors provide an integrated air awareness or air picture, so that we can choose the best effector to counter a UAS depending on its size, its activity in the location.” Drones have already been taken down coming over the border, Ross stated, but he did not specifically say how. We reached out to NORTHCOM and the task force for further details. U.S. Army soldiers stand outside of a Stryker armored infantry transport vehicle, which has been deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border as part of the militarys Joint Task Force Southern Border mission, in Sunland Park, New Mexico on Friday, April 4, 2025. Paul Ratje It is one thing to have the equipment and personnel, but the task force is also pushing for increased authorities to act. That includes making sure all bases fall under the provisions of “130(i),” federal law covering current authorities for the “protection of certain facilities and assets from unmanned aircraft.” Under 130i, the U.S. military has the authority to take “action” to defend against drones including with measures to “disrupt control of the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft, without prior consent, including by disabling the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft by intercepting, interfering, or causing interference with wire, oral, electronic, or radio communications used to control the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft” and the “use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the unmanned aircraft system or unmanned aircraft.” The new counter-drone task force is pushing for additional authorities to protect bases from drones. (Air Force photo by Peter Borys) (U.S. Air Force photo by Peter Borys) However, only a portion of U.S. bases are covered and Ross wants to make it a blanket protection for all. “We want to make sure that those authorities enable installation commanders with everything they need to be able to protect that critical infrastructure,” Ross explained. “Thats one part of it. The second part of it is making sure that whats actually in the law is clearly communicated to those installation commanders so theres no ambiguity, and they know exactly what they can do, both inside the fence line, outside the fence line, and in coordination with local law enforcement around those installations.” On Nov. 25, JIATF-401 is going to hold what Ross calls “a counter-UAS summit attended by subject matter experts from interagency partners. The summit will focus on intelligence gathering, policy, science and technology, and operations. “We want to make sure that weve got an enduring partnership with each of those agencies because we know this problem is going to continue to evolve,” said Ross, “and we want to be able to move at the speed of relevance.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Pentagon Creating Amazon-Like Shopping Portal For Counter-Drone Equipment appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Land, Armies, Counter-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (C-UAS), Drones, News & Features, U.S. Army] [Link to media]

— China’s Type 076 Supersized Amphibious Assault Ship Heads To Sea On Its Maiden Voyage

 

at 11/14/25 10:31am

Chinas first super-sized Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, has left port for its first sea trials. The Type 076 is unlike any other big deck amphibious warship design globally, featuring an electromagnetically-powered catapult to support an air wing expected to include naval versions of the GJ-11 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV). The Type 076 amphibious assault ship Sichuan seen leaving Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard for its first sea trials. Government of the Peoples Republic of China Sichuan, which has now also been assigned the hull number 51, left Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai on its maiden voyage earlier today. The ship, which is currently the only one of its type, has been under construction in that yard since at least 2023. A ceremony marking its launch was held on December 27, 2024, and it was actually floated for the first time in its basin sometime afterward. This sea trial will mainly test and verify the reliability and stability of the power, electrical, and other systems, according to a release from Chinas Ministry of National Defense. Since its launch, the ship has successfully completed mooring tests and equipment installation and debugging, and has met the technical conditions for sea trials. China launched the maiden sea trail for its worlds first electromagnetic catapult-equipped Type 076 amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan.This new-generation amphibious assault ship of the PLA Navy has a full-load displacement of over 40,000 tons, capable of carrying… pic.twitter.com/lbkEPAe9ug— Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) November 14, 2025 There had already been signs in recent weeks of significant new progress on the final fitting out of Sichuan, including the painting of full markings on its flight deck. GEOINT analysis on 28 October 2025 shows newly painted deck markings onboard China’s Type 076 Landing Helicopter Dock vessel. https://t.co/epfzHD4aZISpotlight Report Critical intelligence delivered to your inbox. https://t.co/n0XDPQNx8A#GEOINT #China #Shanghai #Sichuan pic.twitter.com/NcyuSKW4lM— AllSource Analysis (@AllSourceA) November 13, 2025 Finally a clearer image of the first Type 076 LAH / drone carrier with the recently applied deck markings. pic.twitter.com/NAyK1X19vc— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 13, 2025 Another image, seen in the social media post below, had emerged at the end of last month showing what is very likely a red-colored catapult test ‘truck’ on Sichuans deck. This, in turn, had pointed to the start of testing of the ships lone catapult. 小紅車上線了 pic.twitter.com/zrptPDwu2X— 飞刀 (@chaoyinsukandao) October 28, 2025 Shipbuilders and navies around the world, including Chinas Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and the U.S. Navy, have long used weighted trucks to test catapults on aircraft carriers as part of their construction or following maintenance.  The video below shows testing of the catapults on the U.S. Navys supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford using weighted trucks. Overall, Sichuan represents a particularly notable development for the PLAN. Chinese officials have said the Type 076 displaces more than 40,000 metric tons (44,000 U.S. tons). TWZ has previously assessed that the ship is around 864 feet long and that it is some 141 feet wide (or 263 and nearly 43 meters, respectively). Chinas previous Type 075 amphibious assault ships, of which there are now four in service, have a stated displacement of between 32,000 and 36,000 metric tons (35,000 to 40,000 U.S. tons) with a full load, and are just over 761 feet long and nearly 121 feet wide. Sichuan is also notably wider than other big deck amphibious warfare ships in service globally, including the U.S. Navy’s America class. Sichuans unusually wide flight deck is absolutely core to the design. Along with the ships two islands, this has long made clear the ship is heavily focused sustained flight operations. This will include fixed-wing types launched via the catapult at the bow end and recovered via some form of arresting gear. Another view of the Sichuan as it heads out to sea for its first sea trials. Government of the Peoples Republic of China There have been growing signs for years now that a navalized variant of the GJ-11 UCAV, also sometimes referred to as the GJ-21, will be an especially significant part of Sichuans future air wing. Most recently, around the beginning of this month, pictures emerged showing a version of the drone with an arresting hook very prominently deployed. Last year, apparent GJ-11 mockups had also appeared at a test and/or training site right on Changxing Island in Shanghai, very close to where the Type 076 was being built. As it seems, for the first time clear images of a GJ-21 in flight are posted and this one based on the still installed pitots has its tail hook down. pic.twitter.com/5h1nVZHzIe— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 1, 2025 A pair of apparent GJ-11 mockups at a test and/or training site on Changxing Island in Shanghai in May 2024. Google Earth Just this week, Chinese authorities announced that the land-based version of the GJ-11, now officially named the Mysterious Dragon, had entered operational service with the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Any future naval versions of the drone could also find their way onto other big deck ships in the PLANs inventory, including its first catapult-equipped aircraft carrier, the Fujian, which was commissioned last week. A PLAAF GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon UCAV. PLAAF Sichuans air wing will not be limited to variations of the GJ-11 design, and is expected to include a host of other current and future crewed and uncrewed types. Various helicopters, as well as an as-yet unnamed crewed tiltrotor aircraft under development in China, which is now in flight testing, could be part of that mix. The Type 076 design also has a well deck at the stern to support traditional amphibious assault operations. As TWZ previously wrote about the overall significance of the Sichuan: “The potential value to the PLAN of having a fleet of very large deck amphibious assault ships that are highly capable of large-scale drone operations as well as traditional amphibious assaults is clear. These ships could be used to launch and recover UCAVs like the GJ-11 and other types of drones to perform a host of missions from maritime strike to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). They could be used to provide additional ‘mass’ in support of the operations of larger carrier strike groups and help to free the air wings of flattops like Fujian up for tasks they might be better suited for. In addition, they could provide a lower tier of naval aviation support that could be employed independently.” … “Simply having more naval aviation capacity overall would give the PLAN added flexibility for various operations closer to the mainland, including a potential military intervention against Taiwan or defending its expansive and largely unrecognized territorial claims in places like the South China Sea. Type 076s could also help project naval and air power further from China’s shores, something that has also been a driving factor behind the country’s broader carrier ambitions.” … “The Type 076 could help provide support during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Big deck amphibious warfare ships, in general, provide their operators with immensely valuable platforms for projecting both hard and soft power.” A view of Sichuan from the stern as it leaves port for its first sea trials. Government of the Peoples Republic of China Sichuan is reflective of a larger effort by the PLAN to significantly expand its capabilities and operational capacity, including for projecting power well beyond Chinas shores and any regional contingencies. A dramatic expansion in the naval aviation realm has been a particular centerpiece of this modernization push, which traces all the way back to the 1990s. This is all further underscored by the increasingly strong evidence that Chinas next supercarrier will be a nuclear-powered design. Whether the PLANs current ambitions include plans to acquire more Type 076s is unclear. Putting to sea now is certainly another major step in the process of getting Sichuan into actual operational service. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post China’s Type 076 Supersized Amphibious Assault Ship Heads To Sea On Its Maiden Voyage appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Sea, Amphibious Assault Ships, Around The Globe, Big Deck Amphibious Assault Ships, China, Drones, Indo-Pacific, Navies, News & Features, People's Liberation Army Navy (China)] [Link to media]

— Ukraine’s Long Neptune Cruise Missile Seen in Action For The First Time

 

at 11/14/25 10:17am

For the first time, Ukraine has presented footage that purportedly shows its extended-range Long Neptune cruise missile in action. Part of a growing arsenal of long-range cruise missiles from domestic production, the Long Neptune was unveiled in March of this year, at which point Zelensky claimed it had already been tested in combat. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared a video that he said showed the Long Neptune being launched against a target in Russia. He did not provide the date of the claimed launch or what was targeted. Ukrainian “Long Neptunes.” We’re producing more ____Українські «довгі нептуни». Робимо більше pic.twitter.com/rKUy3NtifJ— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 14, 2025 “We’re producing more,” Zelensky said of the Long Neptune, in a comment posted alongside the video. Previously, the Ukrainian president disclosed that his forces “successfully used Long Neptunes against designated targets on Russian territory — and this is our entirely just response to Russia’s ongoing terror. Ukrainian missiles are delivering increasingly significant and precise results virtually every month.” Zelensky added: “I thank everyone working on our missile program and giving Ukraine this accuracy and long-range capability.” An official photo of the Long Neptune. Government of Ukraine The new video indicates that the Long Neptune is fired from a transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) of a different design from that used for at least the original versions of the missile. As well as the longer canisters required for the bigger missiles, there is a larger gap between the first and second axles and the third and fourth axles on the new TEL. Meanwhile, there is no longer a space between the cabin and the command module, as was previously the case. The new TEL associated with the Long Neptune. Office of the Ukrainian President The previous TEL associated with the anti-ship Neptune. Ukroboronprom The Long Neptune is an extended-range derivative of the previous land-attack version of the Neptune anti-ship missile, which is powered by a small turbofan jet engine. The land-attack version reportedly has a guidance package that combines a GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) and an imaging infrared sensor in place of the anti-ship missile’s active radar seeker. Ukraine famously used Neptune missiles to sink the Russian Navy’s Slava class cruiser Moskva in 2022 and reportedly began developing a new land-attack version in 2023. The anti-ship Neptune is a Ukrainian development of the Soviet-era Kh-35, known to NATO as the SS-N-25 Switchblade, variants of which remain in service in Russia and elsewhere globally. The original configuration of the Neptune missile. Office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky Russian forces fire a ground-launched version of the Kh-35 during training. Russian Ministry of Defense The Long Neptune features an extended body with capacity for additional fuel, which Zelensky has said gives it a range in the region of 620 miles (1,000 kilometers). This is significantly further than the original land-attack version of the Neptune, which a Ukrainian defense official previously told TWZ has a range of up to 225 miles (360 kilometers). Meanwhile, the maximum stated range of the anti-ship version of Neptune is said to be around 190 miles (300 kilometers). Unclear at this stage is what kind of warhead the Long Neptune carries, but the anti-ship Neptune missile carries an explosive charge weighing around 330 pounds (150 kilograms). The Long Neptune can be distinguished from the previous versions on account of its longer and wider main body, with tapering tail and nose sections. The main fins are also bigger and are not swept. It’s worth noting that another version of the Neptune has also been developed, this one apparently featuring fuel tank ‘bulges’ for increased range. As you can read about here, this model appears to be something like an intermediate-range version, falling between the original land-attack Neptune and the Long Neptune. The new ‘bulged’ Neptune variant was unveiled last month. Denys Shmyhal/Ukrainian Ministry of Defense There have been unconfirmed reports that the Long Neptune may have been used in overnight Ukrainian strikes focused on the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, in southern Russia. The port is a key hub facilitating the export of Russian oil. The city is also now home to much of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, providing it with something of a safe haven, after its warships were essentially forced out of waters closer to Crimea following a concerted Ukrainian campaign waged against them. Transneft has urgently halted oil pumpingTransneft has abruptly cut off the flow of oil to the port of Novorossiysk, two sources familiar with the situation told Reuters. The state company — as usual — offered no comment.The shutdown coincided with last night’s Ukrainian… https://t.co/gT90U8ankm pic.twitter.com/RXOjAY57zH— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) November 14, 2025 According to Supernova+, a Ukrainian Telegram channel, likely more than one Long Neptune was used to attack Novorossiysk, specifically targeting the Sheskharis oil terminal, which was set ablaze, according to unconfirmed videos circulating on social media. An extended video has surfaced showing the strike on the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk. The footage captures multiple explosions and a large fire engulfing the facility. Russian air defense can be seen trying to intercept incoming Ukrainian drones and missiles. https://t.co/8Xd2hL3qxR pic.twitter.com/IE36fWAnzT— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) November 14, 2025 U.K.-based maritime security firm Ambrey said it had seen evidence of large explosions, including one that occurred in a container yard at the port, leaving a crane and several containers damaged. The same source said that a non-sanctioned container ship alongside the terminal suffered some collateral damage due to falling drone debris. “Reportedly, three crew members were injured,” Ambrey added. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed that it shot down 216 Ukrainian drones during the attack, during which authorities in Novorossiysk declared a state of emergency. According to state news agency TASS, apartment buildings in the city were struck, and at least two people were injured. Ukraine just went nuts on Russias port of Novorossiysk, striking several key facilities required for oil export. pic.twitter.com/eIH0LRn1Gg— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) November 14, 2025 For its part, Russia continues its heavy bombardment of Ukrainian targets, with Kyiv being in the crosshairs overnight and into this morning. According to Ukrainian authorities, dozens were wounded in the strikes on the Ukrainian capital, with several apartment buildings being hit. Zelensky described the Russian raids as a “wicked attack” that involved around 430 drones and 18 missiles — reportedly also including ground-launched cruise missiles. As well as Kyiv, targets in the Kharkiv and Odesa regions were also struck. Zelensky: About 430 drones and 18 missiles were used in the strike, including ballistic and aeroballistic missiles.This was a deliberately calculated attack aimed at causing maximum harm to people and civilian infrastructure. In Kyiv alone, dozens of apartment buildings… pic.twitter.com/ZficShWQQo— The Ukrainian Review (@UkrReview) November 14, 2025 Last night, Russia launched 19 missiles and 430 drones. Most targeted Kyiv, where they killed at least 4, and injured 30, the authorities say.Air defenders downed 14 missiles and 405 drones, Ukraines Air Force says. 13 site were struck by "missiles and 23 strike drones",… pic.twitter.com/KO0Z3wX9kW— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) November 14, 2025 While it’s unclear if the Long Neptune featured in last night’s Novorossiysk raid, land-attack versions of the weapon are now established as important weapons for conducting strikes on targets inside Russia. More than 50 Russian targets were struck with Neptune-series cruise missiles in the past year, the Ukrainian Armed Forces revealed last month. More broadly, the growing Neptune family reflects Ukraine’s efforts to ramp up domestic arms production, with a particular focus on the ability to hit targets deeper inside Russia. These weapons include another cruise missile, the ground-launched Flamingo, which is said to have a range of 1,864 miles (3,000 kilometers) and a warhead weighing 2,535 pounds (1,150 kilograms). The Flamingo was one of the weapons used in the overnight attacks on targets in Russia and Russian-occupied Ukraine, the Ukrainian military general staff said.  New footage from the launch of the Ukrainian Flamingo cruise missile.The flamingo is a migratory bird and migrates depending on its species and habitat to find suitable feeding and breeding grounds.This fall, the flamingo will fly primarily to russia. pic.twitter.com/dyYgSCLfUK— Jürgen Nauditt (@jurgen_nauditt) August 22, 2025 Ukraine has also fielded an extensive array of domestically produced long-range kamikaze drones, as well as munitions that blur the line between those weapons and traditional cruise missiles, like the Peklo ‘missile drone’. The results of Ukraine’s domestic ballistic missile program remain less clear. For both the Long Neptune and the Flamingo, these cruise missiles offer greater range and payload than most long-range drones, and they also carry purpose-designed warheads, rather than improvised ones, meaning that they can go after more substantial targets and inflict greater damage. Otherwise, Ukrainian-operated standoff weapons capable of hitting targets deeper inside Russia include air-launched Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles provided by the United Kingdom, Italy, and France, as well as ground-based Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missiles provided by the United States. Many of these Western-supplied weapons are still restricted, to one degree or another, in term of how they can be used against targets deeper inside Russia. Ukraine has no such restrictions on its own weapons. Kyiv has long been campaigning to receive Tomahawk cruise missiles from the United States, but so far, Washington has refused these requests, with U.S. President Donald Trump saying he is “not looking to see an escalation” in the conflict. These highly accurate missiles would be able to hit targets roughly 1,000 miles from Ukraine’s borders. However, the United States has agreed to supply Ukraine with thousands of examples of new and relatively low-cost standoff missiles developed under the Extended Range Attack Munitions (ERAM) program. It should be noted that we do not know what kinds of restrictions might be placed on the use of these weapons, either. Despite a softening in the U.S. stance toward providing Ukraine with longer-range standoff weapons, as frustration with Moscow grows, for the time being, Ukraine is relying primarily on locally produced weapons to strike critical targets within Russia. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Ukraine’s Long Neptune Cruise Missile Seen in Action For The First Time appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Land, Around The Globe, Europe, Land Attack Cruise Missiles, Naval Munitions, Navies, News & Features, Sea, Ukraine, Ukrainian Navy] [Link to media]

— France’s New Nuclear-Armed Supersonic Cruise Missile Seen Clearly For The First Time

 

at 11/13/25 4:48pm

French authorities have provided the first real look at the latest version of the Air-Sol Moyenne Portee (ASMP; or Medium-Range Air-to-Surface) ramjet-powered, nuclear-armed cruise missile. Officials in France have also confirmed that the ASMPA-Renove (ASMPA-R) variant is now in service with the countrys Navy. A French Navy Rafale M fighter, belonging to the services Force Aeronavale Nucleaire (FANU), or Naval Nuclear Aviation Force, conducted a test launch of an ASMPA-R without a live warhead earlier today as part of what was dubbed Operation Diomede. The test involved a flight representative of a nuclear raid, according to a machine translation of a social media post from Catherine Vautrin, Frances Minister of the Armed Forces. A French Navy Rafale M with an ASMPA-R missile on its centerline station. French Ministry of the Armed Forces A separate statement from the Ministry of the Armed Forces of France says the ASMPA-R officially joined the FANUs arsenal on November 10. The ASMPA-R has already been operational since 2023 with the Forces Aeriennes Strategiques (FAS), or Strategic Air Forces, part of the French Air and Space Force. Both services use Rafale variants as the launch platform for these missiles. French authorities did release pictures of an Air Force Rafale carrying an ASMPA-R last year, around the first known test launch of the missile. However, the weapon was entirely blurred out. A grainy image from the actual test was also released, but it was so low quality that there were no discernible details. A French Air Force Rafale seen carrying an ASMPA-R missile in 2024. The missile has been entirely blurred out. French Ministry of the Armed Forces The image that French authorities released from the ASMPA-R test launch 2024. French Ministry of the Armed Forces It is worth noting here that a portion of the French Navys Rafale M fleet has already had a nuclear mission with older ASMP-Ameliore (ASMP-A; ameliore translating into English as improved) missiles. Frances sole aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, is the only surface ship in NATO currently known to be capable of hosting nuclear weapons, but the ship does not conduct routine patrols with ASMP-series missiles onboard. We can now see that the renovated ASMPA-R is externally very similar to the preceding ASMP-A. Both missiles notably feature a pair of air intakes along the middle of their bodies, which is part of the ramjet propulsion systems. As seen below, the tail fin configurations do appear to be different between the A and R models. The A model has smaller fins at the rear and larger ones just in front, while the R somewhat reverses that arrangement. The reason for this is unclear. A side-by-side comparison of an ASMP-A missile, at top, and the ASMPA-R seen in the pictures released today. French Ministry of the Armed Forces/MBDA The ASMPA-R does reportedly have a greater range than the ASMP-A – 372 miles (600 kilometers) versus 310 miles (500 kilometers) – but both missiles are said to reach a peak speed of Mach 3. There had been reports that the ASMPA-R features a new nuclear warhead, but some sources also say it is the same TNA design found on the ASMP-A variant. The TNA is a so-called dial-a-yield design with reported yield settings ranging from a minimum of 100 kilotons to a maximum of 300 kilotons. It is possible that the TNA warheads in the R models have also been modernized as part of the upgrade process. Otherwise, the ASMPA-R is generally described as a life-extension upgrade package for ASMP-A missiles, which first began to enter service in 2009. The ASMP-As replaced the original ASMPs, which had started entering service in 1986. The baseline ASMP had a maximum range of 186 miles (300 kilometers) and an older TN 81 warhead with the same reported range of yield settings as the newer TNA. A French Air Force Rafale carrying an ASMP-A missile. MBDA ASMP-series missiles fired from French Air Force and Navy Rafales make up the aerial leg of Frances current nuclear dyad. The missiles combination of supersonic speed and standoff range is intended to help ensure the missiles successfully reach their targets, while also helping to keep the launch platforms further away from threats. The development of the ASMPA-R, which dates back to the mid-2010s, is part of a larger ongoing effort to modernize Frances nuclear deterrent arsenal. This effort also includes the new M51.3 nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile, which officially entered service last month. M51-series missiles arm the French Navys Triomphant class nuclear ballistic missile submarines, forming the sea leg of the countrys nuclear dyad. France is also working on a new air-launched cruise missile, the Air-Sol Nucléaire de 4ème Génération (ASN4G; or 4th Generation Air-to-Surface Nuclear), which is expected to be scramjet-powered, longer-ranged, and capable of reaching hypersonic speeds, typically defined as anything about Mach 5. Todays statement from the French Ministry of Armed Forces also confirms that the goal is still for the ASN4G to begin entering service in the 2035 timeframe. There have also been a number of significant developments regarding French nuclear deterrent policy, in general, this year. Reports in February said the French officials were eyeing forward-deploying nuclear-capable Rafales to Germany, citing concerns about the commitment of the United States to the NATO alliance. Within NATO, there are three nuclear powers, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Some non-nuclear member states are also party to agreements wherein they could gain access to U.S. nuclear gravity bombs in the event of a major crisis. In March, French President Emmanuel Macron also announced that his country would establish a new nuclear-capable air base, the countrys fourth overall, which will host French Air Force Rafales. In July, France signed an agreement to formally coordinate its deterrence forces with those of the United Kingdom, as well. There has been a certain new openness about nuclear weapons and deterrence within NATO, as a whole, in the past few years, which has come amid concerns about spillover from the conflict in Ukraine and general Russian aggression. Regardless, Frances own nuclear modernization efforts are continuing apace, with French Navy Rafale Ms having now joined their French Air Force counterparts as launch platforms for the ASMPA-R cruise missile. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Frances New Nuclear-Armed Supersonic Cruise Missile Seen Clearly For The First Time appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Force Munitions, Air Launched Nuclear Missles, Air-To-Ground, Around The Globe, Europe, Fighters, News & Features, Nuclear, Nuclear Policy, Nuclear Warheads, Rafale] [Link to media]

— Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated To Drone Warfare

 

at 11/13/25 1:28pm

Russia has created a new branch of its military to oversee the production, operation, and testing of uncrewed systems and the tactics and techniques for using them. Called the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF), the new branch mirrors a similar one Ukraine created last year, even using the same name. Its work will encompass aerial, land and surface drones. Ukrainian officials have acknowledged the creation of this new branch, with one calling it a “threat.” 1780/ The Russian Ministry of Defense showcased the emblem of the unmanned systems troops."The emblem features a crossed arrow and sword, with a microchip bearing a star and wings in the center."/t.me/warhistoryalconafter/248544 pic.twitter.com/l5WFY2nFK7— Huligan (@Ghost132607472) November 12, 2025 In historys most drone-saturated battlefield, both sides are seeking to streamline operations to better use the resources they have and stay ahead of the never-ending technology development cycle. The objective of the Russian USF is to do just that, according to its deputy chief. “We have already formed established regiments, battalions, and other units, Lt. Col. Sergei Ishtuganov told the Russian KP.Ru media outlet. “Their combat operations are conducted according to a unified plan and in coordination with other units of the troop groups. At the same time, the expansion of existing and the creation of new units… continues. We are assigning operators, engineers, technicians, and other support specialists to these units. The USF is already showing signs of success, Ishtuganov claimed, citing the situation in the embattled city of Pokrovsk, where both sides acknowledge that Russian drones have helped give Moscow the upper hand. “Have you noticed what the enemy complains about most when surrounded in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration? Thats right – drones,” exclaimed Ishtuganov. “Just a year ago, our troops werent so saturated with drones of all types. But gradually, Russian units managed to turn the tide in the skies and effectively ‘squeeze’ them from the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Ukrainian action cam footage illustrating the sheer density of Russian FPV drone strikes inside Pokrovsk. pic.twitter.com/X6yjnxQxSR— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) November 1, 2025 Beyond the battlefield, the USF is “conducting combat testing of both drones and electronic warfare systems, working closely with manufacturers,” the USF deputy chief noted. As we pointed out earlier in this story, both sides are rapidly developing new technologies and methods to defeat them. A big focus of the Russian USF is on electronic warfare (EW), where countermeasures often last just weeks or less before they no longer work.  “If necessary, we modify these or other products, taking into account the rapidly changing situation,” Ishtuganov explained. “The enemy plays with frequencies; we reconfigure our electronic warfare systems. The enemy begins to suppress us with electronic warfare; we switch to other frequencies. And this is an ongoing process, requiring, among other things, technical expertise.” A Ukrainian serviceman tests an anti-drone backpack. (Photo by YURIY DYACHYSHYN / AFP) YURIY DYACHYSHYN While procurement is a major effort of the new military branch, Ishtuganov offered no details about the process. It is important to note that Russia is now receiving a good deal of assistance from Beijing, now producing drones completely made up of Chinese components. Overall, Moscow has announced lofty intentions for producing new drones. It has a factory where the goal is to build 6,000 Shahed-type drones per month. Russia also has plans to make a total of 2 million first-person-view (FPV) drones this year. Equipment is just part of the equation. The USF is also recruiting top military talent, Ishtuganov said. “The effectiveness of this new branch of the armed forces, which is still in its infancy, is demonstrated by its personnel approach,” he suggested. “The best service members are selected, taking into account their combat achievements, among other things.” The USF was created at the behest of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in December 2024 ordered the Defense Ministry to establish a dedicated branch for drone warfare. While Putin shrugged off concerns about the capabilities of his drone operations, one Russian military observer said a combination of issues had impeded operations. One is how troops are deployed, explained the Forces Group ZAPAD | News Telegram channel. The other is how they have been equipped. “Drone operators should not be sent as assault troops, as some commanders do,” the Telegram channel pointed out. “Otherwise, the whole process loses its meaning. Patching holes is a consequence of problems. And the existence of such problems is a result of careless command actions. There is hope that the (USF) troops will become a kind of ‘shield’ for all successful drone operators.” Resources have been another big issue. “In combat conditions, losing a drone is very easy, and if you have a strict limit on the number of drones — you are limited in your capabilities,” Forces Group posited. “It is no secret that drones are currently in short supply almost everywhere. Especially night drones. Especially our equivalents of Baba Yaga.” Baba Yagas, as we have explained in the past, are large industrial quadcopter drones armed with guided munitions. Engineers of the Achilles drone battalion testing night bomber drone Vampire (Russians also coll it Baba Yaga) before the night mission on the Chasiv Yar direction in Donetsk region. (Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images Serhii Korovayny) Serhii Korovayny The only Russian unit immune to this concern is Rubicon, a secretive force of drone operators that helped Russia push back Ukraine’s Kursk invasion. “There is hope that the UAV Forces are being created, among other things, to solve the supply problem so that each unit can eventually call itself at least a mini-Rubicon,” Forces Group “Zapad” postulated. Samuel Bendett, a drone expert and researcher with the Center for Naval Analyses think tank concurred with much of the Telegram channel’s hypothesis. “There are no official standards today for many tactical drone R&D and uses in the Russian military,” he told us. “There are uneven supplies, there are issues with UAV pilots treated as typical infantry used for assaults, uneven supplies of qualified pilots and drones, etc. There is hope from many in the Russian military that USF will solve many of these issues.” 1/ THREAD: Now that the Rus MOD has signaled that the Unmanned Systems Forces (USF) are established, here is a take from Rus mil commentators on what USF can mean for the larger force main points translated in this thread below. https://t.co/MrICeTog1P https://t.co/DMskea5zvH pic.twitter.com/m4lIuNN1Ht— Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) November 13, 2025 The USF is not Russias first attempt to wrangle its drone operations. As we reported earlier this year, the Russian Navy dedicated regiments to operate uncrewed surface, undersea, air and land systems. Ukraine, as we noted at the top of this story, created its own USF to address many of the same issues. The reaction in Kyiv toward the Russian version is one of concern. “Heard a detailed intelligence report on the development of the enemys unmanned forces,” Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, noted on his Telegram channel. “The occupiers are following our experience, particularly in creating regiments of unmanned systems and interceptor drones, and are directing significant resources towards this. We must constantly improve to maintain technological superiority.” “Special attention,” he added, “is given to scaling the [Ukrainian] Unmanned Systems Forces units: increasing the number of trained crews, involving personnel, and creating infrastructure for their effective operation.” One Ukrainian official posited that Russia’s following Kyiv’s lead presents a real danger. “They copied our successful solutions,” Andrii Kovalenko, the head of Ukraines Center for Countering Disinformation, stated on Telegram. “It was we who created strike UAV companies, which in 2023 allowed us to have an advantage over the enemy. And now the SBS operates very effectively. But the Russians copy and try to scale our innovations by quantity. This is a threat, of course.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Russia Creates New Military Branch Dedicated To Drone Warfare appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Air, Around The Globe, Europe, Land, Russia, Sea, Ukraine, Unmanned, Unmanned Ground Vehicles, Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs)] [Link to media]

— Railgun Damage To Japanese Target Ship Seen For The First Time

 

at 11/13/25 10:54am

Japan’s Acquisition Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) has offered the first look at damage to a target ship after it was hit by projectiles fired from a prototype electromagnetic railgun in testing earlier this year. Japanese authorities say valuable data and experience were gleaned from the demonstration, which will feed into its continued push toward an operational railgun capability. This is an area of development where the U.S. Navy notably halted work in the early 2020s, despite having seen promising progress, due to significant technological impediments. ATLA provided additional details about the at-sea railgun testing that took place this past summer during a presentation at its annual Defense Technology Symposium, which opened earlier this week. For the tests, the prototype weapon system was installed on the rear flight deck of the JS Asuka, a one-of-its-kind 6,200-ton-displacement testbed warship belonging to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF). Pictures of the railgun onboard Asuka first began to emerge in April. ATLA released an initial batch of imagery from the at-sea tests, along with a brief statement about the results, in September. A previously released picture showing the prototype railgun installed on the JS Asuka being fired during the testing earlier this year. ATLA The prototype railgun used in the testing is an evolution of a design that ATLA has been developing since the mid-2010s. That work has included previous live-fire testing at facilities on land, as well as at least one earlier at-sea test that did not involve shooting an actual target vessel. Railguns, in general, use electromagnets instead of chemical propellants to fire projectiles at very high velocities. Dart-shaped projectiles, each with four fins at the rear and no warhead, were fired during the at-sea tests earlier this year. The projectiles were initially held inside a sabot that broke apart after leaving the muzzle. There was also a metal armature at the rear that served to push the projectile in the sabot down the barrel, which fell away after firing. A slide from the ATLA presentation this week highlighting the evolution from earlier prototype railguns tested at facilities on land to the one mounted on the JS Asuka for the at-sea tests. ATLA Another slide from the presentation discussing the design of the projectiles fired during the at-sea testing. ATLA A tug-like ship was used as the target for the railgun installed on the JS Asuka. The target vessel was moving during at least some of the test shots, but under tow behind another ship rather than its own power. It was struck multiple times, with the cross-shaped impact points showing the fin-stabilized projectiles flew in a stable manner, as seen in the images at the top of this story and below. The full slide covering damage to the target ship from ATLAs presentation this week. ATLA Another slide with additional details about how the test shots at the target ship were carried out. ATLA In addition to level shots at the target ship, the railgun was fired at a 45-degree upward angle to provide an opportunity to gather data on the basic ballistics of the weapon and round combination. Operators aimed the railgun remotely using a camera mounted under the barrel. An additional high-speed camera and a small radar were also positioned on JS Asukas flight deck to collect additional data. A drone filmed the testing from above. When ATLA first released imagery from the testing back in September, TWZ highlighted the presence of what was likely a small radar array, as well as electro-optical and/or infrared cameras, which has now been confirmed. A slide highlighting the camera under the railguns barrel, which was used to aim the weapons during the at-sea tests earlier this year. ATLA A slide with additional imagery from the at-sea tests, including of the ballistic shots fired with the weapon aimed 45 degrees upward. The radar array and high-speed camera that helped collect data during the testing are highlighted in the image at far left. ATLA ATLA says that the testing also provided valuable new experience regarding the installation and operation of a railgun on an actual naval vessel. Of course, an operational naval railgun would likely be far more deeply integrated into a warship compared to the test arrangement on JS Asuka. A more traditional naval installation on any ship would require finding sufficient space above and below deck for the railgun and its associated systems, as well as making a host of other necessary modifications, which could be costly and time-consuming. Otherwise, ATLA continues to work to improve various key underlying technologies as part of its ongoing railgun development efforts, including when it comes to power and cooling, as well as general wear and tear. Japanese authorities say they have now been able to demonstrate a barrel life of more than 200 rounds when firing projectiles at around 2,300 meters per second. As of 2023, ATLA had reportedly been able to fire projectiles from prototype railguns at around 2,230 meters per second and had said it was working toward a barrel life of 120 rounds. ATLA The wear on barrels from the sustained firing of projectiles at very high speeds is one of a number of long-standing challenges for railguns, in general. A worn-out barrel can lead to the loss of range and accuracy, as well as increase the risk of a catastrophic failure. Railguns also have significant power generation and cooling requirements, which have, in turn, historically made them very physically bulky. The installation on JS Asuka included four shipping containers full of additional systems and equipment to help meet those needs. Kazumi Ito, principal director of the equipment policy division at ATLA, said his country’s railgun efforts were “progressing,” but acknowledged “various challenges,” while speaking through an interpreter at a panel discussion at the DSEI Japan 2025 exposition earlier this year, according to National Defense Magazine. The ATLA video below shows previous live-fire testing of a prototype railgun at a facility on land. In general, the potential rewards from developing a practical railgun suitable for operational military use are great. Such a weapon would offer valuable anti-air capabilities, as well as the ability to engage targets at sea and on land. It would also bring additional benefits in terms of the relatively low cost of its ammunition and magazine depth. As TWZ has previously written: “In principle, a practical electromagnetic railgun would offer a highly capable and flexible weapon system that can rapidly engage a wide array of targets at sea, on land, and even in the air, and at considerable ranges. Japan has previously expressed interest in this capability explicitly to help protect against incoming hypersonic threats. Such a weapon would also offer benefits in terms of magazine depth and cost compared to traditional surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, given the small size and lower unit price of the individual rounds.” “When it comes to warships, in particular, where physical space is at a premium and where options for reloading missiles at sea can be at best extremely limited, having a weapon system firing lower-cost munitions from a large magazine and that can engage a broad swath of target sets would be a clear boon.” A U.S. Navy briefing slide from the service’s abortive railgun program showing how ships armed with the weapons (as well as conventional guns firing the same ammunition) could potentially engage a wide variety of aerial threats, including cruise missiles, as well as surface targets. USN The benefits railguns could offer extend to ground-based types, as well as ones installed on naval vessels. ATLAs presentation this week shows a truck-mounted railgun, along with one on a warship, as part of the projected roadmap for further railgun developments. ATLA has highlighted the potential for land-based capability in the past, as well. A slide showing the general planned progression of Japanese railgun developments from the work that has been done already to a more refined design, and then operational naval and ground-based capabilities. ATLA The previously released ATLA video below also depicts ground-based truck-mounted railguns. As TWZ has noted in the past, Japans continued push ahead with the development of railguns stands in ever-starker contrast to the U.S. Navys shelving of its work on such a capability back in 2022, at least publicly. Starting in 2005, the service had been very actively pursuing an operational railgun and had plans to move from extensive on-land testing out to sea. However, the expected at-sea tests were repeatedly delayed and never came to pass. The Navy cited major technological hurdles in its decision to halt its railgun program. Interestingly, ATLA has reportedly met with U.S. Navy officials to discuss its past railgun work and how it might be useful to Japans ongoing efforts. The possibility of greater collaboration in the future has also come up. Last year, ATLA signed a separate deal with the Franco-German Research Institute of Saint-Louis (ISL) to cooperate on the development of railgun technologies. China has also been experimenting, on-and-off, with railguns since the 1980s. In 2018, a prototype railgun mounted in a large turret emerged on a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ship, but the exact status of that program is now unclear. The Chinese naval railgun that emerged in 2018. Chinese internet As mentioned, work on railguns is also ongoing as part of a joint effort between Germany and France. Turkey has received particular public attention for its railgun developments in recent years, as well. There continues to be general interest, globally, in railguns for naval and ground-based applications. ATLAs update on the at-sea railgun testing earlier this year makes clear that, regardless of any other global development, Japan very much remains committed to its pursuit of this capability. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Railgun Damage To Japanese Target Ship Seen For The First Time appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Sea, Around The Globe, Indo-Pacific, Japan, Naval Gun Systems, News & Features] [Link to media]

— E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Procurement Plans Axed By NATO

 

at 11/13/25 10:47am

The Dutch Ministry of Defense has announced that NATO nations have dropped their plan to buy Boeing E-7A Wedgetail as the alliance’s next airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) platform. The decision comes after South Korea rejected the E-7 for its own AEW&C program and would appear to open the NATO door to Saab’s rival GlobalEye, which France has already said it intends to buy. In a statement today, the Dutch Ministry of Defense said that the Netherlands, “together with a number of partner countries,” has decided not to purchase the six E-7s. These aircraft were expected to partially replace the 16 Boeing E-3A Sentry Airborne Warning And Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft that are operated by the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF), home-stationed at Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany. NATO E-3s on the flight line at Geilenkirchen Air Base. Melanie Becker/Luftwaffe The Dutch Ministry of Defense said that the E-7 program has lost its “strategic and financial basis,” and confirmed the United States had withdrawn from the program in July, resulting in “significant changes” to the alliance’s AWACS replacement program. The statement added that the members are now exploring alternatives for replacing the AWACS fleet. “The goal remains to have other, quieter aircraft operational by 2035,” said State Secretary for Defense of the Netherlands, Gijs Tuinman. The minister was referencing the fact that the E-3s will reach the end of their service life in 2035 and have been criticized for their excessive noise signature. State Secretary for Defense of the Netherlands, Gijs Tuinman, meets with soldiers operating a leased German Leopard tank in Amersfoort on May 14, 2025. Photo by Vincent Jannink / ANP / AFP VINCENT JANNINK Originally, the Netherlands was one of seven partner members in the AWACS replacement program, alongside Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, and the United States. Apart from the United States, which stepped away in July, it’s unclear from the Dutch statement whether any of the other partners decided to depart the program. However, the statement says that the “remaining countries” are now “looking for new partners.” Regardless, at this stage, it seems highly unlikely that Boeing and the E-7 will find a way back into NATO’s plans. That would appear to leave European rival Saab and its GlobalEye AEW&C platform, which is based on a Bombardier Global 6000/6500 long-range bizjet airframe. A prototype Saab GlobalEye aircraft. Saab Anders Bergstrand In his statement, Dutch defense minister Tuinman also appeared to suggest that a European solution would be preferred, with Saab being the only realistic candidate. “The withdrawal of the United States also demonstrates the importance of investing as much as possible in European industry,” Tuinman said. A Saab spokesperson provided TWZ with the following statement today: “We are aware of media reports related to NATO’s AWACS program. There is a significant increase in global interest for GlobalEye, and we believe GlobalEye makes an excellent solution for many countries that need long-range detection and identification capabilities of objects in the air, at sea, and over land. We are open to discuss and explore how our technology can support the needs of our potential customers.” In its favor is the fact that the GlobalEye has already been earmarked by France to replace its E-3F Sentry fleet. At the Paris Air Show this summer, Saab and the French defense procurement agency, the Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA), signed a joint declaration of intent regarding the sale of two GlobalEye aircraft to France, plus two options. “Our solution will enable France to maintain full sovereign control of its airborne early warning and control capability,” Micael Johansson, President and CEO of Saab, said at the time. A pair of Saab GlobalEye aircraft over Sweden. Saab Sweden, now also a NATO member, has placed orders (two firm and two options) for the GlobalEye, too, while Saab also pitched the aircraft to Denmark and Finland, with a view to them potentially jointly operating the type. NATO had not yet placed a firm order for the six E-7s, but back in 2023 had announced its plan to “take steps toward acquiring” those aircraft, via U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) channels. This was the first part of an effort known as Initial Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (iAFSC). Weve decided on our acquisition strategy based on the E-7A #Wedgetailaircraft by @BoeingDefense, to define @NATO ‘s future #AEW&C capability!How are we responding to Nations’ requirements developing this capability jointly w/ @SHAPE_NATO & @NATO_ACT? https://t.co/Mj8VfsbHMH pic.twitter.com/q1ESr2bsl4— NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) (@NSPA_NATO) November 15, 2023 The original NATO decision in favor of the E-7 had been made after a “rigorous assessment process,” including an assessment of requests for information (RFI) and price and availability (P&A), and studies of previous E-7 acquisition programs, namely in Australia, South Korea, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The United Kingdom is already well underway with its E-7 procurement, but this program has been dogged by delays and cost overruns and has been trimmed to just three aircraft. The U.K. Royal Air Force’s first E-7 Wedgetail AEW1 flies over the English countryside. Crown Copyright AS1 Iwan Lewis RAF At the time, NATO had determined that the E-7 was “the only known system currently capable of fulfilling the strategic commands’ essential operational requirements and key performance parameters and available for delivery within the timeframe required.” This decision has now been turned on its head, apparently spurred by the U.S. decision to withdraw from the NATO program. There remains the possibility that NATO might forego buying a crewed AEW&C platform altogether. When the E-7 acquisition plan was first announced, NATO said it was “an initial element to mitigate the risk of airborne surveillance and control capability gap,” but the Wedgetail would be just “one contributing element […] to the overall Alliance Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) system of systems capability.” This indicated that the alliance ultimately planned to field the E-7 within an integrated network of sensors, also including drones, and other aircraft types that can operate in a surveillance-gathering capacity, and space-based systems. In a graphic that NATO provided alongside the original E-7 announcement, the Wedgetail was shown as one part of a multifaceted surveillance enterprise that also included uncrewed airborne surveillance (illustrated with a NATO RQ-4D Phoenix high-altitude long-endurance drone), space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), maritime-based ISR, land-based radar, and MILSATCOM. Also featured were a digital backbone and combat cloud, while a final segment is left empty, suggesting the potential for other platforms or capabilities to be added at a later date. NATO Overall, NATO’s future AEW&C vision had some similarities with the U.S. Air Force’s plans in this domain. Increasingly, the U.S. Air Force has viewed the E-7 as a solution to bridge the gap between the retirement of its own aging E-3s and a future space-based radar capability and other classified systems. In general, the U.S. military has increasingly been looking at the possibilities for future distributed space-based networks that would ultimately exist as large, meshed constellations that could persistently surveil the skies of nearly the entire globe, opening up a whole new set of tactics and situational awareness capabilities. At the same time, these would be more resilient and less vulnerable than traditional surveillance assets. The Pentagon is also looking at ways to rapidly replace any satellites that are destroyed or otherwise rendered inoperable, reflecting the fact that even space-based assets are far from invulnerable to hostile actors. It is far from clear what kind of progress NATO might have made in the development of radar-equipped satellites that could provide capabilities similar to crewed AEW&C aircraft. Also questionable is whether European NATO allies would be able to afford such a system, although buying into the U.S. constellation could be an option. Outside of the classified realm, meanwhile, many countries, as well as private companies, now publicly operate various space-based radars, albeit primarily for imaging purposes. Concept image of a future U.S. Air Force E-7A Wedgetail AEWC jet. Boeing The future of the E-7 with the U.S. Air Force has also been far from certain. In its fiscal 2026 budget request, the Pentagon called for the Wedgetail procurement to be scrapped in favor of an ambitious effort to use space-based assets to perform moving target indication missions. The Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye, as used aboard U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, then emerged as a possible substitute for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7, at least in the interim. The program remained in limbo until this week, when the federal government shutdown lifted and appropriators approved spending for the U.S. Air Force’s E-7 program. The next tranche of funds, just under $200 million, will ensure that research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) for the E-7 continues, alongside rapid prototyping activities. Remaining procurement funding from fiscal 2025 is directed to be allocated to the RDT&E effort. There are, meanwhile, increasing concerns about the survivability of crewed surveillance aircraft like the E-7. While these kinds of platforms may be more relevant in the European scenario, there remain questions as to whether aircraft like these can get close enough in wartime to be effective at all. Potentially, NATO could forego buying an interim crewed AEW&C platform altogether, although previous statements from officials make this sound less likely. Referring to the choice of the E-7 for the alliance, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said in 2023: “Surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft are crucial for NATO’s collective defense, and I welcome allies’ commitment to investing in high-end capabilities. By pooling resources, allies can buy and operate major assets collectively that would be too expensive for individual countries to purchase. This investment in state-of-the-art technology shows the strength of transatlantic defense cooperation as we continue to adapt to a more unstable world.” Once again, should NATO decide to move forward with an alternative crewed AEW&C aircraft, the GlobalEye would appear to be the only realistic option given the timeframe. It is notable, meanwhile, that interest in these kinds of aircraft is currently growing in the European region, a direct result of the growing threat from Russia, combined with other operational contingencies that demand broad-area surveillance and airspace control. With this in mind, Poland recently acquired two Saab 340 twin-turboprop aircraft equipped with the same company’s Erieye AEW&C system. Similar aircraft have also been promised to Ukraine. The sudden emergence of Russian drones as a threat within NATO airspace has further underscored the value of AEW&C assets, which have a critical look-down capability against uncrewed air vehicles as well as cruise missiles. Aircraft like these can keep watch over the alliance’s eastern flank to monitor Russian military aircraft and missiles, as well as potentially hostile movements on the ground and at sea. Time will tell what path NATO follows as it sets about replacing its veteran E-3s, which are now getting so old that their availability will likely continue to degrade toward 2035. In another blow for Boeing, the E-7 would seem to be out of the picture as a NATO AWACS successor. If the alliance does opt for a crewed AWACS solution, the GlobalEye could end up playing a much bigger role across NATO. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post E-7 Wedgetail Radar Jet Procurement Plans Axed By NATO appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, E-3, E-7, Europe, Manned ISR, NATO, News & Features, Space] [Link to media]

— Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone

 

at 11/13/25 12:20am

Anduril has unveiled Omen, a new tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing drone with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The design, which the company is now developing in cooperation with EDGE Group in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is intended to be modular and adaptable to a wide array of military and non-military missions. Omen is being presented as a particularly disruptive effort, with outsized range and capabilities for its size and weight, positioning it to compete against larger uncrewed and crewed aircraft. The official announcement from Anduril about Omen and the new partnership with EDGE comes ahead of the biennial Dubai airshow, which opens next week. In addition to co-development, EDGE will also assist with the production, as well as sales and sustainment, of Omen drones in the UAE. Anduril says it already has a firm order for up to 50 of the uncrewed aircraft from a UAE-based customer, which it has so far declined to name. Pictures of a full-scale model the company has released, as seen clearly below, do depict an example bearing the insignia of the UAEs Air Force. The plan is to produce batches of Omens at Andurils forthcoming Arsenal-1 factory in Ohio, as well. The Omen drone. Anduril TREVOR DALTON Omen has been in development since 2019, and there has been significant flight testing involving subscale demonstrators already. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey alluded to this in a post on X last month, which followed Shield AIs unveiling of its jet-powered, tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing X-BAT drone, which you can learn much more about in detail in this previous TWZ feature interview. Anduril also directly teased todays announcements in social media posts yesterday. X-BAT looks super cool, but Andurils unannounced runway-independent, AI-piloted aircraft with even longer range flew its first VTOL flight in January of 2020. The airframe is currently sitting in the Anduril HQ showroom.See you at the Dubai Airshow next month, @shieldaitech! https://t.co/UQmuPJfgQu— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) October 24, 2025 pic.twitter.com/aCjFg2J6yT— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) November 12, 2025 So this has been one of Palmers personal projects that weve been working on for quite a while, which is why weve stayed on it, Dr. Shane Arnott, a Senior Vice President at Anduril who is currently the lead for what the company calls Manuever Dominance, told TWZ and other outlets during a press briefing yesterday. So having the support of the founder goes a long way. In terms of its core design, Omen is a twin-rotor aircraft that takes off from and lands in a tail-sitting position, where it stands about 10 feet tall. It features relatively long and slender main wings, mounted toward the rear of the fuselage, together with canard foreplanes on either side of the nose. It also has a twin-boom tail configuration extending from the rear of the nacelles on each wing. Beyond it being hybrid-electric in nature, Anduril has disclosed few details so far about Omens propulsion system. Candidly, we hit a wall when it came to propulsion technologies, Arnott noted when talking about prior flight testing of subscale demonstrators. So weve been working very diligently over the last five years, looking at new technologies, and in particular series hybrid tech, and working with the likes of Archer. Archer Aviation is an independent company focused, at least publicly, on the development of crewed hybrid-electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Anduril and Archater announced a partnership in December 2024 to work on a design aimed primarily at meeting the requirements of an unspecified U.S. military program. Arnott said Omen is separate from this effort, but some of the technology is being leveraged, especially when it comes to motors. He also described the core elements of the hybrid-electric technologies used in Omen as internal Anduril magic. Weve now flown a propulsion demonstrator, which were now going to evolve into a new product with EDGE, he added. Anduril has yet to provide any hard dimensional or weight specifications for Omen, but says it is in the Group 3 category. The U.S. military defines Group 3 drones as ones that weigh between 55 and 1,320 pounds, can fly up to altitudes between 3,500 and 18,000 feet, and have top speeds of between 100 and 250 knots. It is a heavy Group 3, so we are at the upper end of Group 3, Arnott said. As many of you would know, Group 3 tends to be dominated by folks who are at the lower weight category and its been a bit of a race to the bottom, to be honest, in that space. Arnott further described Omens payload capacity as being three to five times what most Group 3 drones currently on the market can carry, which he also said was generally in the 25-to-50-pound range. Omens exact range and other performance characteristics are also unknown. Arnott said range-wise, the drone would be able to fly three to four times as far as typical Group 3 designs on the market now. What I will say is it is Indo-Pacific relevant ranges, he added. We are specifically designing for that particular customer in mind, where theres a lot of water, not too much land, [the] need the ability to self-deploy, etc. As is typically the case with members of Andurils uncrewed systems portfolios, Omen will make use of the companys Lattice proprietary artificial intelligence-enabled autonomy software package. With Lattice, multiple [Omen] aircraft will coordinate flight paths, share sensor data, and adapt behavior in real time, enabling new missions that bring the capabilities of much larger systems to smaller, more expeditionary units, according to the companys press release. One of the reasons why people keep chasing this particular capability is theres the promise of being truly runway independent and expeditionary in your capability, Arnott explained. So, as we know, in the future fight, and also in disaster response, theres not going to be a lot of runways available. So, being able to take off and recover anywhere, but still have the performance of an aircraft, is very desirable. Arnott said that Omen is also designed to have a low logistics footprint to further enable its use during expeditionary and distributed operations from far-flung operating locations. Its lightweight, foldable frame will allow a two-person team to transport, assemble, andlaunch the aircraft in minutes without specialized infrastructure, Andurils press release adds. Arnott made clear that Anduril sees Omens particular combination of features and capabilities, together with its underlying highly modular open-architecture design, as giving it outsized potential compared to even significantly larger crewed aircraft. So we can start doing things that would normally take a Group 5 [drone] or potentially a small business jet, because we can carry multiple sensors, be it SAR [synthetic aperture radar], EO [electro-optical, various electronic sensors, he said. So we can go after missions like maritime patrol, etc. Group 5 is the highest tier the U.S. military has for drones, covering designs with maximum takeoff weights over 1,320 pounds and typical operating altitudes above 18,000 feet, and that can fly at any speed. The parameters for Group 4 are identical, except when it comes to operating altitude, which is set at no more than 18,000 feet. The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, seen here during a test of its potential utility in supporting anti-submarine warfare operations, is a Group 5 drone. General Atomics Multi-payload capability, which is not found on drones at the lower end of the Group 3 category, makes for a very interesting set of missions, according to Arnott. When youve got multi-sensors to do correlation, etc, using technologies like Lattice. We can then specifically get into things that would normally be small business jets, be it special mission aircraft, be it maritime patrol. So were really looking after, going after that particular space. Beyond various types of sensors, potential payloads might also include munitions. Andurils press release mentions other military mission sets ranging from logistics resupply to air defense sensing and communications relay, as well as non-military ones, particularly in the context of a disaster relief scenario. So, similar to the problem that we see in the future fight, where runways are likely to be cut or denied, similar kind of problems exist when you have a disaster, whether its a tsunami, or a cyclone, or wildfire, or anything like that, Arnott explained. Your normal infrastructure tends to be lost as a result of this. Omen could help with search and rescue or the delivery of aid, as well act as a cell phone tower that can fly. So Omen, being a series hybrid, actually has a lot of excess power, so its kind of a technical item that can support electronic payloads that need a lot of power to drive them, he continued. You can get that in the air, and peoples mobile phones can still work, communications can be restored, and therefore, response can be coordinated. So we are actually very optimistic for capabilities like that for this system. It is worth noting here that this vignette speaks to the potential value of Omen as a signal relay node in a military context, as well. Another view of the Omen drone. Anduril TREVOR DALTON The vehicle system itself is a dual-use system, so theres nothing inherently military about it, Arnott added, highlighting how that will help with sales to non-military customers. It is the missionization of it will be subject to the standard export controls of the United States government and also the UAE. Omen design is also intended to allow military or non-military personnel to readily snap in, snap off various payloads, even under field conditions, according to Arnott. More broadly speaking, we have very specifically gone at the upper edge of Group 3 where we believe that theres a bit of a blank spot in the market, he said. At the same time, we believe were onto something, and we believe this is less about disrupting Group 3. This is more about disrupting current maritime patrol, special mission aircraft, much bigger systems. Thats what were going after here. On top of that, theres a lot of wreckage on the road to the creation of tail sitters, Arnott asserted. A lot of people have had a shot at doing that. Not a ton of people have succeeded in doing it. There is at least one successful tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing drone on the market now, Shield AIs V-BAT. The V-BAT, which is now combat-proven thanks to its service in Ukraine, is also a Group 3 design. A Shield AI V-BAT in use in Ukraine. Shield AI What sets Omen apart is really the propulsion tech. So, being able to get it off the ground and then still be able to get into a regime that is efficient for forward flight has been the problem, according to Arnott. Typically, youll have to pick where your engine is happy from an energy output standpoint. So, helicopters optimize for that vertical flight, which is kind of why theyre horrible at forward flight or very limited in their capability. So having that magical kind of in between [capability], and the hybrid-electric kind of helps there, he continued. So youve got the ability of having the traditional power plant, as well as then the electric, the battery system, to deal with the lift part of it, and to then get you into cruise. You are seeing others get into this space and start working it. You know, one way to solve it is kind of like what the Shield [AI] guys have done with X-BAT, or theyre planning to do with it, which is a ridiculous amount of thrust, well see there, with the F-15/F-16 engines, he also noted. In the Group 3 category, its much more tricky [sic] to kind of get that balance right, which is kind of why weve been chasing this for better part of five, five to six years. X-BAT, which is a much larger design overall and intended for very different mission sets, is not without risks. Shield AI has significant hurdles to clear to make that drone a reality, something it has itself acknowledged. At the same time, Anduril has also laid out extremely ambitious goals for Omen and the market space that it expects the drone to be a contender in. Sikorsky also recently unveiled a new family of tail-sitting twin-rotor vertical takeoff and landing drones called Nomad, the smallest of which is also in the Group 3 category, as seen in the composite rendering below. The tactical vertical takeoff and landing drone space is heating up, in general, with a growing number of tilt-rotors and other types of designs, as well. Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin This is an architecture that weve been weve been working on for some time. I wont say that were announcing a family, but its certainly a it is a scalable architecture, Arnott said in response to a direct question from this author about whether there might be plans already for further scaled-up derivatives of Omen. Today were were announcing this one configuration. In Andurils case, Arnott pointed to the order from the UAE-based customer as evidence that Omen isnt just another prototype, as the vast majority of the industry has done in this particular class. We will actually create a full production system, we will actually take this into service, and well be fully missionized. That being said, Anduril has not disclosed a firm timeline for the first flight of a production representative Omen or a projected unit price. The company has described the current joint development effort with EDGE as being on a three-year timeline that extends into 2028, after which series production of fully missionized examples is expected to begin. When its ready, itll be ready, according to Arnott. Andurils press notes that the company has already invested $850 million in relevant mission autonomy technology and Group 3 VTOL development, and that EDGE is now providing another $200 million to continue work on the drone. EDGE has already been investing heavily in its own expanding portfolio of uncrewed aircraft designs. The company is also involved in the development and production of a wide range of other weapon systems, as well as other defense and security products. The EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance is also expected to extend well beyond Omen to cooperation on other systems. The joint venture also notably represents Andurils first true joint venture outside of the United States. The company has a presence in the United Kingdom and Australia, but those are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Anduril is separately building a 50,000-square-foot engineering center in the UAE that it will manage by itself. Beyond the order from the customer in the UAE, there has [sic] been U.S. government customers tracking [Omen] certainly there have been a number of close customers that weve kept in the loop, Arnott noted. We tend to keep it reasonably tight when were doing development, and then go more broadly once were confident and have conviction that we have [the] line of sight to a product that we do now. Anduril has already promised more information about Omen to come at the Dubai Airshow next week, and we will follow up when we learn more. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Vertical Takeoff And Landing Drone appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Drones, News & Features, Unmanned] [Link to media]

— Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Tail-Sitter VTOL Drone

 

at 11/12/25 10:02pm

Anduril has unveiled Omen, a new tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing drone with a hybrid-electric propulsion system. The design, which the company is now developing in cooperation with EDGE Group in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), is intended to be modular and adaptable to a wide array of military and non-military missions. Omen is being presented as a particularly disruptive effort, with outsized range and capabilities for its size and weight, positioning it to compete against larger uncrewed and crewed aircraft. The official announcement from Anduril about Omen and the new partnership with EDGE comes ahead of the biennial Dubai airshow, which opens next week. In addition to co-development, EDGE will also assist with the production, as well as sales and sustainment, of Omen drones in the UAE. Anduril says it already has a firm order for up to 50 of the uncrewed aircraft from a UAE-based customer, which it has so far declined to name. Pictures of a full-scale model the company has released, as seen clearly below, do depict an example bearing the insignia of the UAEs Air Force. The plan is to produce batches of Omens at Andurils forthcoming Arsenal-1 factory in Ohio, as well. The Omen drone. Anduril TREVOR DALTON Omen has been in development since 2019, and there has been significant flight testing involving subscale demonstrators already. Anduril founder Palmer Luckey alluded to this in a post on X last month, which followed Shield AIs unveiling of its jet-powered, tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing X-BAT drone, which you can learn much more about in detail in this previous TWZ feature interview. Anduril also directly teased todays announcements in social media posts yesterday. X-BAT looks super cool, but Andurils unannounced runway-independent, AI-piloted aircraft with even longer range flew its first VTOL flight in January of 2020. The airframe is currently sitting in the Anduril HQ showroom.See you at the Dubai Airshow next month, @shieldaitech! https://t.co/UQmuPJfgQu— Palmer Luckey (@PalmerLuckey) October 24, 2025 pic.twitter.com/aCjFg2J6yT— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) November 12, 2025 So this has been one of Palmers personal projects that weve been working on for quite a while, which is why weve stayed on it, Dr. Shane Arnott, a Senior Vice President at Anduril who is currently the lead for what the company calls Manuever Dominance, told TWZ and other outlets during a press briefing yesterday. So having the support of the founder goes a long way. In terms of its core design, Omen is a twin-rotor aircraft that takes off from and lands in a tail-sitting position, where it stands about 10 feet tall. It features relatively long and slender main wings, mounted toward the rear of the fuselage, together with canard foreplanes on either side of the nose. It also has a twin-boom tail configuration extending from the rear of the nacelles on each wing. Beyond it being hybrid-electric in nature, Anduril has disclosed few details so far about Omens propulsion system. Candidly, we hit a wall when it came to propulsion technologies, Arnott noted when talking about prior flight testing of subscale demonstrators. So weve been working very diligently over the last five years, looking at new technologies, and in particular series hybrid tech, and working with the likes of Archer. Archer Aviation is an independent company focused, at least publicly, on the development of crewed hybrid-electric-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. Anduril and Archater announced a partnership in December 2024 to work on a design aimed primarily at meeting the requirements of an unspecified U.S. military program. Arnott said Omen is separate from this effort, but some of the technology is being leveraged, especially when it comes to motors. He also described the core elements of the hybrid-electric technologies used in Omen as internal Anduril magic. Weve now flown a propulsion demonstrator, which were now going to evolve into a new product with EDGE, he added. Anduril has yet to provide any hard dimensional or weight specifications for Omen, but says it is in the Group 3 category. The U.S. military defines Group 3 drones as ones that weigh between 55 and 1,320 pounds, can fly up to altitudes between 3,500 and 18,000 feet, and have top speeds of between 100 and 250 knots. It is a heavy Group 3, so we are at the upper end of Group 3, Arnott said. As many of you would know, Group 3 tends to be dominated by folks who are at the lower weight category and its been a bit of a race to the bottom, to be honest, in that space. Arnott further described Omens payload capacity as being three to five times what most Group 3 drones currently on the market can carry, which he also said was generally in the 25-to-50-pound range. Omens exact range and other performance characteristics are also unknown. Arnott said range-wise, the drone would be able to fly three to four times as far as typical Group 3 designs on the market now. What I will say is it is Indo-Pacific relevant ranges, he added. We are specifically designing for that particular customer in mind, where theres a lot of water, not too much land, [the] need the ability to self-deploy, etc. As is typically the case with members of Andurils uncrewed systems portfolios, Omen will make use of the companys Lattice proprietary artificial intelligence-enabled autonomy software package. With Lattice, multiple [Omen] aircraft will coordinate flight paths, share sensor data, and adapt behavior in real time, enabling new missions that bring the capabilities of much larger systems to smaller, more expeditionary units, according to the companys press release. One of the reasons why people keep chasing this particular capability is theres the promise of being truly runway independent and expeditionary in your capability, Arnott explained. So, as we know, in the future fight, and also in disaster response, theres not going to be a lot of runways available. So, being able to take off and recover anywhere, but still have the performance of an aircraft, is very desirable. Arnott said that Omen is also designed to have a low logistics footprint to further enable its use during expeditionary and distributed operations from far-flung operating locations. Its lightweight, foldable frame will allow a two-person team to transport, assemble, andlaunch the aircraft in minutes without specialized infrastructure, Andurils press release adds. Arnott made clear that Anduril sees Omens particular combination of features and capabilities, together with its underlying highly modular open-architecture design, as giving it outsized potential compared to even significantly larger crewed aircraft. So we can start doing things that would normally take a Group 5 [drone] or potentially a small business jet, because we can carry multiple sensors, be it SAR [synthetic aperture radar], EO [electro-optical, various electronic sensors, he said. So we can go after missions like maritime patrol, etc. Group 5 is the highest tier the U.S. military has for drones, covering designs with maximum takeoff weights over 1,320 pounds and typical operating altitudes above 18,000 feet, and that can fly at any speed. The parameters for Group 4 are identical, except when it comes to operating altitude, which is set at no more than 18,000 feet. The General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper, seen here during a test of its potential utility in supporting anti-submarine warfare operations, is a Group 5 drone. General Atomics Multi-payload capability, which is not found on drones at the lower end of the Group 3 category, makes for a very interesting set of missions, according to Arnott. When youve got multi-sensors to do correlation, etc, using technologies like Lattice. We can then specifically get into things that would normally be small business jets, be it special mission aircraft, be it maritime patrol. So were really looking after, going after that particular space. Beyond various types of sensors, potential payloads might also include munitions. Andurils press release mentions other military mission sets ranging from logistics resupply to air defense sensing and communications relay, as well as non-military ones, particularly in the context of a disaster relief scenario. So, similar to the problem that we see in the future fight, where runways are likely to be cut or denied, similar kind of problems exist when you have a disaster, whether its a tsunami, or a cyclone, or wildfire, or anything like that, Arnott explained. Your normal infrastructure tends to be lost as a result of this. Omen could help with search and rescue or the delivery of aid, as well act as a cell phone tower that can fly. So Omen, being a series hybrid, actually has a lot of excess power, so its kind of a technical item that can support electronic payloads that need a lot of power to drive them, he continued. You can get that in the air, and peoples mobile phones can still work, communications can be restored, and therefore, response can be coordinated. So we are actually very optimistic for capabilities like that for this system. It is worth noting here that this vignette speaks to the potential value of Omen as a signal relay node in a military context, as well. Another view of the Omen drone. Anduril TREVOR DALTON The vehicle system itself is a dual-use system, so theres nothing inherently military about it, Arnott added, highlighting how that will help with sales to non-military customers. It is the missionization of it will be subject to the standard export controls of the United States government and also the UAE. Omen design is also intended to allow military or non-military personnel to readily snap in, snap off various payloads, even under field conditions, according to Arnott. More broadly speaking, we have very specifically gone at the upper edge of Group 3 where we believe that theres a bit of a blank spot in the market, he said. At the same time, we believe were onto something, and we believe this is less about disrupting Group 3. This is more about disrupting current maritime patrol, special mission aircraft, much bigger systems. Thats what were going after here. On top of that, theres a lot of wreckage on the road to the creation of tail sitters, Arnott asserted. A lot of people have had a shot at doing that. Not a ton of people have succeeded in doing it. There is at least one successful tail-sitting vertical takeoff and landing drone on the market now, Shield AIs V-BAT. The V-BAT, which is now combat-proven thanks to its service in Ukraine, is also a Group 3 design. A Shield AI V-BAT in use in Ukraine. Shield AI What sets Omen apart is really the propulsion tech. So, being able to get it off the ground and then still be able to get into a regime that is efficient for forward flight has been the problem, according to Arnott. Typically, youll have to pick where your engine is happy from an energy output standpoint. So, helicopters optimize for that vertical flight, which is kind of why theyre horrible at forward flight or very limited in their capability. So having that magical kind of in between [capability], and the hybrid-electric kind of helps there, he continued. So youve got the ability of having the traditional power plant, as well as then the electric, the battery system, to deal with the lift part of it, and to then get you into cruise. You are seeing others get into this space and start working it. You know, one way to solve it is kind of like what the Shield [AI] guys have done with X-BAT, or theyre planning to do with it, which is a ridiculous amount of thrust, well see there, with the F-15/F-16 engines, he also noted. In the Group 3 category, its much more tricky [sic] to kind of get that balance right, which is kind of why weve been chasing this for better part of five, five to six years. X-BAT, which is a much larger design overall and intended for very different mission sets, is not without risks. Shield AI has significant hurdles to clear to make that drone a reality, something it has itself acknowledged. At the same time, Anduril has also laid out extremely ambitious goals for Omen and the market space that it expects the drone to be a contender in. Sikorsky also recently unveiled a new family of tail-sitting twin-rotor vertical takeoff and landing drones called Nomad, the smallest of which is also in the Group 3 category, as seen in the composite rendering below. The tactical vertical takeoff and landing drone space is heating up, in general, with a growing number of tilt-rotors and other types of designs, as well. Sikorsky/Lockheed Martin This is an architecture that weve been weve been working on for some time. I wont say that were announcing a family, but its certainly a it is a scalable architecture, Arnott said in response to a direct question from this author about whether there might be plans already for further scaled-up derivatives of Omen. Today were were announcing this one configuration. In Andurils case, Arnott pointed to the order from the UAE-based customer as evidence that Omen isnt just another prototype, as the vast majority of the industry has done in this particular class. We will actually create a full production system, we will actually take this into service, and well be fully missionized. That being said, Anduril has not disclosed a firm timeline for the first flight of a production representative Omen or a projected unit price. The company has described the current joint development effort with EDGE as being on a three-year timeline that extends into 2028, after which series production of fully missionized examples is expected to begin. When its ready, itll be ready, according to Arnott. Andurils press notes that the company has already invested $850 million in relevant mission autonomy technology and Group 3 VTOL development, and that EDGE is now providing another $200 million to continue work on the drone. EDGE has already been investing heavily in its own expanding portfolio of uncrewed aircraft designs. The company is also involved in the development and production of a wide range of other weapon systems, as well as other defense and security products. The EDGE-Anduril Production Alliance is also expected to extend well beyond Omen to cooperation on other systems. The joint venture also notably represents Andurils first true joint venture outside of the United States. The company has a presence in the United Kingdom and Australia, but those are wholly-owned subsidiaries. Anduril is separately building a 50,000-square-foot engineering center in the UAE that it will manage by itself. Beyond the order from the customer in the UAE, there has [sic] been U.S. government customers tracking [Omen] certainly there have been a number of close customers that weve kept in the loop, Arnott noted. We tend to keep it reasonably tight when were doing development, and then go more broadly once were confident and have conviction that we have [the] line of sight to a product that we do now. Anduril has already promised more information about Omen to come at the Dubai Airshow next week, and we will follow up when we learn more. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Anduril Unveils Omen Hybrid-Electric Tail-Sitter VTOL Drone appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Drones, News & Features, Unmanned] [Link to media]

— A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack Aircraft Being Pitched As Drone Hunter

 

at 11/12/25 1:28pm

Current and future operators of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft could use them to shoot down incoming drones, according to manufacturer Embraer. There is already something of an emerging trend when it comes to the idea of employing light attack planes in the drone hunting role. This has been enabled, in large part, by the combat-proven effectiveness of specially-configured laser-guided 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rockets in the air-to-air role against drones, developments that TWZ has been first to report on in many cases. Embraer outlined the potential of the A-29 as a flying drone-killer in a press release today. The Super Tucano is a two-seat single-engine turboprop aircraft in widespread service globally, both as a trainer and a light attack platform. The aircrafts standard configuration includes two .50 caliber machine guns, one in each wing. The plane also has the ability to carry various guided and unguided munitions, and other stores, on up to four underwing hardpoints and another one under the center of the fuselage. A-29s can be equipped with one of several sensor turrets containing a mix of electro-optical and infrared cameras, as well as laser spot trackers and/or designators, under the forward end of the fuselage, as well. A stock picture of an A-29 Super Tucano. USAF Relying on A-29 features in operation and new sensors, including specific datalinks for receiving initial target coordinates and queueing, the Electro-Optical/ Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor for laser tracking and designation, as well as the laser guided rockets and the wing-mounted .50 machine guns for neutralizing targeted Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), the Operational Concept (CONOPS) defined by Embraer will allow current and future A-29 operators to add counter drone missions to their operational profiles whenever needed, according to Embraers release. “The continued challenges in modern warfare and the recent conflicts worldwide have shown the urgent need for solutions to fight drones, Bosco da Costa Junior, President and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, also said in a statement. The A-29 is the ideal tool to counter UAS effectively and at low cost, adding to the aircraft’s already extensive mission set that includes close air support, armed reconnaissance, advanced training, and many others.” As Embraers press release makes clear, laser-guided rockets are central to the concept of employing the A-29 in the counter-drone role. The APKWS II from BAE Systems, specifically, has already emerged as the present leader in this domain. All APKWS II rockets consist of three main components: a 70mm rocket motor, one of several standard warhead options, and a laser guidance section in between. U.S. Air Force F-16s first began employing air-to-air-optimized versions of those rockets, also known as Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO), against drones in the Middle East last year, which TWZ was first to report. The service had previously announced successful testing of APKWS II rockets in the air-to-air role, also including against subsonic cruise missiles, back in 2019, something we also reported on first. U.S. Fighter aircraft shoot down Iran-backed Houthi one-way-attack drones with AGR-20 FALCO Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser Guided 2.75" Rockets.#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/bDoVnKwotc— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 FALCO rockets have now become the U.S. Air Forces go-to aerial counter-drone weapon for a growing a number of aircraft types beyond the F-16, including the F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Warthog ground attack plane. The rockets offer significant cost and magazine benefits over traditional air-to-air missiles against these threats, as you can read more about here. As a basic point of comparison, the unit cost of a complete APKWS II rocket is in the low tens of thousands of dollars, while AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) have individual price points around $500,000 and $1 million, respectively. One or more seven-shot 70mm rocket pods can also be loaded on the same pylons that could otherwise accommodate just one AIM-9X or AIM-120. This picture of an F-15E Strike Eagle with a load of 42 rockets in six seven-shot pods underscores the magazine-depth benefits the weapon offers. CENTCOM BAE Systems is also now developing a version of APKWS II that incorporates an additional imaging infrared seeker to improve its capabilities against air and ground targets. The rockets also have a demonstrated surface-to-air capability against drones, along with their ability to be used in air-to-surface and surface-to-surface modes. There are other types of laser-guided 70mm rockets on the market, as well. The companies that manufacture them are increasingly offering them specifically as counter-drone interceptors, whether fired from the air or down below. Pairing air-to-air-optimized laser-guided rockets with the A-29 offers additional potential benefits, especially given the low operating cost and logistical footprint of the Super Tucano. Those aircraft could be deployed to a larger array of operating locations compared to fast-flying tactical jets, including ones closer to intended operating areas, which could help further reduce demands for supporting resources, especially aerial refueling tankers. From those sites, A-29s could also still perform light attack, armed overwatch, and other missions, in addition to hunting for drones. Laser-guided rockets could be carried as part of mixed ordnance loads, offering flexibility even on a single sortie. A rocket-armed Philippine Air Force A-29 Super Tucano. Philippine Air Force As Embraers release notes, the Super Tucano also has the guns in its wings, something that is not found on many other light attack planes on the market today. At the same time, scoring gun kills against small aerial targets, even ones moving relatively slowly, can be challenging, and for fast jets, even downright dangerous. There are limitations to utilizing the A-29 in the counter-drone role. Compared to fast jets, Super Tucanos would be relatively slow just in terms of getting on station, let alone responding to threats across a potentially broad area of the battlespace. A lack of a built-in radar would create challenges for independently spotting and tracking targets at longer ranges. A-29 crews would therefore be heavily dependent on third-party information for cueing and general guidance, which can be facilitated via datalink or voice communications. Embraers press release speaks to this directly in mentioning the importance of specific datalinks for receiving initial target coordinates and queueing. The limitations would be more pronounced in barrages of multiple drones, but also multiple Tucanos could be deployed for the same cost as a single fighter. Super Tucanos could also leverage their ability to loiter to provide more focused coverage, especially against smaller groups of incoming threats, in a particular zone. Regardless, as mentioned, Embraer explicitly highlighting the potential utility of the A-29 in the drone-hunter role points to an emerging trend when it comes to light attack aircraft. There were reports last month that Textron has been presenting a similar concept of operations involving its AT-6 Wolverine, the light attack version of its T-6 trainer line, flying counter-drone patrols. The AT-6 was also notably the first fixed-wing aircraft to fire an APKWS II rocket, through an industry-funded demonstration more than a decade ago. The video below shows past U.S. Air Force testing of the A-29 and AT-6 in the light attack role. TWZ has previously raised the idea of the Air Force employing its new OA-1K Skyraider II light attack aircraft, which are heavily modified AT-802 crop dusters, to hunt uncrewed aerial threats. Earlier this year, images also emerged of a Zlin Z-137 Agro Turbo crop duster in Ukraine armed with R-73 heat-seeking air-to-air missiles, likely intended to help with intercepting incoming one-way-attack drones. Both Ukrainian and Russian forces have also been using other light aircraft types with ad-hoc weapons, including individuals simply wielding small arms, in this role. Engaging drones with door-mounted machine guns on helicopters is another tactic being employed in that conflict. Moravan Z-137 Agro Turbo turboprop aircraft, modified for R-73 air to air missile launches, was spotted in Ukraine. Most likely used to intercept Shahed kamikaze drones or reconnaissance drones. pic.twitter.com/mLjhkiZvIw— Special Kherson Cat (@bayraktar_1love) August 8, 2025 The crew-member of a Ukrainian helicopter shots down a Russian Shahed-136/Geran-2 long-range OWA-UAV with a side-mounted M134 Minigun rotary machine gun. pic.twitter.com/H4yTSnTbPT— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 12, 2025 The scale and scope of drone threats in the conflict in Ukraine, as well as globally, only continue to expand. This is especially true when it comes to the introduction of faster-flying jet-powered long-range one-way-attack drones, as well as the general integration of more and more artificial intelligence and machine-learning (AI/ML) driven capabilities. U.S. operations in and around the Middle East over the past two years or so have also underscored the particular challenges and dangers posed by high-volume attacks that can easily overwhelm defensive capacity. This reality was a key factor in the U.S. Air Forces crash efforts to expand the number of platforms capable of employing APKWS II rockets in the air-to-air role. Other countries are now looking at adding similar laser-guided rocket capability to their tactical jet fleets. With all this in mind, proposals like the new one from Embraer to add light attack aircraft, particularly ones armed with laser-guided rockets, as another cost-effective layer of anti-drone defense only look set to grow. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post A-29 Super Tucano Light Attack Aircraft Being Pitched As Drone Hunter appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Force Munitions, Air-To-Ground, Attack, Drones, Laser Guided Rockets, Light Air Support, News & Features] [Link to media]

— Battlefield Commander In Ukraine Details Russia’s Increasing Frontline Pressure

 

at 11/12/25 12:38pm

As Ukrainian forces struggle to hold onto the embattled eastern city of Pokrovsk, they are facing increasing pressure about 55 miles to the southwest in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Ukrainian Southern Command on Wednesday said its forces pulled out of the small hamlet of Rivnopillia, the latest in a string of withdrawals in the area since Tuesday. The retreat puts Russian troops a little more than 50 miles east of Zaporizhia, one of Ukraines biggest cities with a population of more than 700,000. The two fronts, in adjacent regions, are related, given Russia’s overwhelming advantage in troop strength and Ukraine’s more limited ability to generate forces to defend both areas. As a result, there are serious questions about how much longer Ukraine can hold onto Pokrovsk and the strategic impact of its potential fall. So we reached out to one battlefield commander with troops in Pokrovsk who offered us some insights about the front-line situation. He spoke to us on the condition of anonymity to talk about operational details. Ukrainian forces just withdrew from Rivnopillia in Zaporizhzhia oblast, about 55 miles southwest of where Ukraine is struggling to hold onto the Donestk city of Pokrovsk. (Google Earth) “If Russia manages to advance deeper into Pokrovsk, it would be one of the most serious challenges for Ukraine in recent months,” the commander explained. “Pokrovsk is not just another city. It’s a logistical and strategic hub that connects multiple directions across the Donetsk front. Losing it would mean breaking one of the last strong defense lines before Kramatorsk and Slovyansk, the industrial heart of this part of Ukraine.” Losing Pokrovsk would also have a cascading effect on the Zaporizhia front and elsewhere. “For the enemy, Pokrovsk is a gate,” he added. “Once they control it, they can project artillery farther west and threaten supply lines feeding the entire eastern group of Ukrainian forces. For us, it would mean longer supply routes, higher risk for convoys, and pressure on our reserves.” Meanwhile, “simultaneous pressure on adjacent sectors [like Zaporizhzhia] forces Ukraine to keep reserves thin and limits the ability to plug gaps quickly.” Ukrainian police & volunteers evacuated 22 residents, mostly elderly civilians, from the frontline town of Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region, as Russian troops advanced under heavy fog & drone threats, intensifying battles along the southern front#Zaporizhzhia #Huliaipole… pic.twitter.com/D2mzKpxHfU— CNBC-TV18 (@CNBCTV18News) November 12, 2025 Russia, which has been trying to capture Pokrovsk for more than a year, is paying a heavy price for its advances, the commander stated. “Around Pokrovsk, the Russians are taking enormous losses,” he posited. “They’re throwing wave after wave of troops into the fight — mostly poorly trained men, often with no proper coordination or cover. Every assault costs them dozens, sometimes hundreds of lives.” “You can feel it on the ground,” he continued. “The smell of burned vehicles, the sound of their medevacs running nonstop. It’s not a battlefield anymore; it’s a graveyard for their infantry. They’re losing entire assault groups just to take a few hundred meters, and they have to start over the next day.” Russian forces launched a limited breakthrough toward Pokrovsk using light vehicles. Some reached the city, but most were destroyed. On Nov 11 alone, Ukrainian forces eliminated 10 vehicles. Fighting continues inside Pokrovsk as Ukrainian units strike enemy fire positions. In… pic.twitter.com/Fpn2qQWfmr— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) November 12, 2025 Under the cover of fog, the Russian transport-military column (cars and motorcycles on the roadside) that entered Pokrovsk was almost completely destroyed thanks to Ukrainian drones.See the latest updates with us: @visionergeo pic.twitter.com/wf1dNApyM2— Visioner (@visionergeo) November 12, 2025 For a long time, Ukraine held an advantage in defending Pokrovsk. The city has highrises, industrial buildings and underground passageways that made it difficult to attack and allowed Ukrainian troops freedom of movement. However, as more Russian troops pour into the city, they gained the upper hand “Russian units are fighting for high-rises and interior city blocks, which increases cost per meter held and reduces freedom of movement for defenders,” the commander noted. “Attacks from multiple axes (especially the west toward Myrnohrad, about a mile to the east), create the risk of semi-encirclement, and strain supply lines. Russia is massing forces and sustainment here—meaning Ukraine’s defense must absorb a high tempo of small assaults.” Intense battles are raging in the high-rise buildings of Pokrovsk. (Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) Libkos Ukrainian logistic lifelines “are under fire from Russian drones and mining, complicating resupply and reinforcement.” The weather is making matters worse, impeding drone operations and making it harder to pinpoint the location of Russian troops. “Urban fog, poor visibility, and dense architecture favor attacker surprise and make defensive coordination harder,” the commander noted. To hold onto Pokrovsk, “Ukraine must deny Russian resupply, prevent consolidation in high-rise anchors, keep constant counter-mobility (mines, obstacles), and rapidly move reserves into threatened zones,” according to the source. WATCH: Russian soldiers enter the battered Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, arriving on motorbikes and damaged vehicles. pic.twitter.com/KtbmMXqGwP— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 11, 2025 Soldiers of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment “SKALA” are conducting clearing operations against Russian positions in the northern part of Pokrovsk. pic.twitter.com/unzsjG1HUO— NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) November 12, 2025 Keeping the city in Ukrainian hands “is extremely challenging,” the source pointed out, “because of high-intensity urban combat within city limits, multi-directional Russian pressure (including attempts to envelop the city from the west), superior Russian troop and ammunition throughput on this sector, disrupted Ukrainian logistics under constant UAV surveillance, and worsening weather/visibility conditions that favor small-group assaults and reduce maneuver space.” This is Pokrovsk. A city scarred by war. Ruins where life once thrived.The world could have prevented this — but chose comfort over truth. pic.twitter.com/OmtsYJWoZP— UAVoyager (@NAFOvoyager) November 12, 2025 As dire as the waning defense of Pokrosk is for Ukraine, a Russian takeover there will not necessarily result in easy future advances, the commander claimed. “Let me be clear,” he proclaimed. This won’t be an easy victory for them. They are paying for every street with heavy casualties. Our soldiers are fighting block by block, building by building. Even if they take ground, it doesn’t mean they hold it we bleed them every day. Pokrovsk may become another Bakhmut for them, a victory that costs them too much to be worth it.” “In short, yes, it’s dangerous strategically,” the commander postulated. “But if they break through, they’ll find not open space, but more resistance waiting for them.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Battlefield Commander In Ukraine Details Russia’s Increasing Frontline Pressure appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Armies, Around The Globe, Europe, Land, Russia, Russian Army, Ukraine, Ukrainian Army] [Link to media]

— Strong Evidence That China’s Next Carrier Will Be Nuclear Emerges In Shipyard Photo

 

at 11/12/25 11:32am

Recent imagery indicates that China is progressing with work on a new aircraft carrier, its fourth, which is expected by many sources to introduce nuclear propulsion. A new detail that is now visible of the makings of the ships hull structure would appear to directly support this. The development comes just a week after the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first domestically produced carrier, the Fujian. Meanwhile, there are increasing reports that Beijing may also still be working on at least one more conventionally powered carrier, too. A close-up of the presumed Type 004 aircraft carrier under construction at Dalian. Chinese internet See online leaked images of aircraft carrier construction, nuclear protective covers, large volume, two nuclear reactor covers. pic.twitter.com/AhIJ5beMUH— Tokcoslsp (@tokcoslsp) November 11, 2025 Imagery of the new carrier, commonly referred to as the Type 004, shows the vessel taking shape at Dalian shipyard in China’s Liaoning province. Visible now is what looks to be a reactor containment structure, which would be a key indicator of its propulsion system. Certainly, the structure is broadly similar to that which is found in U.S. nuclear-powered supercarriers, and there is a general consensus that what we can see here is related to the future installation of a nuclear reactor. However, there remains the possibility that this could be some other test ship or potentially a test module. It could also be a case of this feature looking like it exists for one purpose, but it ends up being for another, although that seems less unlikely. Broadly similar appearance to USN CVN reactor shielding configurations within their hulls.Physics works the same and all that.There could still be a curveball, but this is tracking with rumours that DL is doing the first CVN. https://t.co/zCNM72wBEP pic.twitter.com/NvYlHOBEMa— Rick Joe (@RickJoe_PLA) November 12, 2025 Another one https://t.co/IU5yjewB4R pic.twitter.com/tw8Vo1K9vL— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 12, 2025 Renderings related to the Type 004 design that have emerged in the past have shown similarities to the U.S. Navy’s Ford class, as well as France’s future New Generation Aircraft Carrier, both of which are nuclear-powered. An artist’s concept of a future Chinese aircraft carrier. Chinese internet via @HenriKenhmann In its latest assessment of Chinese military power, the Pentagon doesn’t explicitly mention a nuclear-powered carrier, but does note that China’s “next generation of carriers” will be characterized by “greater endurance,” which “will increase the striking power of a potential PLAN carrier battle group when deployed to areas beyond the PRC’s immediate periphery.” In March of this year, Yuan Huazhi, political commissar for the PLAN, confirmed that construction of a fourth carrier had begun, but declined to answer whether it would be nuclear-powered. Model of a future Chinese nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. The label marked China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) suggests this could be an official model. Chinese internet Almost exactly a year ago, evidence emerged that China had constructed a land-based prototype nuclear reactor suitable for a large surface warship. The so-called Dragon Might project is located at a mountain site outside the city of Leshan, in Sichuan province. The shift to nuclear power for China’s fourth carrier is hugely significant. Nuclear propulsion will give the Type 004 effectively unlimited range. It will also help meet the power-generation requirements of ever-improving sensors and other mission systems. A nuclear-powered supercarrier would go a long way toward closing the technical gap with the U.S. Navy, and would see China join France as the only other nation operating a nuclear-powered flattop. Previous satellite imagery confirmed that construction work on the carrier was underway in Dalian before May 2024, when a module, a section of the flight deck, first appeared in satellite imagery. A view of the carrier module at Dalian, in a satellite image dated May 17, 2024. Google Earth Apparently evident in the module were trenches for catapult tracks, suggesting that the Type 004 will have two waist catapults, in addition to the two bow catapults. This would match the arrangement of the Nimitz and Ford classes and would add an extra catapult compared with China’s third carrier, the Type 003 Fujian, which has a single catapult in the waist position. In other respects, too, the Type 004 is expected to be an overall more advanced design than Liaoning and Shandong, which are by now well established with the PLAN fleet, as well as the Fujian. The Chinese aircraft carrier Fujian, seen during its commissioning ceremony last week. Chinese Ministry of National Defense Like Fujian — and in contrast to the two previous carriers — the Type 004 will be equipped to launch aircraft via catapults. The earlier Shandong and the Liaoning are both short takeoff but arrested recovery, or STOBAR, types with prominent ‘ski jump’ takeoff ramps. Catapults offer numerous advantages, especially when it comes to launching aircraft at higher gross weights, which translates to larger fuel and ordnance loads. They can also generally accommodate a wider array of aircraft types, too. This includes larger and slower designs, like the KJ-600 carrier-based airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as smaller ones, such as drones. Like the Fujian, the Type 004 will presumably be equipped with an advanced electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS), a type of equipment otherwise only in use with the U.S. Navy. As well as the aforementioned KJ-600, the Type 004’s air wing will likely include the J-35 stealth fighter, supported by advanced developments of the J-15 multirole fighter, including an electronic warfare variant. The carrier is also likely to embark various drones, such as navalized versions of the GJ-11 uncrewed combat aerial vehicle (UCAV), plus helicopters. A pair of prototype J-35s in close formation. via X Intriguingly, however, China is reportedly also working in parallel on another new carrier, this one being conventionally powered. Unconfirmed reports suggest that, in addition to the Type 004 at Dalian, China is poised to start working on a conventionally powered carrier at Jiangnan in Shanghai. This location would make sense inasmuch as this was the yard that built the Fujian. If these reports are correct, the finished product would likely be an improved Type 003 design. Via Chaos314159/SDF:"The latest Sentinel satellite imagery suggests that Jiangnan is cleaning a platform outside the dock, raising questions about whether this indicates the start of construction on the so-called Type 003A aircraft carrier."Does anyone know more? pic.twitter.com/sCSduadhM0— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 11, 2025 Considering China’s huge shipbuilding capacity, it might well make sense to pursue two distinct new-generation carrier designs. An improved Type 003 — which some observers have begun to dub Type 003A — would offer the advantages of a proven design and lower costs, while the more ambitious Type 004 would be more expensive and higher risk. The model below depicts a follow-on conventionally powered carrier, with the pennant number CV-19, but the source is unknown, and it may or may not be official. Notably, however, the island superstructure has major similarities with that seen on the large-scale, land-based aircraft carrier test facility in Wuhan. Model of a future Chinese conventionally powered aircraft carrier, CV-19. Chinese internet The remodeled carrier mockup in Wuhan with its curious island that matches (loosely) the model above. (Chinese internet) There’s also an argument that China doesn’t necessarily need nuclear-powered carriers for many of its missions. While a nuclear-powered carrier would be a huge advantage for sustained blue-water operations across the globe, for contingencies closer to home, such as in the Taiwan Strait, and even in the disputed South China Sea, a force of conventionally powered flattops is still highly relevant. Conventionally powered carriers have the added advantage that they can be built more quickly and fielded in greater numbers given a set budget, although they are more dependent on a steady supply train, which can be vulnerable in a time of conflict. For its part, even a nuclear-powered carrier still requires a steady supply of other supplies, including fuel for its air wing and for its escorts. At the same time, it should be noted that China is also working to introduce a number of very large big-deck amphibious assault ships, referred to as the Type 076. Each will feature at least one electromagnetic catapult that is expected to be primarily used to launch drones, as you can read more about here. Again, these would appear to be tailor-made for missions directed against Taiwan, as well as for power projection in the South China Sea. 一切为了攻击！ pic.twitter.com/ToEeSJPc0y— DS北风（风哥） (@WenJian0922) December 27, 2024 Continued construction work on what is increasingly likely to be a nuclear-powered carrier, and the possibility of another type of conventional flattop in the works, highlight China’s high ambitions as a naval power and the resources they are willing to invest to achieve their maritime vision. While these developments are significant, it should also be recalled that, for the time being, the PLAN’s fleet of three conventionally powered carried is still vastly outmatched by the U.S. Navy’s 11 active nuclear-powered supercarriers. Nevertheless, the gap is growing smaller at what seems like an increasing pace. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Strong Evidence That China’s Next Carrier Will Be Nuclear Emerges In Shipyard Photo appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Sea, Carriers, Navies, People's Liberation Army Navy (China)] [Link to media]

— Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Enters U.S. Southern Command’s Area Of Responsibility

 

at 11/11/25 3:47pm

The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its air wing have officially joined the enhanced counter-narcotics mission under U.S. Southern Commands (SOUTHCOM) purview, the command said in a statement on Tuesday. The carrier had been ordered to the Caribbean, but it stalled for a number of days off Africa before proceeding. You can catch up with our previous reporting on this operation, which is also designed to pressure Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, here. The Ford, the first in the newest class of aircraft carriers, is now in the SOUTHCOM area of responsibility (AOR), the command stated, without giving the ship’s precise location. It transited from the Mediterranean region through the Strait of Gibraltar into the Atlantic on Nov. 4. The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), is now in the U.S. Southern Command region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly) The AOR extends as far northeast as near the Cape Verde islands, about 2,000 miles from Venezuela and just a few hundred miles from Africa. We asked SOUTHCOM for additional details about the carriers location and will update this story if it responds. The U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility. (SOUTHCOM) “The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” said Chief Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell in a statement on Tuesday. “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations.” On Oct. 24, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the Ford, which had previously been stationed in the Middle East region, to the Caribbean. The Ford brings a great deal of additional capability to the Joint Task Force assigned to the counter-narcotics operation. There are four squadrons of F/A-18 Super Hornets, a squadron of E/A-18 Growler electronic warfare jets, a squadron of E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne command and control aircraft, MH-60S and MH-60R Seahawk helicopters and a detachment of C-2A Greyhound Onboard Delivery planes. Sailors assigned to USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 8 are now assigned to the enhanced counter-narcotics mission in the Caribbean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nolan Pennington) USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) In addition to those assets, several other elements of the Ford Carrier Strike Group will take part in this operation.  “Destroyer Squadron Two’s Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyers USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) and USS Mahan (DDG 72), and the integrated air and missile defense command ship USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81)” will join the Ford. Two other Arleigh Burke class destroyers assigned to the strike group – the USS Forrest Sherman and USS Mitscher – were still operating in the Red Sea, a U.S. official told us last week. While it is unclear where any of these vessels are, online ship watchers have located the Bainbridge at about 800 nautical miles northeast of Trinidad and Tobago. The first ship from the USS Gerald R Ford carrier strike group is about to arrive in the Caribbean. https://t.co/fbUgn2Oe0n— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) November 11, 2025 The Trump administration’s plans for the Ford and its escorts are still unknown. President Donald Trump has wavered between saying he won’t order an attack on Venezuela to answering in the affirmative if he thought Maduros days were numbered. If Trump does order strikes in Venezuela, he has several options, The Washington Post noted on Tuesday. They range from hitting Venezuelan military bases to cocaine refinery labs, clandestine airstrips or guerrilla camps. Regardless of the intention, the Ford and its escorts will join a growing array of U.S. military assets in the region “under a Joint Task Force, created to defeat and dismantle criminal networks that exploit our shared borders and maritime domains,” the Pentagon stated. There are at least seven Navy surface vessels, a special operations mothership and aircraft, including F-35B stealth fighters, MQ-9 Reaper drones, and AC-130 Ghostrider gunships deployed to the region. Beyond that, there are site surveys ongoing to see if more military assets should be sent to the region,” a U.S. official told The War Zone Friday morning. In addition to the counter-narcotics operation, at least one of these vessels in this flotilla, the San Antonio class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio, is supporting humanitarian relief efforts in Jamaica following the devastating Hurricane Melissa, SOUTHCOM announced. USS San Antonio (LPD 17) sails off the coast of Jamaica in support of disaster relief efforts there following #HurricaneMelissa, Nov. 6, 2025. At the direction and request of #SOUTHCOM and Jamaicas government, U.S. military forces are providing foreign assistance in the wake of… pic.twitter.com/m37bitIBOU— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) November 11, 2025 To date, the Pentagon has limited its kinetic operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific to attacking suspected drug boats. The U.S. carried out two more in the eastern Pacific on Monday that War Secretary Pete Hegseth said killed all six people aboard, raising the total in about 20 such attacks to more than 70 deaths. The majority of those strikes were carried out by the MQ-9s and some by the AC-130 Ghostriders, as we have noted and as CNN reported today. Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and… pic.twitter.com/ocUoGzwwDO— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 10, 2025 These attacks, however, have been criticized for being extrajudicial strikes without Congressional authorization. The administration has justified the strikes by declaring drug cartels to be “unlawful combatants,” and Trump has claimed, without proof, that each sunken boat has saved 25,000 American lives, presumably from overdoses.  Meanwhile, the U.K. “has stopped sharing intelligence with the U.S. about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal,” CNN is reporting. “shortly after the U.S. began launching lethal strikes against the boats in September… the U.K. grew concerned that the U.S. might use intelligence provided by the British to select targets,” the cable network suggested. “British officials believe the US military strikes, which have killed 76 people, violate international law, the sources said. The intelligence pause began over a month ago, they said.” The U.K. controls several territories in the Caribbean where it bases intelligence assets, the cable network noted. They have “helped the U.S. locate vessels suspected of carrying drugs so that the U.S. Coast Guard could interdict them. That meant the ships would be stopped, boarded, its crew detained, and drugs seized.” We reached out to the White House, the U.K. MoD and the Pentagon for comment. “We don’t discuss intelligence matters, the Pentagon told us. Neither the White House nor MoD immediately responded to our queries. Meanwhile, in the midst of the growing U.S. pressure against him, Maduro has ordered his forces to prepare for a “guerrilla-style resistance or sow chaos in the event of a U.S. air or ground attack,” Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing “sources with knowledge of the efforts and planning documents seen by Reuters.” While no one knows for sure what Trump will do about Venezuela, he has a large and growing array of assets to carry out the missions he selects. Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Enters U.S. Southern Commands Area Of Responsibility appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Sea, Americas, Around The Globe, Carriers, Ford Class, News & Features, POTUS, South America, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78)] [Link to media]

— China’s Stealthy GJ-11 ‘Mysterious Dragon’ Soars Out Of The Shadows

 

at 11/11/25 11:51am

A month after the emergence of satellite imagery that showed GJ-11 stealthy flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicles (UCAV) in at least a semi-operational state, China has released the first air-to-air video of the drone — and, as far as we know, the first official imagery of any kind showing the real aircraft. China also revealed that the official People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) name for the GJ-11 is Mysterious Dragon, alternatively translated as Fantasy Dragon. This appears to have superseded the Sharp Sword name that was previously applied, and which likely referred to prototype and pre-production aircraft. New video out from the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of China shows the new GJ-11 stealth drone (UCAV), and also the J-20 stealth fighter firing a live PL-15 air-to-air missile: pic.twitter.com/wraDqyMOht— The STRATCOM Bureau (@OSPSF) November 11, 2025 The development comes a little over a year after TWZ reported in detail on growing evidence of the GJ-11 moving ever closer to operational status. A GJ-11 emerges from a hangar in the PLAAF video. Chinese internet An overhead view of the GJ-11 in the same video. Chinese internet The GJ-11 takes off. Chinese internet The GJ-11 entered development more than a decade ago and is widely assessed to be designed to perform both penetrating air-to-surface strike and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. It may well also be expected to take on other roles, including air-to-air combat and electronic warfare. UCAVs of this size have long endurance, much longer than crewed tactical jet counterparts, while still carrying a relevant payload. The air-to-air footage and other clips of the GJ-11 appear toward the end of a nearly 30-minute video released by the PLAAF to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Liberation Army. The video notably includes the GJ-11 flying in formation with a J-20 stealth fighter and a J-16D electronic attack aircraft. One sequence also shows, apparently for the first time, a J-20 launching a medium-range air-to-air missile, likely a PL-15, fired from its internal weapons bay. Air Force J-20 Fighter Jet Firing AAM from Main Weapon Bay || a Short Film for the 76th Anniversary of the PLAAF Establishment pic.twitter.com/hv169zEOGG— David Wang (@DavidWangPLA) November 11, 2025 Showing the drone aloft with these two crewed combat jets is notable and not just as they represent two of the most modern and capable designs in the PLAAF inventory. In particular, both the J-16 and (two-seat versions of) the J-20 have been considered as likely ‘airborne drone controllers’ for types like the GJ-11. Screenshot China certainly has a great interest in having drones work alongside crewed platforms, as well as to operate cooperatively, and potentially do so with a high degree of autonomy. As TWZ has highlighted for several years now, the two-seat variant of the J-20 would be an ideal candidate as an airborne drone controller. Un passage dans un reportage de CCTV-7 montre la possible collaboration entre un J-20 biplace et des #drones GJ-11 à faible observabilité.La représentativité est à confirmer. pic.twitter.com/9Xy8Q8KQOO— East Pendulum (@HenriKenhmann) October 12, 2022 Some observers have taken the footage as confirmation that the GJ-11 is now in operational service with the PLAAF. While the video alone is not enough to determine that the drone is in operational use, especially not in any truly meaningful way, it’s another sign that this milestone is fast approaching, if it hasn’t already been attained. Last month, we reported on satellite imagery showing three GJ-11s at Shigatse Air Base, in China’s Tibet Autonomous Region, where they were present from August 6 through September 5. The appearance of the UCAVs at this very active dual-use military-civilian airport was a strong indicator that they were now in operational test, at least, if not operational service. In particular, the base is in a strategic position along China’s southwestern flank with India, close to some of the border areas that have seen sometimes violent skirmishes between the two nations. A trio of GJ-11s, as well as other drones, seen at Shigatse Air Base in a satellite image taken on August 6, 2025. PHOTO © 2025 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION A prototype of the GJ-11 was first flown in 2013, in a much less stealthy form. The design was then considerably refined, and a mockup of the new-look version appeared at a parade in Beijing in 2019. It now featured major improvements in terms of low observability, including a completely redesigned rear aspect with a stealthier exhaust. Prior to being spotted at Shigatse, and now in the PLAAF video, the GJ-11 was primarily known through its appearances at various test facilities. Such locations have included the enormous and secretive base at Malan in Xinjiang province, where examples of the UCAV have been regularly seen flying for more than a year now. Mockups have also been included in parades and have been spotted at Chinese naval test and training facilities. A GJ-11 mockup was included in the massive Chinese military parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Chinese internet China clearly has aspirations to operate the drone, or a version of it, from aircraft carriers and big deck amphibious assault ships, and the continued work on a naval variant or derivative capable of doing this has led to a string of unofficial designations, including GJ-11H, GJ-11J, and GJ-21. Via ACuriousPLAFan/SDF: Supposedly not a recent image, but still the carrier mock-up and test facility at Wuhan has gained some new aircraft: Visible now are clearly mock-ups of J-15, J-35, KJ-600 and a GJ-11H on the flight deck.(Image via @伏尔戈星图 from Weibo) pic.twitter.com/UL6uk81zh4— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) December 19, 2023 Promotional video for the shipborne version of the GJ-11 drone shown by the AVIC at the China Air Show. pic.twitter.com/RDw8COgPAA— 彩云香江 (@louischeung_hk) October 7, 2021 More recently, a navalized version of the drone appeared in flight, with its arrester hook lowered, as seen in the imagery below. As it seems, for the first time clear images of a GJ-21 in flight are posted and this one based on the still installed pitots has its tail hook down. pic.twitter.com/5h1nVZHzIe— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 1, 2025 Whatever way the PLA intends to employ it, the GJ-11 further underscores just how seriously China is taking the development of flying-wing uncrewed aircraft, an area that is currently the beneficiary of heavy investment. As we have repeatedly discussed in the past, this approach is very much at odds with the U.S. military’s eschewing of such designs, with very little evidence of parallel activities, at least publicly. The puzzling case of America’s ‘missing’ UCAVs is something you can read more about in this past TWZ feature. A pair of GJ-11s seen at Malan on July 18, 2024. PHOTO © 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION In the meantime, other countries are putting more resources into flying-wing UCAV programs, among them Russia, India, Turkey, and France. Another Chinese stealthy flying-wing drone, the CH-7, has meanwhile been seen for the first time in the air, in unofficial footage captured from the ground. Compared to the drone when it was seen previously on the ground, the videos showing the drone in flight reveal that it has been fitted with additional outward-canted vertical tail surfaces. Attachment points for these tailfins appear to be present in previous imagery of the drone; likely, they are intended for testing purposes, as part of envelope expansion. Besides the official unveiling of the GJ-11 also another flying wing UAV/UCAV namely the CH-7 was seen for the first time flying; however quite surprisingly with additional tails attached. pic.twitter.com/YCG04PCBdr— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) November 11, 2025 While the CH-7 remains generally mysterious, it is notably large and is another pointer toward China’s accelerated efforts to develop low-observable, long-endurance drones. The CH-7 appears likely to be tailored for ISR, but there have been claims that it will also undertake strike missions as a UCAV. Similar in configuration to the CH-7, but significantly larger, are two other flying-wing drones, both of which were spotted at Malan. In both cases, TWZ was first to report on these larger drones.  BREAKING: NEW CHYNESE MOTHER FUXCKER JUST DROPPED, AGAINNN!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5kfdO4heqe— PLA Military Updates (@PLA_MilitaryUpd) November 11, 2025 Combined, the new videos of the GJ-11 and the CH-7 reflect something that TWZ has long predicted, namely that China has invested very heavily in flying-wing drones, for both land-based and naval applications. In the case of the GJ-11, in particular, its path toward becoming a feature of regular PLAAF operations should come as no surprise, and it seems certain that other Chinese flying-wing drones and UCAVs will follow the same path. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post China’s Stealthy GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon Soars Out Of The Shadows appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Forces, Drones, News & Features, People's Liberation Army Air Force (China), Stealth, UCAVs, Unmanned] [Link to media]

— Detached Wings From Doomed Turkish C-130 Seen Spiraling Into The Ground (Updated)

 

at 11/11/25 9:52am

Videos show a Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules cargo plane falling in multiple pieces from the sky earlier today. The center fuselage with the wings still attached is notably seen spiraling straight down toward the ground. The aircraft, which tragically had 20 individuals on board, came down in Georgia as it was flying from Azerbaijan to Turkey. Footage of Turkish C-130 military transport plane crashing in Georgia after taking off from Azerbaijan https://t.co/6WPtqeJKc8 pic.twitter.com/ixA67w8Ndq— Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) November 11, 2025 The C-130E went down sometime after 2:49 PM local time (10:49 PM UTC), according to data from Flightradar24. The aircraft, which had been using the callsign TUAF543, had taken off from Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan some 30 minutes beforehand. After departure, it turned and positioned itself on a northeasterly track, passing the Mingechevir Reservoir beneath. While passing 15,000 feet, it again turned onto a northwesterly heading before turning west, passing the Georgian border around 10:37 UTC, per Flightradar24. It was in a continuous ascent until reaching its cruising altitude of 24,000 feet at 10:41 UTC. We’re following reports of a Lockheed C-130E Hercules, belonging to the Turkish Air Force, that is suspected to have crashed in Georgia, close to the border of Azerbaijan. Evidence points to the aircraft being #TUAF543, which departed Ganja Airport in Azerbaijan at 10:19 UTC.… pic.twitter.com/xqrEWbMiRk— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) November 11, 2025 As noted, videos are circulating online that show the C-130E having broken apart at some point in midair. In addition to the center fuselage and wings, other large sections of the aircraft are seen falling down toward the ground. A smoke-like effect is seen emanating from the wingtips as they fall, which could be fuel and/or vapor. It then hits the ground, causing a large plume of thick black smoke to erupt. Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules medium transport plane operated by the Turkish Air Force has crashed near the Georgia-Azerbaijan border on Tuesday, the Turkish Defense Ministry informed.The plane was returning from Azerbaijan to Turkey, according to the Turkish side. pic.twitter.com/Fpqsg63J38— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) November 11, 2025 Very odd, breakup happened at FL240 in level flight. I’m surprised that wing stayed intact as a critical failure point for aircraft this age is the wing spar. We see the aft fuselage detached and not seed, 4 engines still on the wing and the forward section of the fuselage… pic.twitter.com/Bt7HvabxLY— Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) November 11, 2025 Georgian officials say the C-130 came down approximately three miles (five kilometers) from the countrys eastern border with Azerbaijan, according to RFE/RL. Authorities have been working to get to the crash site, and the crash is under investigation. Pictures and videos said to show the wreckage are now beginning to emerge online. Visuals of the wreckage of the Lockheed C-130 Hercules military cargo aircraft, that disintegrated and fell from an approximate altitude of 24000 feet in Georgia today, being published by local media in Georgia. Initial information suggests there were 8 crew members on board,… https://t.co/p7cDrP7gQW pic.twitter.com/Nb27NzTQi3— FL360aero (@fl360aero) November 11, 2025 | First images are circulating in Georgian media reportedly showing the crash site and debris of the Turkish Air Force C-130 Hercules. pic.twitter.com/9MUbfCIOP5— Visioner (@visionergeo) November 11, 2025 Our aircraft that crashed had 20 personnel on board, including the flight crew, the Turkish Defense Ministry had said earlier in a statement, according to RFE/RL. Search and rescue operations are ongoing. God willing, we will overcome this crash with minimum hardships, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan also said during a speech in Ankara after receiving word about the crash, according to Reuters. May God rest the soul of our martyrs, and let us be with them through our prayers. Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, a major Turkish ally, has also offered his condolences. As of the start of 2025, the Turkish Air Force had a mixed fleet of 18 C-130B and E variants, according to FlightGlobal. These are both models that would have first rolled off Lockheeds production line decades ago. For some years now, Turkey has been in the process of bringing all of its Hercules aircraft up to a modernized standard through the ERCIYES modernization program. The designations C-130BM and EM are often used to describe planes that have received the upgrades, which include improved avionics and navigation systems, as well as new cockpit displays, and more. The Turkish Hercules that went down today in Georgia had received the upgrade package, according to Scramble. Turkey also acquired this particular example second-hand from Saudi Arabia. The three main cargo aircraft types in Turkish Air Force service today, including the C-130 at rear left. The others are the Airbus A400M, in front, and the Transall C-160, at rear right. Turkish Ministry of National Defense Earlier this year, Turkish authorities also confirmed they had purchased 12 ex-British C-130J models. The Royal Air Force officially retired the last of its C-130Js in 2023. While there is much to learn about the crash today, the imagery of the aircraft going down and from the crash site certainly shows a devastating total loss. We will continue to update this story with any new information that may emerge in the next 24 hours about the mishap. Update, 11/12/2025: Turkish authorities have now sadly confirmed the deaths of all 20 individuals on board the C-130E that went down yesterday. The Turkish Ministry of National Defense has now confirmed the death of and identified all twenty of the servicemembers who were killed in Tuesday’s tragic crash of a Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules over Eastern Georgia near the border with Azerbaijan. pic.twitter.com/11pc4YtFwE— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 12, 2025 Georgian authorities say they have been able to locate 18 bodies and continue to search for the other two, according to the Associated Press. Turkish and Georgian officials were finally able to reach the crash site yesterday. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is ongoing. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post Detached Wings From Doomed Turkish C-130 Seen Spiraling Into The Ground (Updated) appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Around The Globe, C-130, Middle East, News & Features, Transports, Turkey] [Link to media]

— Iran Ramping Up Missile Production As Another Potential War With Israel Looms

 

at 11/10/25 4:35pm

Iran states it has more missiles now than it had during the 12 Day War with Israel. While the accuracy of that claim is questionable, experts who follow Tehran’s missile program say that the country has ramped up production in an effort to have its arsenal ready to overwhelm Israeli missile defenses, which were degraded during the war. All this comes amid growing concerns about a new conflict over Irans nuclear program. Our missile power today far surpasses that of the 12-Day War, Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently proclaimed. The enemy in the recent 12-day war failed to achieve all its objectives and was defeated. “Iran’s defense production has improved both in quantity and quality compared to before the 12-day Israeli-imposed war in June,” Brig. Gen. Aziz Nasirzadeh, the country’s defense minister, said on Monday. Members of the Israeli security forces check the apparent remains of an Iranian ballistic missile lying on the ground on the outskirts of Qatzrin, Golan Heights, Israel, on Monday, June 23, 2025. (Photo by Michael Giladi / Middle East Images via AFP) MICHAEL GILADI Meanwhile, Iranian officials have told Ali Vaez, the Iran project director at the International Crisis Group, that missile factories are working 24 hours a day, The New York Times reported. Vaez added that if there is another war, “they hope to fire 2,000 at once to overwhelm Israeli defenses, not 500 over 12 days” as they did in June. “Israel feels the job is unfinished and sees no reason not to resume the conflict, so Iran is doubling down preparedness for the next round.” While “its not clear exactly how many missiles in a larger volley the Islamic Republic may choose to fire, there is no doubt that they may still try to find a way to overwhelm either interceptors or dependent sites with a greater number of projectiles fired at once,” Vaez added. Missiles fired from Iran are seen streaking across the skies over the city of Ramallah in the West Bank on June 19, 2025. (Photo by Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images) Anadolu In addition to increasing the number of missiles it is producing, Iran is also applying lessons learned from the 12-Day War to improve their effectiveness, Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) think tank, told TWZ. “The Islamic Republic also learned how to fire less and get more bang for your buck based on the targets and based on the location and based on the firing sequence, or the launch formula, that the regime employed when it fired for some bases that were further east in Iran during the 12-Day War,” he explained. “There is no doubt the regime wants to improve the lethality of its missile force. It certainly has learned a lot between Operation True Promise One, True Promise Two and True Promise Three.” During the conflict, Iran claimed it used what it calls the Fattah-1 medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM). Authorities in Iran explicitly touted those, the Haj Qassem and Kheibar Shekan, as offering high terminal maneuverability and/or high speeds specifically intended to reduce their vulnerability to missile defense interceptors. You can see videos claiming to show Fattah-1 missiles hitting Israel. #Iran / #Israel : Iranian Forces have struck Israeli positions and Headquarters in the city #TelAviv with Missiles.During the waves #IRGC launched various missiles including what seems to be possible "Fattah-1/2" Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles as well. pic.twitter.com/uVFWpk0b2w— War Noir (@war_noir) June 13, 2025 #Iran / #Israel : Iranian Armed Forces launched a new wave missiles and hit numerous locations including #TelAviv.Hundreds of "Emad" , "Kheibar Shekan" and "Fattah-1/2" Hypersonic Ballistic Missiles were reportedly launched. pic.twitter.com/YvWrnEfVUI— War Noir (@war_noir) June 15, 2025 BREAKING:Iran’s IRGC confirms the first-ever use of the Fattah-1 hypersonic missile in a strike on Tel Aviv.With Mach 13-15 speed and a 1,400 km range, it reached the target in under 5 minutes, maneuvering both inside and outside the atmosphere. pic.twitter.com/Oc3DyvdrUq— Defence Index (@Defence_Index) June 18, 2025 While it is unclear exactly what mix of new missiles Iran is building, increasing the production of higher-speed, more survivable ones would be a problem for Israel, given their increased ability to pierce missile defenses. New online analysis: Israel’s attack and the limits of Iran’s missile strategyhttps://t.co/REgVAIq3E6 pic.twitter.com/LypaspyvtY— Fabian Hinz (@fab_hinz) June 18, 2025 Improving the overall effectiveness of their ballistic missile barrages is clearly a top priority for Tehran, just as defending against future attacks is for Israel. As we previously noted, Iran launched 631 missiles during the 12-Day War, of which 500 reached Israel, according to assertions made by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Of those missiles that did land on Israeli soil, 243 hit open areas, requiring no air defense response. A total of 36 missiles hit populated areas, while 221 missiles were intercepted. That represented an 86% success rate, the Israeli analysis claimed. We cannot independently verify the details provided by Israel. Civilians retrieve personal belongings from the rubble of their house after a ballistic missile fired from Iran struck Tel Aviv on June 23, 2025. (Photo by Amir Levy/Getty Images) Amir Levy Still, having to fire so many interceptors placed a huge strain on Israel’s vaunted integrated air and missile defense system (IADS), according to several published reports, which the IDF denied. The U.S. expended many advanced interceptors during the onslaught, as well. “U.S. and Israeli defenses were stretched thin and vast numbers of interceptors were needed to defend against Iran’s ragged retaliation,” the Foreign Policy Research Institute concluded. Beyond interceptions, Israel managed to destroy a significant number of Irans launchers during its aerial interdiction campaign over Iran, as well as temporarily blocking or destroying missile storage sites, and disrupting command and control of Iranian missile forces during the war, greatly reducing Tehrans ability to get off shots. It is unknown how many missiles were destroyed on the ground during the war and how many were left untouched. “Iran also has learned about its vulnerabilities, and it is seeking to build back better, as safely as possible,” Taleblu suggested. “But the rate and the speed at which it rebuilds, probably in the short term, may outpace the rate and the speed at which Israel is rearming to defend itself.” We detailed the overall battle of attrition between Iranian standoff weapons and Israeli (and U.S.) air defenses during the war. What is happening after the conflict is part of a broader issue with missile defense — the enemy can, and usually does, seek to outproduce the defensive capacity of the missile shield, and usually can at a lower comparative cost. You can read more about Israels IADS in our deep dive here. An Israeli Air defense system intercepts a ballistic missile barrage launched from Iran to central Israel during the missile attack. (Photo by Eli Basri/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) SOPA Images Iranian officials say concerns about their missiles, as well as their nuclear energy program, are being used as a pretext for possible future attacks. “What does this issue have to do with the West that it feels entitled to comment on the range of Iran’s missiles?” Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani rhetorically asked on Monday. “No country has the right to interfere in the independent defensive capabilities of another nation. As it works to rebuild its missile arsenal, Iran is getting help from China. “European intelligence sources say several shipments of sodium perchlorate, the main precursor in the production of the solid propellant that powers Iran’s mid-range conventional missiles, have arrived from China to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas,” CNN reported late last month.  Bandar Abbas (Google Earth) The shipments, containing some 2,000 tons of sodium perchlorate, began arriving on Sept. 29, the cable network explained. They were bought by Iran from Chinese suppliers in the wake of the war. “The purchases are believed to be part of a determined effort to rebuild the Islamic Republic’s depleted missile stocks,” the news outlet added. “Several of the cargo ships and Chinese entities involved are under sanctions from the United States.” “China is appearing to play a key role here by providing precursor chemicals that do go into solid propellant, rocket fuel, and oxidizer,” Taleblu observed. Beyond assisting Irans offensive missile capabilities, China is reportedly considering a deal to give Tehran advanced HQ-9 air defense systems to help make up for those destroyed by Israel during the 12-Day War. While Irans long-range weapons arsenal are often the focus, rebuilding the countrys air defenses is also clearly a top priority after Israel quickly obtained air supremacy over the country. Military vehicles transport HQ-9C anti-aircraft missiles past Tiananmen Square during V-Day military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan in WWII. (Photo by Sheng Jiapeng/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images) China News Service The issue of new Iranian missile production comes against the backdrop of concerns that Tehran has developed a new facility to continue what U.S. officials claim is its nuclear weapons ambitions. The U.S. says it destroyed a great deal of Irans ability to develop nuclear weapons during Junes Operation Midnight Hammer, in which U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities. A U.S. nuclear-powered, guided missile (SSGN) submarine in the Central Command Area of Responsibility launched more than two dozen Tomahawk land attack cruise missiles against key surface infrastructure targets at Isfahan, officials added. A B-2 bomber drops a GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb during a test. (USAF) USAF However, as The New York Times noted, Iran appears to be continuing to work on a new enrichment site known as Pickaxe Mountain. It has refused to give international inspectors access to that site or any other suspected nuclear sites other than those already declared. The result is a dangerous stalemate — with no negotiations, no certainty over Iran’s stockpile, no independent oversight, the newspaper explained. And many in the Gulf believe that makes another Israeli attack on Iran almost inevitable, given Israeli officials’ long-held view that Iran’s nuclear program is an existential threat. The pace of Irans missile development could be a large factor for the timing of any future conflict with Israel, Taleblu told us. “There is a race to build back better. For Israel, its interceptors. For the Islamic Republic of Iran, its medium-range ballistic missiles,” Taleblu posited. “The fuzzy math between the two may determine the time when the next round between Israel and Iran takes place.” Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com The post Iran Ramping Up Missile Production As Another Potential War With Israel Looms appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Around The Globe, Iran, Israel, Land, Land-Based Ballistic Missile Defense, Middle East, Tactical Ballistic Missiles] [Link to media]

— AH-64 Apaches Make Mysterious Return To U.S. On Their Delivery Flight To India

 

at 11/10/25 2:57pm

The planned delivery of three AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters to the Indian Army has taken an unusual turn. The Antonov Airlines An-124 cargo aircraft carrying the rotorcraft to India returned to the United States with the Apaches still onboard, after a long stopover in the United Kingdom. A Boeing spokesperson told TWZ that the company was looking into “logistical issues” that they said had interrupted the transportation. Antonov An-124 UR-82008 arrived at KIWA this afternoon from Leipzig, Germany, to pick up 3 AH-64E Apaches for the Indian Army. pic.twitter.com/5PNuAYGIcx— KIWA Spotter (@KiwaSpotter) October 30, 2025 The unexpected movements were tracked by plane spotter @KiwaSpotter, who noted the heavy-lift An-124 serial UR-82008 arriving at Mesa Gateway Airport, also known as Phoenix–Mesa Airport, in Arizona, on October 30, after a flight from its operating base in Leipzig, Germany. One of three Indian Army AH-64Es is readied for loading onto the An-124 at Mesa, Arizona, on October 30. @KiwaSpotter You can see the second of 3 being loaded into UR-82008 this past Wednesday. https://t.co/BizV2fPxSs pic.twitter.com/EE8qOdVXoZ— TSW1 (@TheShipWatch_1) October 30, 2025 After being moved from the nearby Boeing facility in Mesa, the Apaches were loaded aboard the An-124, which then departed the United States on November 1 and flew to East Midlands Airport in England. When loaded, the helicopters were already painted in their distinctive Indian Army desert camouflage scheme. At least one of the Apaches could be identified in the photos, as serial IA-7105. #ADB7042UR-82008#50801c#A124 pic.twitter.com/VL6CRZ0NSD— MilScot (@mil_scot) October 31, 2025 The An-124 and its Apache cargo then remained on the ground at the British airport for eight days before the aircraft departed, not headed toward India but returning over the Atlantic to its original point of departure at Mesa Gateway Airport, where they touched down on November 8. The Apaches were later seen after being unloaded, now under tow, with their rotors removed. New photos from KIWA show all 3 apache’s being towed away by 3 F250s@Adhyayan_S @KiwaSpotter pic.twitter.com/oKtECxP8Hd— TSW1 (@TheShipWatch_1) November 10, 2025 The Indian Army has already received its first three AH-64Es in July this year, part of a six-aircraft deal worth $796 million that was signed back in February 2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to New Delhi. The first trio of rotorcraft was flown by Antonov Airlines An-124 to Air Force Station Hindon. “These … helicopters will enhance the Army Aviation wing’s operational effectiveness, especially in challenging terrains,” Indian Minister of Defense Rajnath Singh said at the time. #WATCH | The first batch of Apache attack Helicopters for the Indian Army has reached India. The choppers will be deployed in Jodhpur by the Indian Army: Indian Army officials (Source: Indian Army) pic.twitter.com/zvSC5pXvgZ— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2025 These AH-64s are currently being used to train crews at Nashik, in Maharashtra state, western India, home of the Indian Army Aviation Training School. Ultimately, the Indian Army Apaches are expected to be stationed at Nagtalao Army Aviation Base, north of Jodhpur, in northwestern India. The latest batch of three helicopters would have completed the Indian Army deliveries… had they arrived. TWZ approached Boeing for more information, and a company spokesperson provided the following statement: “We are currently addressing logistical issues caused by external factors to complete the delivery process for the remaining aircraft. We remain closely engaged with the U.S. government and Indian Army and continue working to execute our contract as expeditiously as possible to meet India’s needs and fleet requirements.” The second batch of three Indian Army AH-64Es are loaded onto the An-124 at Mesa, Arizona, on October 30. @KiwaSpotter It remains unclear what the exact nature of the problem was, and whether it was related to the Apaches, the An-124 carrying them, or some other factor in their long aerial transport to India. Potentially, “logistical issues” could involve something technical, relating to any of the aircraft involved, but they might also involve something more mundane, perhaps related to customs or other paperwork. There’s even the potential for some kind of diplomatic or political interference in the transport process, although it would be a little surprising if this wasn’t signaled in advance. Unusually, New Delhi has ordered AH-64Es for two different armed services. Previously, 22 Apaches were ordered by the Indian Air Force, and all have been successfully delivered. The lead of this pair of AH-64E Apaches fires an AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missile during a live-fire demonstration. Angad Singh The current delay in delivery comes amid New Delhi’s increasing willingness to buy new military aircraft from the United States. Other aircraft acquisitions in this category include the C-130J Hercules transport aircraft, the CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, and the P-8I Neptune maritime patrol aircraft (as the Poseidon is locally known). At the same time, there have been increasing strains in U.S.-India politics of late. Within India, there have been growing questions about the reliability of the United States as a strategic partner. Tensions worsened after the terrorist attack in India in April and the ensuing India-Pakistan military clashes, after which the Trump administration imposed a 50 percent tariff against India. These penalties also reflected U.S. displeasure about continued Indian purchases of Russian oil. What is clear is the Indian Armed Forces’ urgent need to bolster its attack helicopter capabilities, especially as it seeks to better counter its increasingly high-tech adversaries — chiefly China and Pakistan. The same Boeing spokesperson told TWZ that the company plans to complete the delivery of the remaining Apaches on order for the Indian Army as soon as possible. We will continue to track this story and the eventual fate of the three AH-64s that the service is still waiting for. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post AH-64 Apaches Make Mysterious Return To U.S. On Their Delivery Flight To India appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, AH-64, An-124, Around The Globe, Helicopters, India, Indo-Pacific, News & Features, Transports] [Link to media]

— USAF’s New Low-Cost Anti-Air Missile Program Aims For $500K Target Price

 

at 11/10/25 1:57pm

The U.S. Air Force has put out a new call for concepts for a future anti-air missile that costs no more than $500,000 and that could be built at a rate of at least 1,000 per year. The service says the planned Counter-Air Missile Program (CAMP) will build upon frameworks it has been using to develop cheaper cruise missiles for striking targets on land and at sea. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Centers Armament Directorate recently released a contracting notice regarding CAMP. The directorate has stressed that it is still in the very early stages of laying out the effort. However, the United States Government has identified a need for the development, procurement, and integration of a low-cost counter-air capability as a future class of the Affordable Mass Munitions portfolio, according to the notice. It is the Government’s expectation that the initial CAMP system will provide a ground-launched capability that is a viable pathway to a low-cost air-to-air missile. Artwork the US Air Force has put out in the past depicting a general notional missile design. USAF Low-cost here is defined as less than $500,000 per unit for a production run of at least 1,000 complete missiles. The target annual production rate is between 1,000 and 3,500 of the CAMP munitions. The highest priority of this effort is the development and demonstration of an affordable, open system, modular, and highly producible ground-launched capability. Ground-launch efforts will serve as a risk reduction effort expediting missile design maturation and evaluation for future affordable air-to-air missile capabilities, the contracting notice adds. A ground-launch system will also serve as a new weapon class of Enterprise Test Vehicle (ETV), providing a lower cost, rapid capability to integrate and demonstrate future sub-systems and components in a relevant environment prior to integration into a Program of Record weapon. In June 2024, the Air Force and the Pentagons Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced they had hired four companies – Zone 5 Technologies, Anduril, Leidos subsidiary Dynetics, and Integrated Solutions for Systems, Inc. – to design and deliver prototype ETVs. Ostensibly low-cost cruise missiles, the designs in question skirt an increasingly blurry line separating traditional cruise missiles from uncrewed aerial systems, especially longer-range kamikaze drones, as well as decoys. A rendering of Zone 5s ETV design. Zone 5 via DIU A rendering of Zone 5s ETV concept. Zone 5 via DIU The CAMP contracting notice does not provide any details regarding a desired engagement envelope or other specifications. It does stress a clear focus on a counter air weapon solution that trades exquisite capabilities for affordability and producibility. It also mentions a need to adhere to an Armament Directorate framework called the Modular Weapon M-Series approach, which is intended to balance performance, affordability, modularity, and producibility. Open architecture systems and the use of digital design tools are also key elements of the M-Series playbook. The Air Force also wants to have a high degree of ownership of the technical data rights surrounding any missile developed for CAMP, as well as for the weapons to be designed with exportability in mind. A US Air Force briefing slide offering an overview of the M-Series approach. USAF As a general point of comparison, the latest versions of the AIM-9X Sidewinder missile have unit costs around $500,000. The U.S. Army is now fielding the AIM-9X in the surface-to-air role, on top of its long-standing use as an air-to-air weapon by the Air Force, as well as the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), current generation versions of which cost around $1 million apiece, is the other air-to-air workhorse for the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. The U.S. military also has a small number of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), used to help protect the airspace around Washington, D.C., which can fire AIM-9Xs or AIM-120s. The Air Forces most recent budget request for the 2026 Fiscal Year says the maximum annual production rates for AIM-9Xs and AIM-120s per year are 2,500 and 1,200, respectively. Training versions of the AIM-9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles on a trailer. USAF In the past year and a half, an anti-air variation of the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) laser-guided 70mm rocket has also emerged as the Air Forces go-to aerial counter-drone weapon. One of the key benefits of those rockets, also referred to as Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance (FALCO), is their low cost. All APKWS II rockets consist of three core components: a standardized rocket motor, one of several standard warhead options, and a laser-guidance unit inserted in between. The guidance section is the most costly component, with a unit cost generally between $15,000 and $20,000. The FALCO rockets also offer significant magazine depth benefits over traditional air-to-air missiles, but do have major limitations, as you can read more about here. U.S. Fighter aircraft shoot down Iran-backed Houthi one-way-attack drones with AGR-20 FALCO Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser Guided 2.75" Rockets.#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/bDoVnKwotc— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 In the ground-launched surface-to-air realm, a price tag under $500,000 would put CAMP at the higher end of the cost range of shorter-range interceptor designs that the Army, and the Marines to a lesser extent, have been working to field in recent years. Many of these designs, like Raytheons combat-proven Coyote Block 2, which the Air Force is now also operating on some level, are focused primarily on providing added layers of defense against drones. Systems that use APKWS II rockets in the surface-to-air role are increasingly part of the equation, as well. Last month, the Army announced its newest planned addition to this end of its air defense arsenal, AeroVironments Freedom Eagle-1. The Armys Patriot ground-based surface-to-air missile systems lie at the other end of the cost and capability spectrum, being able to fire various interceptors that all cost multiple millions of dollars apiece. Air Force personnel load a Coyote Block 2 interceptor into a launcher somewhere in the Middle East. USAF Airman 1st Class Keagan Lee Without more details about what the Air Force is seeking with CAMP, it is difficult to gauge how it might slot into the U.S. militarys existing anti-air missile ecosystem, and exactly what benefits it might offer over current types and in what contexts. A missile even approaching AIM-120-like capability, in either the surface-to-air or air-to-air mode, at half the price would offer particular value. If that weapon could also be made smaller than the AIM-120, it would open up additional possibilities in terms of launch environments. A modular, scalable design could be even more advantageous in that regard, creating additional flexibility while retaining commonality in components that could help with keeping costs and production times low. Owning key technical data rights would give the Air Force more opportunities to hold competitions for various aspects of the program, fostering competition that could be beneficial. A model Boeing has previously shown of a modular air-to-air missile concept. Joseph Trevithick There are inherent challenges to doing all this with anti-air missiles, due to the general performance required, especially to be able to tackle a broader array of aerial threats. Very different capabilities can be required to successfully intercept various tiers of drones and cruise missiles, as well as traditional fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, all operating with equally different engagement envelopes. Its interesting to note here that the Air Force Life Cycle Management Centers Armament Directorate had also put out a call for information regarding potential designs for what it termed Low-Cost High-Speed Air-to-Air Missiles back in May. That contracting notice laid out more specific requirements for an AIM-120-sized weapon offering a low-cost solution with maximum range, as well as one roughly half that size, to double aircraft loadout while maximizing range. The Low-Cost High-Speed Air-to-Air Missile request for information included an even lower target unit cost than CAMP, set at no more than $250,000 each for a production run of at least 1,000 weapons. How these two efforts may be related is unclear. The AIM-120, in particular, looks set to remain in production for years to come, with the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) also in development as a more direct replacement. As mentioned, the CAMP contracting notice also states a clear link to the existing ETV effort. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Centers Armament Directorate has also previously put ETV together with another program called the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) on a larger roadmap for new low-cost air-launched munitions. A slide from an April 2025 US Air Force briefing laying out a shared timeline for projected Other Transaction (OT) type contracting actions for various low-cost air-launched munitions programs, including ERAM and ETV. USAF ERAM is a low-cost cruise missile effort focused primarily on delivering additional stand-off strike munitions to Ukraine. CoAspire and Zone 5 Technologies developed separate designs, called the Rapidly Adaptable Affordable Cruise Missile (RAACM) and Rusty Dagger, respectively, under the ERAM program. Ukrainian forces are now in line to get thousands of ERAMs, which may include a mix of both types. Information the Armament Directorate has released in the past indicates that other U.S. allies and partners, and the U.S. military itself, could be on track to benefit from the ERAM effort, as well. In January, the Air Force notably confirmed to TWZ that it was at least exploring adding an anti-air FALCO “capability” onto one of several potential future variants or derivatives of ERAM. Zone 5 Rusty Dagger. #AffordableMass pic.twitter.com/Pzj1KnceHC— AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) June 7, 2025 CAMPs explicit focus on affordability and producibility is certainly in line with the underlying objective of the ETV program, but translated to the anti-air domain. “These things may not be quite as exquisite, but we can produce them in high volumes at relatively low cost,” now-retired Air Force Gen. James Slife, then Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said about the core goals of the ETV effort last year. “So, that mixture of high volume low-cost munitions, coupled with some of our more exquisite munitions being mixed in provide a very difficult problem for our adversaries to defend against.” In addition, U.S. military officials have also talked in the past about how ETV, as well as a host of other ongoing low-cost cruise efforts across the services, is as much about shaking up the defense industrial base as acquiring new munitions. ETV presents a path “to expand our industrial base into non-traditional suppliers that perhaps have not historically been large-scale munitions producers,” Slife had also said in 2024. “If the manufacturing techniques we’re able to leverage pan out, we’ll be able to take advantage of a bigger part of the American industrial base to produce munitions for us.” Anduril has been developing its Barracuda-500M, seen in the video below, under the ETV program. Shown: successful flight test of Barracuda-500, with vertical launch, autonomous flight, and precision target engagement. pic.twitter.com/kngqq09TQt— Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) March 5, 2025 Regardless of CAMPs exact relationship with the ERAM and ETV programs, the proposed Low-Cost High-Speed Air-to-Air Missile, or any other efforts, it is fully in line with a broad U.S. military-wide focus in recent years on the acquisition of large volumes of lower-cost anti-air and air-to-surface munitions. American experiences from operations in the past two years or so against Iranian-backed Houthi militants in and around the Red Sea, as well as to defend Israel from direct Iranian attacks, have underscored the need to expand (and now replenish) existing munitions stockpiles and grow the industry that supplies them. U.S. aid to Ukraine, along with observations from that countrys ongoing conflict with Russia, have only reinforced these viewpoints. Purchasing new stocks of guided munitions and opening up new pipelines, as well as revamping the underlying acquisition process, are viewed as being particularly critical to success in any future high-end fight, such as one against China in the Pacific. Just last Friday, the Pentagon announced plans for sweeping new changes to how new weapon systems and other equipment are purchased, and how the underlying requirements for them are formulated. If nothing else, the Air Force has now stated its intention to adapt the frameworks it has been using to help develop and acquire new, lower-cost cruise missiles into work on anti-air interceptors. Contact the author: joe@twz.com The post USAFs New Low-Cost Anti-Air Missile Program Aims For $500K Target Price appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Force Munitions, Air Forces, Air-To-Air, News & Features, U.S. Air Force] [Link to media]

— Su-57 Felon Brandishes Its Loaded Weapons Bays For The First Time

 

at 11/10/25 11:01am

Imagery has been published providing a rare look inside the weapons bays of one of the prototypes of Russia’s Su-57 Felon fighter, an aircraft you can read about in more detail here. While internal weapons carriage is a key design feature of the Sukhoi jet, the main weapons bays, at least, haven’t been seen in such detail, with weapons loaded. The footage comes as Moscow embarks on another export drive for the Su-57, which has reportedly so far only been ordered by Algeria. A recent promotional video from the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC), Russia’s aviation manufacturing conglomerate, shows the prototype T-50-9 being put through its paces ahead of its planned appearance at the Dubai Airshow. The event takes place in the United Arab Emirates next week. In the footage, the T-50-9 performs a variety of maneuvers, but of greatest interest is the forward main weapons bay, opened to reveal a pair of Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missiles. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) has released promotional footage of the Su-57 prototype (T-50-9) ahead of its appearance at the 2025 Dubai Airshow. pic.twitter.com/YVl1aQDVB0— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) November 9, 2025 While we have previously seen imagery of weapons being released from the aircraft’s main weapons bays, we havent seen an image with them loaded and on display like this in flight. As such, the plan to display the T-50 at Dubai, with internal weapons exposed, is new — this hasn’t been done since the aircraft was first flown in prototype form 15 years ago. The T-50-9 undergoes final preparations at Zhukovsky International Airport ahead of its appearance at the Dubai Airshow.: Gomezismq on TG pic.twitter.com/5QSjk7DHCp— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) November 9, 2025 The Felon carries its main weaponry in a pair of notably large internal weapons bays that are arranged in tandem between the engines. Each of the bays is sized for the carriage of two missiles with a maximum length of just under 14 feet and a cross-section of around 16 by 16 inches. For reasons that aren’t entirely clear, it was a long time before Sukhoi began to conduct tests of internal weapons from the Felon. Such trials only began in 2016, six years after the initial prototype T-50 had first taken to the air. In March of 2016, a Felon first launched an undisclosed type of missile from one of its main internal weapons bays. For the air-to-air role, the large tandem weapons bays are intended to carry two types of beyond-visual-range missiles that were specially adapted for internal carriage. These are the medium-range R-77M (izdeliye 180) and the very-long-range izdeliye 810. You can read more about them here. New versions of the R-77 spotted on a four Ship #Su57 ‘Felon’ formation on Russian TV for the first time. The second aircraft carries the newer version of the K-77M (Izdeliye 180) and possibly a ramjet powered K-77ME (Izdeliye 180-BD)?@Firezstarter1 @zone5aviation @hvtiaf pic.twitter.com/izpdFsP4WK— Sameer Joshi (@joe_sameer) October 5, 2020 For offensive missions, the Kh-69 long-range air-to-surface missile was designed specifically for the Felon, again for internal carriage. The Kh-69 is a weapon we have discussed in detail in the past. Su-57 fighter launch a advanced cruise missiles in Syria, said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. pic.twitter.com/TvEo8AF9Kw— 笑脸男人 (@lfx160219) May 25, 2018 Meanwhile, the Kh-58UShK supersonic anti-radiation missile seen in the recent UAC video is a further evolution of the older Kh-58 (known to NATO as the AS-11 Kilter). Weighing around 1,400 pounds per piece, the Kh-58UShK (in which the K suffix stands for Kompaktnaya, compact) has a missile body that is approximately 24 inches shorter than the baseline weapon. It also has folding fins to fit in the internal bays. The weapon has a reported range of 150 miles when launched from higher altitudes, although this is significantly reduced when launched from lower levels. A mockup of the Kh-58UShK supersonic anti-radiation missile. Vitaly V. Kuzmin Other offensive munitions that the fighter can carry internally include the ‘universal’ Kh-38M air-to-ground missile with a range of different guidance types, the Grom (thunder) missile that adds a range-extending wing kit to the Kh-38M, and the 551-pound KAB-250L electro-optically guided bomb. The UAC footage also shows the aircraft’s ability to carry two additional air-to-air missiles inside the two so-called ‘quick-launch’ bays — these have previously been seen in some detail, unlike the main bays. The quick-launch bays are located in distinctive underwing fairings, and the design ensures the missile can be extended into the slipstream so it can lock onto its target. Each can be located with a single R-74M2 (izdeliye 760) short-range air-to-air missile. This is another weapon that was developed specifically for internal carriage, derived from the well-established R-73 (AA-11 Archer). A sequence showing the launch of an air-to-air missile from one of the Su-57’s two small wing-root weapons bays. Russian Ministry of Defense screencap The missile launch clip begins at approximately 1:19 in the runtime of the video below: Carrying internal ordnance is a prerequisite if it’s paramount that the Su-57 retains its reduced radar signature characteristics. However, for missions not requiring such a degree of low-observability, the aircraft can carry a heavier weapons load, making use of four pylons under the wing and two under the air intakes. The underwing pylons can also accommodate drop tanks for additional fuel. Hoy la cosa ha ido de bodegas de armamento pic.twitter.com/hNIR5xgfwO— charly015 (@charly0153) November 9, 2025 Seems as if the RuAF is testing some larger external fuel tanks for the Su-57. At least they are different in shape.https://t.co/oBz6mBgh69https://t.co/L2aezY8c9u(Images by P. Shapka & V. Grushnikov) pic.twitter.com/E9dgFyB1CM— @Rupprecht_A (@RupprechtDeino) May 24, 2020 Finally, for close-range combat, the aircraft is armed with a 30-millimeter single-barrel cannon within the starboard wing root and provided with 150 rounds of ammunition. You can see it in action here. The Su-57 fires its onboard GSh-30-1 cannon. YouTube screencap Showing off the Su-57’s relatively impressive capability to accommodate larger internal weapons will, UAC surely hopes, help to drum up more export interest in its product. Apart from the announcement from Algeria’s state-run media earlier this year that the country was buying the Su-57, the aircraft hasn’t seen any export uptake. The sales fortunes of the Su-57 have so far suffered from a failed partnership with India as well as limited Russian orders and deliveries. Algerian TV confirms Su-57 fighter jet deal with Russia.“Algerian pilots are training in Russia, and deliveries are expected this year.”Algeria becomes the first Su-57 customer. pic.twitter.com/UGEgFvY92m— Clash Report (@clashreport) February 12, 2025 Combat employment in Russian hands has also been less than impressive, with only questionable capabilities demonstrated in Syria, and little in the way of hard evidence about its service in the war in Ukraine — aside from the reported shooting down of a Russian S-70 Okhotnik-B flying-wing uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV), in circumstances that remain somewhat unclear. Russian S-70 UAV, which was shot down today [The photos has been cleaned by artificial intelligence] https://t.co/Jec6rz1jPM pic.twitter.com/banwvy8oLy— Dariusz Zawadzki (@Military_oO) October 5, 2024 Overall, the Su-57 program has made only very slow progress, hampered by a lack of investment in the form of foreign orders. A significant blow was struck by India’s withdrawal from the program, with that country’s investment having been considered vital to speed development. The same had been true in the late 1990s when India’s purchase of the Su-30MKI Flanker essentially secured the development of the multirole version of this fighter, which was only later acquired by Russia. In terms of domestic orders, the Russian Aerospace Forces only began to receive series-built Su-57s in 2022, part of an order for 76 aircraft — a notably small production run. A pair of Russian Aerospace Forces Su-57s depart Novosibirsk, on their way to the flight test center at Lipetsk, in May 2022. NSKPlanes While at least six aircraft were delivered to the Russian Aerospace Forces in 2022, more than 10 were handed over in 2023 before numbers tailed off again in 2024, when likely only two or three more were received. It’s unclear if any examples of the Su-57 have been delivered to Russia this year. The full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent international sanctions against Russia have had the combined effect of slowing down the pace of Su-57 deliveries and limiting export prospects to all but the staunchest Kremlin allies. After all, any country that receives Russian weapons can expect to be on the receiving end of U.S. sanctions. In an effort to counter this, Russia has also offered a degree of local production of the Su-57, specifically with the hope of securing sales from India and the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai Airshow appearance is almost certainly calculated to try and reinvigorate interest from these two nations in particular. At the same time, while demonstrating the Su-57’s already celebrated agility and its gradually expanding weapons options, the long-promised advanced Su-57M version has made little progress. The Su-57M is powered by the new AL-51F1 (izdeliye 30) turbofan engine, replacing the current AL-41F-1. It promises increased thrust, lighter weight, and lower operating costs. However, a lack of interest from Russia has done little to help the Su-57Ms chances on the export market. The revised, flat version of the engine nozzle for the AL-51F1 turbofan (in the left nacelle), alongside the original three-dimensional version (right nacelle). via X Recent reports based on an apparent leaked official document relating to Su-57 (and other Sukhoi) exports also pointed to official interest in the Felon from Algeria. This document, the leak of which was attributed to the Black Mirror hacktivist group, was, however, several years old and appears to have described possible export orders, rather than reflecting any kind of firm deals. It is also notable that most of the possible export deals in the document related to the Su-35 Flanker, rather than the more advanced Su-57. This table has generated a lot of buzz lately, but remember that this is a summary of plans as of April 2022, over three years ago.Su-57 to Algeria,Su-35 to Iran, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and EthiopiaSu-34 to Algeria pic.twitter.com/yQKgPvJSMY— Piotr Butowski (@piotr_butowski) October 5, 2025 Regardless, the UAC is clearly aiming to make a big splash with the Felon at the Dubai Airshow, where it seems that the planned Su-57 flying display will demonstrate a high level of maneuverability coupled with a heavy missile load — a common sales tactic for multirole fighters. It’s also possible that more previously secretive aspects of the design could be revealed in more detail, as the campaign to secure lucrative export sales is ramped up. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com The post Su-57 Felon Brandishes Its Loaded Weapons Bays For The First Time appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: Air, Air Force Munitions, Air Forces, Air-To-Ground, Around The Globe, Europe, Fighters, News & Features, Russia, Russian Air Force, Stealth, Su-57] [Link to media]

— Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week

 

at 11/7/25 7:26pm

Welcome to Bunker Talk. This is a weekend open discussion post for the best commenting crew on the net, in which we can chat about all the stuff that went on this week that we didn’t cover. We can also talk about the stuff we did or whatever else grabs your interest. In other words, it’s an off-topic thread. Also, a reminder: Prime Directives! If you want to talk politics, do so respectfully and know that there’s always somebody that isn’t going to agree with you.  If you have political differences, hash it out respectfully, stick to the facts, and no childish name-calling or personal attacks of any kind. If you can’t handle yourself in that manner, then please, discuss virtually anything else. No drive-by garbage political memes. No conspiracy theory rants. Links to crackpot sites will be axed, too. Trolling and shitposting will not be tolerated. No obsessive behavior about other users. Just don’t interact with folks you don’t like.  Do not be a sucker and feed trolls! That’s as much on you as on them. Use the mute button if you don’t like what you see.   So unless you have something of quality to say, know how to treat people with respect, understand that everyone isn’t going to subscribe to your exact same worldview, and have come to terms with the reality that there is no perfect solution when it comes to moderation of a community like this, it’s probably best to just move on.  Finally, as always, report offenders, please. This doesn’t mean reporting people who don’t share your political views, but we really need your help in this regard. The Bunker is open! The post Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week appeared first on The War Zone.

[Category: News & Features, Bunker Talk] [Link to media]

As of 11/15/25 12:54am. Last new 11/14/25 7:17pm.