# TWZ A strong offense for the world of defense. [F/A-18E/F]() ## [Blackbeard Hypersonic Missile Seen Flying On F/A-18 Super Hornet For The First Time]() The Navy is pushing to get Blackbeard, a lower-cost and fast-to-produce standoff weapon, into operational service by 2028 at the latest. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted 7 Hours Ago ## Latest News - [Bunker Talk]() ### [Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week]() I wonder if the leaves are changing color out there? By [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted 6 Hours Ago - [Baltic Sea]() ### [Latvia To Order Anduril’s Barracuda Cruise Missile For Long-Range Strike Capability]() The missile deal would drastically expand Riga’s precision-fire reach as NATO’s eastern flank races to build up its conventional long-range strike capabilities. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted 9 Hours Ago - [Land-Based Electronic Warfare]() ### [Marines Rushing To Equip Amphibious Combat Vehicles With New Anti-Drone Jammers]() The USMC says an urgent need for Anduril Pulsar-L systems ties in with larger plans to boost the ACV's defenses against drones. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted 10 Hours Ago - [SR-71]() ### [An SR-71 Blackbird Has Vanished (Updated)]() The head of NASA just cryptically teased a new X-plane with an image that looked a lot like the iconic Blackbird. Now a very particular SR-71 is missing. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Updated on Sep 25, 2026 - [China]() ### [China Appears To Be Building A Mothership For Large Uncrewed Submarines]() Recent satellite imagery shows a host of highly specialized features on the ship that's under construction, as well as a large cradle sitting beside it. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Updated on Sep 25, 2026 - [Yemen]() ### [France Sending Forces To Help Defend Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Oil Facilities]() The French deployment marks the latest attempt by a European nation to help stabilize the supply of oil via military assistance. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 24, 2026 ## [Air, Space & Cyber 2026]() - [U.S. Air Force]() ### [New Details About Secretive RQ-170 Sentinel Drone Squadron Shared With New Award]() The 30th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of two units known to operate RQ-170s, and it is very rare to hear any details about its activities. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 18, 2026 - [AIM-260]() ### [Pentagon Cuts New AIM-260 Air-To-Air Missile Production Deal, Testing Accelerating]() The AIM-260 was originally slated to enter service years ago and it is seen as critical to counter China's PL-15 air-to-air missile. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 17, 2026 - [Iran]() ### [How The Air Force Patched Up A Shrapnel-Damaged KC-135]() In addition, pushing advanced repair work closer to the front lines was critical in keeping as many airframes supporting the mission as possible. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 16, 2026 [Read more]() [See More]() ## [Rebuilding the Arsenal 2026]() - [U.S. Air Force]() ### [New-Build F-16s For The USAF Is An Idea That Won’t Go Away, For Good Reason]() Lockheed’s F-16G pitch could be part of the answer to the Air Force's problem of trying to grow its increasingly geriatric fighter fleet. By [Thomas Newdick](), [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 17, 2026 - [AGM-158 Joint Air-To-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM)]() ### [Lockheed Flexes To Modular AGM-158 JASSM Missile Concept]() FLEX aims to give the JASSM missile family modular weapons architecture spanning longer-range, anti-ship, and new launch configurations. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 15, 2026 - [U.S. Army]() ### [One Of These Missiles Is Set To Be The Army’s Next Mid-Tier Anti-Air Interceptor]() The new Enduring Shield system paired with AIM-9X Sidewinders already gives the Army its first mid-range air defense capability in decades. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 11, 2026 [Read more]() [See More]() ## [Air]() - [China]() ### [F-35 Canopy And Weapons-Bay Door Loss To China: Separating Fact From Fiction]() What we know and don’t know, and the potential security impacts, regarding the real possibility China has major F-35 components in its possession. By [Thomas Newdick](), [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 24, 2026 - [U.S. Air Force]() ### [The A-10 Era Is Over At Nellis AFB]() The Warthog’s departure leaves the USAF's mastery of close air support in a tenuous transition. By [Thomas Newdick](), [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 24, 2026 - [China]() ### [China’s Recent J-36 Heavy Stealth Tactical Jet Testing Offers New Insights Into Its Evolving Design]() Recent video footage of the J-36 undergoing flight testing shows continued refinement of its design and new features. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 23, 2026 [Read more]() [View All in Air]() ## [Sea]() - [Carrier Tracker]() ### [Where Are The Aircraft Carriers?: September 23, 2026]() USS Abraham Lincoln's crew spent its first day on American soil after 307 days into a marathon deployment, approaching the record set by USS Gerald R. Ford. By [Ian Ellis-Jones]() Posted on Sep 23, 2026 - [French Navy]() ### [France’s Modular Rampart Point Defense Launcher Has Gone To Sea]() The launcher that can fire laser-guided rockets, small missiles, and more has emerged on a Mistral class amphibious assault ship. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 - [U.S. Navy]() ### [Torpedo Fired From Uncrewed Submarine For The First Time By U.S., U.K.]() Uncrewed underwater vehicles that can launch attacks on other vessels open up new tactical possibilities and could help fill gaps in traditional submarine coverage. By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [Read more]() [View All in Sea]() ## [Latest Videos]() - ### [Anduril’s Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) full-scale model displayed packing four AMRAAMs]() - ### [FQ-42 Vengeance fighter drone update from General Atomics]() - ### [Walk-around tour of the Skunk Works' Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft full-size mockup]() ### TWZ YouTube Check out the latest on all things defense from TWZ’s YouTube channel. [Visit The Channel]() ## [Land]() - [Artillery]() ### [This Is Taiwan’s New 105mm 8×8 Mobile Gun System]() By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 24, 2026 - [Russia]() ### [The Evolving Role Of Ukraine’s Artillery In The Age Of Drones]() By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 23, 2026 - [Land-Based Conventional Hypersonic Weapons]() ### [North Korea Tests New Hwasong-11Ma Hypersonic Missile]() By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [View all in Land]() ## [Space]() - [SR-71]() ### [Did NASA’s Administrator Just Tease An SR-71 Blackbird Follow-On X-Plane? (Updated)]() By [Thomas Newdick](), [Tyler Rogoway](), [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 23, 2026 - [U.S. Space Force]() ### [New Details On How Space Force Has Waged Electronic Warfare Against Iran]() By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 15, 2026 - [War In Space]() ### [U.S. Admits It Has Weapons In Orbit]() By [Joseph Trevithick](), [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 14, 2026 [View all in Space]() ## [Nuclear]() - [People's Liberation Army (China)]() ### [China’s Growing Regional Ballistic Missile Arsenal: A Guide]() By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Aug 5, 2026 - [ICBMs]() ### [A Guide To China’s Growing Long-Range Nuclear Missile Arsenal]() By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Jul 28, 2026 - [F-35]() ### [UK “Did Not Buy” F-35A For Nuclear Role: RAF]() By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Jul 15, 2026 [View all in Nuclear]() ## [Unmanned]() - [Collaborative Combat Aircraft]() ### [General Atomics FQ-42A Vengeance CCA Now Flying Together With USAF Fighters]() By [Joseph Trevithick]() Posted on Sep 21, 2026 - [U.S. Air Force]() ### [Shahed-136 Clone Found By Florida Fisherman, Eglin AFB Admits It Lost A Drone (Updated)]() By [Howard Altman](), [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 20, 2026 - [Transports]() ### [Cessna Cuts Cockpit Out Of SkyCourier Cargo Hauler For Uncrewed Logistics]() By [Hope Hodge Seck]() Posted on Sep 16, 2026 [View all in Unmanned]() ## More Latest News [Russia]() ### [Inside Ukraine’s Operation Vivaldi That Sees Its Troops Gaining Ground In The East]() Ukraine Situation Report: Ukrainian Colonel gives insights into how his forces have been slowly advancing on the eastern front. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 24, 2026 [Royal Air Force]() ### [Video Shows RAF Hawk T2 Trainer Crew Ejecting Before Jet Crashes (Updated)]() The incident occurred shortly after the Hawk departed from RAF Valley on a training mission. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 23, 2026 [Royal Air Force]() ### [U.K. Sending Voyager Tanker To Help Defend Saudi Airspace]() The tanker deployment will support Saudi Arabia's defense against Houthi missiles and drones. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [Air Forces]() ### [Every American Aircraft Lost Or Damaged During The Iran War, Visualized]() New reports from the Pentagon and CBO, combined with open-source intel, paint the most complete picture yet of the damage Iran has inflicted on U.S. airpower. By [Ian Ellis-Jones]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [F-16]() ### [USAF F-16 Crashes At Spangdahlem Air Base In Germany]() The base is home of U.S. Air Force F-16CMs that specialize in the 'wild weasel' mission set. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [People's Liberation Army Navy (China)]() ### [Chinese Next-Generation Submarine Developments Spotted In New Satellite Imagery]() A Chinese submarine now taking shape at Bohai Shipyard has a number of significant features and offers new insights into China's undersea ambitions. By [Joseph Trevithick](), [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 22, 2026 [Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD)]() ### [ADM-160 Miniature Air Launched Decoy Wreckage A Reminder Of Ongoing Spying On Iran’s Air Defenses]() The U.S. and Israel need to keep a close eye on the status of Iran's battered air defenses. By [Thomas Newdick](), [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 21, 2026 [NATO]() ### [Alarm Bells Ring Across Europe As Security Situation With Russia Deteriorates At Accelerating Pace]() Russia is making some very concerning moves at a time when hybrid attacks are at an all-time high, stoking fear across Europe. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 21, 2026 [VH-92]() ### [Marine One VH-92A Makes First Operational Use Of New White House Helipad]() The event also marked the first time the VH-92 carried out its core mission of transporting the president to and from the White House grounds. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 21, 2026 [Bunker Talk]() ### [Bunker Talk: Let’s Talk About All The Things We Did And Didn’t Cover This Week]() Tee Gee Eye Eff. By [Tyler Rogoway]() Posted on Sep 18, 2026 [Baltic Sea]() ### [German Forces Surge Onto Baltic Island In First-Of-Its-Kind NATO Drill]() Exercise Silver Wotan tests how quickly allied troops, ships, aircraft, and weapons can reach the strategically vital island of Gotland. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 18, 2026 [U.S. Marine Corps]() ### [Marine Colonel Who Led Mideast Combat Deployment Wants His Own Drone Boats]() "If the first thing you're putting through the breach isn't a robot, something's wrong." By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 18, 2026 [Nuclear Attack Submarines (SSNs)]() ### [Japan Opens The Door To Acquiring Nuclear-Powered Submarines]() Japan’s naval capabilities are evolving rapidly in the face of growing threats and so are its undersea requirements. By [Thomas Newdick]() Posted on Sep 18, 2026 [U.S. Marine Corps]() ### [USMC Used Its Expeditionary Operations Playbook In Combat For First Time During Epic Fury]() The USMC set up remote forward refueling and rearming points for F-35Bs and other aircraft, as well as sensing locations during the war with Iran. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 17, 2026 [F-16]() ### [F-16 Crashes In Michigan]() Dramatic ATC audio of the incident has emerged. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 17, 2026 [F-35]() ### [F-35 Sale To Saudi Arabia Approved By State Department]() The proposed $24 billion stealth fighter deal has major ramifications across the Middle East. By [Howard Altman]() Posted on Sep 17, 2026 [See More]() ![]() ## The TWZ Newsletter Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. [Sign Up]()By signing up you agree to our[ Terms of Service]() and[ Privacy Policy.]() ## [Must Read Features]() [F-15]() ### [Strike Eagle Pilot Gives A Detailed Walk Around Tour Of An F-15E]() By [Jamie Hunter]() Updated on Nov 27, 2020 [U.S. Homeland]() ### [The Strangest Encounters With Unidentified Aircraft We’ve Found In The FAA’s Huge Database (Updated)]() By [Adam Kehoe and Marc Cecotti]() Updated on Jul 20, 2021 [U.S. Navy]() ### [USS Desert Ship Sits In A Sea Of Sand And Launched The Navy To The Forefront Of Missile Tech]() By [Tyler Rogoway]() Updated on Nov 17, 2021 [A-10]() ### [Early On, The A-10 Warthog’s Legendary Gun Was Both a Blessing and a Curse]() By [Joseph Trevithick]() Updated on Jul 5, 2020 [SEE MORE]() ## The TWZ Team - [Tyler Rogoway]() Editor-in-Chief - [Joseph Trevithick]() Deputy Editor - [Howard Altman]() Senior Staff Writer - [Thomas Newdick]() Staff Writer - [Jamie Hunter]() Contributor - [Ian Ellis-Jones]() Head of Audience Development and Writer