The War Zone

A strong offense for the world of defense.

Aircraft Carrier Rainbow
Latest Articles
By LCDR Joe “Smokin” Ruzicka Jul 25, 2021

Final F-14 Demo Crewman Remembers Legendary Tomcat Demo Pilot Dale "Snort" Snodgrass

There was only one king of the F-14 Tomcat demonstration and that was Dale "Snort" Snodgrass.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 24, 2021

Bunker Talk: Let's Chat About All The Stories We Did And Didn't Cover This Week

Kick back and discuss!
By Thomas Newdick Jul 23, 2021

Aircraft Spotter Thanked By F-15E Pilot After Alerting Him To Malfunctioning Jet

The Air Force pilot says the British aircraft enthusiast “100%” saved his life earlier this month.
By Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway Jul 23, 2021

E-4B “Doomsday Plane” Just Made A Highly Unusual Visit To Secretive Tonopah Test Range Airport (Updated)

Seldom, if ever, do E-4Bs visit Tonopah Test Range Airport in Nevada and, in this case, the Secretary of Defense might have been onboard.
By Brett Tingley Jul 23, 2021

Another Attempt To Retire A-10 Warthogs Isn't Going Well For The Air Force

The Senate Armed Services Committee has blocked requests by the Air Force to retire dozens of its A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 23, 2021

The Navy's Next Attack Submarine Will Be An “Apex Predator” According To Undersea Warfare Chief

The Navy’s future attack submarine will be more like the Seawolf class than the Virginia class, but it won’t come cheap.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 22, 2021

Watch This C-17 Make A Bonkers "Tactical Departure" From Portland International Airport

The C-17 is far more nimble than it appears, which is a great trait to have if need to get safely in the air while surrounded by enemies.
By Brett Tingley Jul 22, 2021

U.S. Weighs Deploying Balloons To Provide Internet Access To Cubans During Crackdown

The Cuban government is making it hard for citizens to communicate with the outside world, limiting internet access and possibly jamming radio bands.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 22, 2021

The Case For Stripping The P-8 Poseidon Down Into An RB-8 Multi-Role Arsenal Ship

A non-maritime patrol variant of the P-8 could provide the Air Force with a highly flexible platform for augmenting the bomber force and much more.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 21, 2021

Marine UH-1Y Venom Helicopters Have Been Assisting In The Hunt For Submarines

The adaptable UH-1Y Venom is now playing a role in the Marine Corps’ pivot toward the anti-submarine warfare mission.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 21, 2021

F-117 Aggressors Photographed Low Over The Nevada Desert During Red Flag War Games

The officially retired F-117 Nighthawks are busier than ever playing the role of stealthy bad guys.
By Brett Tingley Jul 21, 2021

Air Force Directed Energy Report Argues Defensive Force Fields May Be "Just On The Horizon"

The Air Force Research Laboratory argues that we've hit a tipping point with directed energy technologies, bringing many science fiction concepts closer to reality.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 21, 2021

Russia Threat Could See U.K. Fighter Jets Operating From Highways Once Again

The Royal Air Force has plans for a series of drills that will test its fighters' abilities to operate from dispersed airstrips.
By Brett Tingley Jul 20, 2021

Security Surrounding Nuclear Football Being Officially Reviewed In Aftermath Of Capitol Siege

The Office of Inspector General is evaluating the safety of the "nuclear football" after the recent high-profile breach of security at the Capitol.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 20, 2021

This Is Our First View Of Russia’s New S-500 Air Defense System In Action

The much-delayed air defense system is designed to swat down both air-breathing and ballistic missile threats.
By Brett Tingley Jul 20, 2021

This Spherical Manned Airship Was Tested By The Navy As An Eye In The Sky

The AeroSphere was designed to be an optionally-manned high-altitude surveillance platform that could loiter for long periods above a target area.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 20, 2021

Russia’s Checkmate Light Tactical Fighter Is Officially Unveiled (Updated)

After a much-hyped buildup, Russia’s latest fighter jet design has arrived on the international stage.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 20, 2021

The Navy Is Looking At Fitting Its Future Attack Submarines With Inflatable Sails

The Navy has called upon industry to develop pop-up sails for its submarines in an effort to maximize speed, stealth, and maneuverability.
By Brett Tingley Jul 19, 2021

This Dude Fished An Anti-Tank Missile's Tail Section Out Of The English Channel

A vacationer in Southern England found what appears to be the tail section of a very specific anti-tank missile while free diving.
By Adam Kehoe and Marc Cecotti Jul 19, 2021

The Strangest Encounters With Unidentified Aircraft We've Found In The FAA's Huge Database (Updated)

We found over 50 highly unusual incidents with our new FAA data mapping tool. And yes, there even are a few flying 'disks' and 'cylinders' in there.
By Brett Tingley Jul 19, 2021

MQ-9 Reaper Tests Prove It Can Operate From Unprepared Locations On The Fly

The Air Force recently tested a new landing and take-off capability that could allow the MQ-9 to self deploy to a much wider range of locales.
By Thomas Newdick Jul 19, 2021

Iranian Navy Ships Enter The English Channel

The sea base ship Makran and Iran’s most advanced frigate are supposedly headed for the Baltic Sea.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 18, 2021

Russia's New Fighter Design Seen Uncovered For The First Time (Updated)

Our full analysis on the first uncovered images of Russia's "Checkmate" single-engine fighter concept.
By Tyler Rogoway Jul 17, 2021

Bunker Talk: Let's Chat About All The Stories We Did And Didn't Cover This Week

A laid-back weekend discussion with old friends and new.
By Joseph Trevithick Jul 16, 2021

China Says It Conducted A Successful Suborbital Test Of A Reusable Spaceplane

The Chinese spaceplane test appears to be linked to ostensibly commercial endeavors, but could have military applications.
Must Read Features
The Time A F-4G Wild Weasel's Anti-Radiation Missile Blew Apart A B-52's Tail
May 16, 2017 4:07 PM
The Soviet's 'Golden Fish' Missile Submarine Still Holds The Record As The World's Fastest
Feb 13, 2019 2:43 PM
This Small, Obscure U.S. Navy Unit Hunts Terrorists and Smugglers
Mar 24, 2017 2:33 PM
This '80s Promo Video Will Make You Want A F-20 Tigershark So Freaking Bad
Mar 16, 2017 2:32 PM
This Nuclear-Capable 1950s Missile Once Delivered the U.S. Mail
Sep 29, 2016 3:59 PM
Japan Goes Back To The Future With Lithium-Ion Battery Powered Submarines
Feb 17, 2017 5:58 PM
Air Combat Tales From Australia’s Storied Pitch Black Aerial War Games
Aug 12, 2020 3:09 PM
This Is The Elite Unit That Raided The Tanker Threatened By Stowaways Off The UK Coast
Oct 26, 2020 7:19 PM
The Little Model Shop That Played A Big Role In Killing Osama Bin Laden
Sep 11, 2020 11:34 PM
China’s Own “Catfish” Flying Avionics Testbed For The J-20 Fighter Emerges
Feb 3, 2017 3:50 PM
Check Out This AC-130 Gunship Pilot Wearing A Scorpion Helmet Mounted Display
Aug 18, 2020 3:43 PM
U.S. Infrared Satellite Data Could Settle The Debate Over Pakistan-India Dogfight
Apr 10, 2019 5:45 PM
NKC-135R Tanker From Edwards AFB Flew This Peculiar Night Mission Over Area 51
Nov 9, 2018 6:21 PM
Making Steam: The Life And Times Of A U.S. Navy Chief Engineer 
Jul 26, 2017 2:51 PM
F-15 Strike Eagles Over Saudi Arabia: Then And Now
Jul 12, 2016 9:15 PM
Why Navy SEALs Almost Always Go Into Action Aboard Non-Navy Helicopters
Jun 6, 2019 8:09 PM
The Alarming Case of the USAF’s Mysteriously Missing Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
Jun 9, 2016 4:30 PM
Raven Rock Author Tells Us How Our Government Plans For Its Own Annihilation 
May 24, 2017 3:11 PM
Pocket Force Of Stealthy Avenger Drones May Have Made Returning F-117s To Service Unnecessary
Mar 5, 2019 7:22 PM
News
Full Rear-Wheel Steering on Mercedes EQS Will Be $575 Annual Subscription in Germany: Report
Jul 26, 2021 11:35 AM
General Motors Sues Ford Over BlueCruise Hands-Free Driving Name
Jul 26, 2021 10:41 AM
Now There’s a Licensed, 3/4-Size Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa for Fancy Kids
Jul 25, 2021 12:00 PM
Tom Hanks' Custom Airstream Movie Set Trailer Is For Sale
Jul 25, 2021 10:00 AM
Lego Airbus A380 Is a Spot-On Recreation of the World’s Largest Airliner
Jul 24, 2021 4:30 PM
6×6 Ram TRX With 37-Inch Tires and 702 HP Sounds Like a Lot of Math
Jul 24, 2021 12:30 PM
New Car Sales Drop as Production Woes Pile Up
Jul 24, 2021 8:30 AM
Rivian Wants To Build a Second Plant in the US
Jul 23, 2021 7:15 PM
The Japanese Ads That Sold Chevy Cavaliers as Toyotas Felt Like The Simpsons Doing NSYNC
Jul 23, 2021 6:52 PM
Volvo’s CEO Wants to Ditch Alphanumeric Names
Jul 23, 2021 4:03 PM
See All