The War Zone

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

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

By Howard Altman, Oliver Parken

Latest

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

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

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

By Joseph Trevithick

8:42 PM EDT May 7

Super hornets now carrying nine air-to-air missiles

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

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

By Thomas Newdick

7:56 PM EDT May 7

Ukraine Situation Report: Half Of North Korean Missiles Used By Russia Failed, Kyiv Says

Ukrainian authorities paint a dismal picture regarding the accuracy and reliability of the 50 or so KN-23 missiles provided by Pyongyang.

By Thomas Newdick

4:46 PM EDT May 7

161013-N-OI810-093 WATERS SURROUNDING THE KOREAN PENINSULA (Oct. 13, 2016) Petty Officer 1st Class (AW/SW) John Diwa, from Dededo, Guam, installs inboard and outboard bearings on a main tire mount of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the "Diamondbacks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 102, in the hangar bay of the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier, USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76), during Exercise Invincible Spirit. Invincible Spirit is a bilateral exercise conducted with the Republic of Korea Navy in the waters near the Korean Peninsula, consisting of routine carrier strike group (CSG) operations in support of maritime counter-special operating forces and integrated maritime operations. USS Ronald Reagan is on patrol with CSG 5 supporting security and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class (SW/AW) Nathan Burke/Released)

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

Additive manufacturing and cold spray technology are revolutionizing how the Navy looks at sustainment, saving millions in the process.

By Eric Tegler

4:06 PM EDT May 7

Air

The Air Force new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker buster bomb could be a future addition to the B-2 bomber's arsenal.

B-2 Spirits Could Get New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters

The new GBU-72/B penetrator bombs could be a valuable addition to the B-2’s already diverse arsenal before it is replaced by the B-21.

By Joseph Trevithick

12:42 PM EDT May 7

‘Robot Marines’ In Every Formation: Corps’ Robotics Chief Casts Vision

By Hope Hodge Seck

12:27 PM EDT May 7

F-22 Raptor Ends Up On Its Side During Air Guard Exercise (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

5:31 PM EDT May 6

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

By Oliver Parken

5:08 PM EDT May 6

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Sea

In a most unusual development in the Black Sea ‘drone war,’ Ukraine appears to have begun arming uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), better known as drone boats, with heat-seeking air-to-air missiles. The adaptation seems to have been made to provide the USVs with protection against the Russian helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that are increasingly being used to counter them, although many questions remain about how these newly added weapons are intended work.

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

Videos show a clash between a Ukrainian drone boat armed with an adapted AA-11 Archer and the Russian helicopter sent to hunt it.

By Thomas Newdick

1:34 PM EDT May 6

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

By Howard Altman

8:14 PM EDT May 2

Navy Names Next Amphibious Assault Ship USS Helmand Province

By Howard Altman

3:13 PM EDT May 2

Manta Ray Underwater Drone Even More Enormous Than We Thought

By Oliver Parken

5:29 PM EDT May 1

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Land

We now have what looks to be the first look at the Army's uncrewed derivative of its High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, and of it firing a practice round.

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

byJoseph Trevithick

1:31 PM EDT May 6

Our First Look At Marines’ Tomahawk Missile Launching Drone Truck Firing
byJoseph Trevithick
3:17 PM EDT May 3
Marines Poised To Get Their 30mm Cannon-Armed Amphibious Combat Vehicle
byThomas Newdick
1:10 PM EDT May 2
ATACMS Volley Strikes Mass Of Russian Troops Training In Eastern Ukraine
byHoward Altman
5:14 PM EDT May 1

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Space

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

byJoseph Trevithick, Oliver Parken

7:00 PM EDT May 3

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

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Nukes

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

byThomas Newdick

8:12 PM EDT May 6

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

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SOF Week '24

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

byHoward Altman, Oliver Parken

10:32 PM EDT May 7

C-130 Floatplane Program Put ‘On Pause’ By Special Operations Command
byJoseph Trevithick
8:42 PM EDT May 7

View all

Latest

BYHoward Altman

3:31 PM EDT May 6

News & Features

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon

In addition to the Switchblade 600, the Pentagon is also looking to purchase drone boats and counter drone systems.

3:31 PM EDT May 6

9:30 PM EDT May 3

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

Who’s ready for a Bunker?

British telephonists on duty in a bomb-proof shelter on the southwest coast of Britain, in readiness to go into action with their artillery company against invading German soldiers. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)

9:30 PM EDT May 3

8:02 PM EDT May 3

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine

Plans to give Ukraine JDAM-ERs with new seekers come as Western precision-guided munitions are reportedly suffering from Russian GPS jamming.

8:02 PM EDT May 3

5:51 PM EDT May 3

Boeing Pitches F-15EX For Saudi Arabian Fighter Competition

The Typhoon and Rafale are already in the running to meet Saudi Arabia’s fighter requirement, with the Eagle II now set to challenge them.

5:51 PM EDT May 3

5:30 PM EDT May 3

Ukraine Situation Report: U.K. Says Its Donated Weapons Can Be Used To Hit Targets In Russia

The United Kingdom has also pledged to Ukraine its biggest arms package of the conflict so far, worth over $3 billion a year.

Storm shadow missile can be used against targets in Russia UK says.

5:30 PM EDT May 3

8:58 PM EDT May 2

Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested

The Long Range Attack Missile, based on an unknown Air Force weapon, will help ensure Marine AH-1Zs stay relevant in future high-end fights.

The Marine Corps is now flight testing a new secretive stand-off missile for its AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters.

8:58 PM EDT May 2

2:26 PM EDT May 2

Israel Is Shooting Down A Lot Of Its Own Drones

Israeli difficulties in separating friendly drones from hostile ones underscore critical issues that U.S. forces also need to address.

Israeli forces are shooting down large numbers of their own drones in friendly fire incidents, underscoring challenges the U.S. military will also have to contend with as uncrewed aerial systems become an ever more ubiquitous component of operations.

2:26 PM EDT May 2

7:50 PM EDT May 1

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

The future of armed Marine KC-130Js is in question as a fight in the Pacific brews, but new electronic warfare capabilities are on the horizon.

The future of the Harvest Hawk armament kits for Marine Corps KC-130J tanker/transport aircraft are increasingly uncertain as focus shifts to planning for future high-end conflicts.

7:50 PM EDT May 1

1:38 PM EDT May 1

China’s H-6K Bomber Seen Firing Air-Launched Ballistic Missile For First Time

A newly released video shows the Chinese air-launched ballistic missile in action, dropped by an H-6K bomber.

Footage has been published, apparently for the first time, showing a Chinese H-6 bomber dropping one of the shadowy air-launched ballistic missiles known by the designation 2PZD-21. The missile is part of a growing armory of Chinese aero-ballistic missiles and is widely understood to be a ‘carrier-killer’ weapon designed to be used as part of the country’s anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) strategy. However, many questions remain about the role of the weapon and its capabilities.

1:38 PM EDT May 1

11:47 AM EDT May 1

This Is The Army’s New M2A4E1 Bradley That Features Iron Fist Protection

Hard-kill active protection systems offer valuable additional defense against missiles and rockets, and could be used to swat down drones.

The Army has unveiled a new Bradley Fighting Vehicle variant, the M2A4E1, equipped with an Iron First active protection system and other upgrades.

11:47 AM EDT May 1

7:27 PM EDT Apr 30

How The Marines Plan To Fly The MV-22 Osprey Into The 2060s

Software, cockpit, and maintenance improvements are all on the cards, as is a potential optionally piloted configuration.

BYThomas Newdick

7:27 PM EDT Apr 30

Air

Features from the Archive

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

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

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

Ukraine Situation Report: Half Of North Korean Missiles Used By Russia Failed, Kyiv Says

Navy Pays $100K To Replace Each F/A-18 Tire, 3D Printed Repairs Cuts Cost To $300

B-2 Spirits Could Get New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters

‘Robot Marines’ In Every Formation: Corps’ Robotics Chief Casts Vision

F-22 Raptor Ends Up On Its Side During Air Guard Exercise (Updated)

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

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

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

Navy Names Next Amphibious Assault Ship USS Helmand Province

Manta Ray Underwater Drone Even More Enormous Than We Thought

Land

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

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

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

ATACMS Volley Strikes Mass Of Russian Troops Training In Eastern Ukraine

Space

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

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

Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks

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

Nukes

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

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

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

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

SOF Week '24

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

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

Latest

Switchblade 600 Kamikaze Drone Is The First Named Replicator Program Weapon

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

JDAM-ER Winged Bombs With Seekers That Home In On GPS Jammers Headed To Ukraine

Boeing Pitches F-15EX For Saudi Arabian Fighter Competition

Ukraine Situation Report: U.K. Says Its Donated Weapons Can Be Used To Hit Targets In Russia

Secretive Long Range Attack Missile For Marine AH-1s Is Now Being Flight Tested

Israel Is Shooting Down A Lot Of Its Own Drones

Marine KC-130Js May Lose Their Missile-Firing Harvest Hawk Kits

China’s H-6K Bomber Seen Firing Air-Launched Ballistic Missile For First Time

This Is The Army’s New M2A4E1 Bradley That Features Iron Fist Protection

How The Marines Plan To Fly The MV-22 Osprey Into The 2060s

Features from the Archive

This Shadowy Afghan Unit Fights Alongside America’s Most Elite Forces

How To Fight To Win In The F-14, A-4 and F-5 At The Navy’s Topgun School

15 Questions With One of VP-5’s ‘Mad Foxes’ on Flying the P-8 Poseidon

Confessions Of A C-2 Greyhound Carrier Onboard Delivery Pilot

USAF’s Deadliest F-16 Pilot Talks F-15 Retirement, Syria, and Pilot Shortage

Watch This Russian Mi-35 Hind Do What No Other Attack Helicopter Can

The Striking And Fast Superyacht ‘Yaz’ Was Born From A 40 Year Old Dutch Frigate’s Hull

Confessions Of An E-2C Hawkeye Radar Operator