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 infrared counter‑measure (IRCM) systems while retaining core rescue equipment. Budget documents for FY 2027 confirm the shift, with refit work slated to begin in FY 2028. This repurposing will free up a faster, longer‑range platform with aerial refueling capability but will pull roughly 30% of the HH‑60W fleet away from dedicated combat‑search‑and‑rescue (CSAR) duties.
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...
Ukraine Using Private Air Defense Teams To Protect Industry Against Russian Drones
Ukraine has launched an experimental program that lets private companies operate their own short‑range air‑defense systems, including interceptor drones and automated gun turrets, under the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ command. The first private unit has already downed Shahed and Zala drones...
A-10 Warthogs Are Doing Bizarrely Long Strafing Runs In Iraq
During Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthogs have been captured on video executing unusually long strafing runs in Iraq, with bursts lasting six to nine seconds—far beyond the typical two‑to‑three‑second bursts. Veteran pilots confirm these extended firings are...
Army Scales Back Barriers To Access Its Top Testing Ranges
The U.S. Army is overhauling access to its premier test ranges, including Utah’s Dugway Proving Ground, by delegating approval authority to testers and streamlining safety‑release paperwork. The new process waives many red‑tape requirements for non‑type‑classified and commercial prototype systems, especially...
Three USAF F-15E Strike Eagles Shot Down By Friendly Fire (Updated)
Three U.S. Air Force F‑15E Strike Eagles were lost over Kuwait in an apparent friendly‑fire incident during Operation Epic Fury. All six crew members ejected safely and were rescued. CENTCOM confirmed the jets were shot down by Kuwaiti air defenses,...