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General Atomics

E-4B Doomsday Plane Replacement Concept Art Has Some Interesting Features

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center concept from Sierra Nevada Corp. has major similarities and differences with its E-4B predecessor.

By Tyler Rogoway
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China’s latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, appears poised to leave port to begin its first at-sea trials. The development comes soon after five aircraft mockups appeared on the deck of the flattop, as you can read about here. Once the Fujian goes to sea, it will mark a hugely important step in the development of China’s naval aviation, with the carrier being the first of its kind to be fully locally designed and also its first to launch aircraft via catapults rather than by a ‘ski jump’ takeoff ramp.

China’s New Aircraft Carrier Pulls Away From Its Pier Ahead Of Sea Trials

China’s first domestically designed aircraft carrier will introduce the People’s Liberation Army Navy to ‘cat and trap’ naval air operations.

By Thomas Newdick

12:44 PM EDT Apr 29

SNC has won the competition to deliver new Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) 'doomsday planes' to succeed the Air Force's E-4B Nightwatch jets.

Job Of Building The Air Force’s Next Doomsday Planes Falls To Sierra Nevada Corp. (Updated)

The Survivable Airborne Operations Center aircraft will replace the USAF’s highly specialized 747-based E-4B strategic command post jets.

By Joseph Trevithick

9:30 PM EDT Apr 27

American chemist and Nobel laureate Dr Willard Libby (1908 - 1980) in the fallout shelter he built himself near his home in California, USA, circa 1960. The shelter, intended to withstand a nuclear blast, burnt down in the Bel Air Fire of November 1961. Libby was on the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission. (Photo by/Pix/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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

What’s on your mind?

By Tyler Rogoway

8:00 PM EDT Apr 26

M1 Abrams Ukraine

Ukraine Situation Report: M1 Abrams Tanks Withdrawn From The Fight, Officials Say

After at least five losses from a fleet of 31, Ukrainian Abrams tanks have been temporarily withdrawn from operations, according to reports.

By Thomas Newdick

7:37 PM EDT Apr 26

Air
General Atomics has now confirmed that its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone design for the US Air Force is based on its XQ-67A.

XQ-67 Confirmed To Be A Prototype For General Atomics’ Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design

The XQ-67 gives General Atomics a demonstrator that is already flying as competition to build Collaborative Combat Aircraft heats up.

By Joseph Trevithick

6:17 PM EDT Apr 26

Ukraine Appears To Be Using Light Planes Converted Into Reusable Bomber Drones

By Howard Altman

4:54 PM EDT Apr 26

Check Out This Marine CH-53K Carrying An F-35C While Refueling From A KC-130T

By Joseph Trevithick

9:36 PM EDT Apr 25

Ukrainian Fighter Jets “Using iPads” To Control Western Weapons

By Thomas Newdick

7:18 PM EDT Apr 25

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Sea
The German Navy frigate Hessen has departed the Red Sea and is headed home.

German Frigate That Fought Off Houthi Drones Heads Home After 58 Days

The Hessen repelled four Houthi drone attacks during its deployment but also accidentally targeted a U.S. Reaper drone.

By Howard Altman

2:46 PM EDT Apr 22

Russia’s Historic Submarine Rescue Ship Looks Undamaged After Claimed Strike

By Joseph Trevithick

2:21 PM EDT Apr 22

How The Ancient Greeks Waged War On The High Seas

By Dr. Joanne Ball

4:14 PM EDT Apr 18

Australia’s Ghost Shark Uncrewed Submarine Breaks Cover

By Thomas Newdick

3:47 PM EDT Apr 18

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Land

A senior U.S. official has strongly implied that Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs sent to Ukraine have performed so poorly for a variety of reasons that they have been removed from service.

Have Ground Launched Small Diameter Bombs Been ‘Thrown Aside’ By Ukraine?

byJoseph Trevithick

5:56 PM EDT Apr 25

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Space

SpaceX's contract for a new satellite constellation for the DOD could be a game changer.

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

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Nukes

Poland F-16 nuclear weapons

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

byThomas Newdick

6:31 PM EDT Apr 22

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Uncrewed

The US Air Force has chosen Anduril and General Atomics to move ahead in Increment 1 of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program.

General Atomics, Anduril Move Ahead In Collaborative Combat Aircraft Drone Program (Updated)

byJoseph Trevithick

7:31 PM EDT Apr 24

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