Russia Plans To Deploy Sarmat ICBM Operationally Later This Year
Russia announced a successful test of its RS‑28 Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile, hitting the Kura range in Kamchatka. President Vladimir Putin declared the launch an “unconditional success” and said the first missile regiment will be operational by the end of 2026. The heavy ICBM boasts a range exceeding 35,000 km and can carry multiple warheads, decoys and possibly hypersonic boost‑glide vehicles. The deployment follows years of delays and comes after the New START treaty expired, reshaping the strategic balance.
Where Are The Carriers As Of May 11, 2026: 20 Warships Enforce Iran Blockade
More than 20 U.S. Navy warships, including the carrier strike groups (CSGs) USS George H.W. Bush and USS Gerald R. Ford, are enforcing a blockade of Iran in the CENTCOM area of responsibility. CENTCOM has redirected 61 commercial vessels linked...
Could The X-BAT Stealth Fighter Drone Change The Air Combat Game?
Shield AI unveiled an updated X‑BAT stealth fighter drone at Sea‑Air‑Space 2026, showcasing a tail‑sitting VTOL design controlled by its proprietary “Hivemind” artificial‑intelligence pilot. The drone’s internal payload bays are sized like those of the F‑35, allowing it to carry...
White House Claims Ceasefire Means No Congressional Approval Needed For Iran War… Yet
The White House announced that the April 7 cease‑fire halts the 60‑day War Powers Resolution clock, meaning President Trump does not need immediate congressional approval to continue hostilities with Iran. Congress, currently in recess, has not moved on an authorization vote,...
HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters To Take On Doomsday Evacuation Role In The Nation’s Capital
The U.S. Air Force will modify 26 HH‑60W Jolly Green II helicopters for the Air Force District of Washington (AFDW) mission, replacing aging UH‑1N Twin Hueys at Andrews Air Force Base. The re‑configuration adds 11‑passenger seating, upgraded ARC‑210 radios and...
U.S. Navy MH-60S Pilot Talks Multi-Mission Roles During Tour Of The Seahawk
The U.S. Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron HSC‑21 showcased its MH‑60S Seahawk at the Dubai Air Show, highlighting the platform’s multi‑mission versatility. The medium‑lift helicopter can perform vertical replenishment, search‑and‑rescue, airborne mine countermeasures, anti‑surface warfare and electronic warfare missions. It...
F/A-XX Stealth Fighter Selection To Finally Come By August: Navy’s Top Admiral
The U.S. Navy announced it will move to the next contracting phase for its sixth‑generation carrier‑based fighter, the F/A‑XX, by August. Congress rescued the program with $1.69 billion in funding after the Pentagon had effectively shelved it in the FY‑26 budget....
Carrier Tracker As of April 20, 2026
The U.S. Navy now has three carrier strike groups—Gerald R. Ford, Abraham Lincoln and George H.W. Bush—positioned in the Middle East to enforce a new blockade of Iranian ports. Amphibious Ready Group Tripoli, with the 31st MEU, seized the Iranian‑flagged...
Cheap Interceptor Drones Proven In Ukraine Protected U.S. Troops Against Iranian Shaheds
The U.S. Army has deployed Merops interceptor drones, originally proven in Ukraine, to protect troops from Iranian Shahed‑136 attack drones. Each Merops unit costs roughly $15,000, far less than the $30,000‑$50,000 price tag of the Shaheds they engage. Streamlined acquisition...
Production Of AH-64 Apache’s New Counter-Drone Cannon Shell Ammunition Ramping-Up
The U.S. Army is accelerating procurement of the XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) 30mm rounds for its AH‑64 Apache helicopters, aiming to boost counter‑drone capability. Northrop Grumman has produced 1,000 rounds this month and intends to scale output up to...
U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk Tour And Mission Brief With Its Pilots
At the Dubai Air Show, TWZ staff received a hands‑on tour of the U.S. Army UH‑60M Black Hawk, highlighting its 22,000‑lb gross weight and 12‑troop capacity. Sikorsky has produced more than 5,000 units for 36 nations, accumulating over 15 million flight...
Carrier Tracker As of April 12, 2026
President Trump announced on Truth Social that the U.S. Navy will begin blockading any vessels attempting to enter or leave the Strait of Hormuz. This follows a U.S. Central Command statement that forces conducted a mine‑clearance mission in the strait...
Operation Epic Fury U.S. Aircraft Losses Visualized
Operation Epic Fury, a 39‑day U.S. combat campaign against Iran, logged more than 13,000 sorties and lost 39 aircraft with another 10 damaged. Drones bore the brunt, accounting for over 60% of attrition, including the destruction of up to 24...
Inside The Air Force’s Elite Ghost Tanker Unit
The U.S. Air Force’s “Ghost Tanker,” a specially instrumented KC‑135, is the service’s only dedicated test tanker, enabling certification of new aircraft for aerial refueling. Operated by the Air Force Reserve Command’s 370th Flight Test Squadron, it is based at...
Ian Ellis-Jones Has Touched Down At TWZ
The War Zone (TWZ) announced that Ian Ellis‑Jones is joining as head of audience development. He will oversee a full‑spectrum social media strategy, moderate the comments section, and launch a new graphic‑driven "Actionable Intel" segment on the homepage. Ellis‑Jones brings...