This just in: Drone incursion reports at US military bases have increased significantly in the past year, says NORTHCOM, which unveiled its new quick reaction force for bases that need help countering incursions.

On a day when the US carried out a lethal strike against a claimed Venezuelan drug boat, US Marines and sailors practiced amphibious landings in Puerto Rico.

The drone attack on a Colombian National Police Black Hawk helicopter is one more sign that the future of rotary-wing aviation in combat is murky. www.twz.com/air/colombia...

On this, the 4th anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan, remember those who served there, those who came home forever changed, those who made the ultimate sacrifice and the loved ones left behind. And of course, those we abandoned who risked their lives to help us.

U.S. MQ-9 flies deep into Mexico as Trump administration ramps up campaign against cartels.

What's it like to set U-2 flight records by zig-zagging over America for 14 hours? Instructor pilot Cory Bartholomew gave us some insights on the flight and the future of a program on the brink of being shuttered.

Exclusive: An American investor in Ukraine talks about how the war-torn nation became a defense tech powerhouse and how the US and allies are ignoring the lessons.

Happy Hummus Face

Breaking: Tragic death at F.E. Warren AFB prompts Global Strike Command to order temporary pause on use of Sig Sauer M18 pistols

Javier Alonso de Medina Salguero took some of the most amazing shots you will ever see of a combat jet striking a bird during high-speed aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot survived. The bird? Not so much.

Kyiv residents had a breath of fresh air today, a massive Ukrainian-made An-124 cargo jet. But where it took off from and why it was flying in such heavily restricted airspace remain mysteries. www.twz.com/news-feature...

Now that the MOPs have been dropped, the Pentagon is awaiting BDA to determine how well the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators worked and what comes next for these weapons.

The crew of the bulk carrier Magic Seas is preparing to abandon ship with the vessel taking on water after the first Houthi attack on Red Sea shipping since December. The Magic Seas was hit with explosive-laden drone boats, RPGs and small arms fire.

Los Alamos scientist Gary Stradling, who studied the physics of how to hit heavily fortified underground facilities, provides some fascinating insights about the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP).

With tanks and other armor becoming increasingly vulnerable to drone attacks, the Army wants new top attack protection add-on armor (think cope cages) for its tracked combat vehicles. www.twz.com/land/army-wa...

We are not the enemy. Those who cover the military have a deep respect for those who serve. Much of our reporting shines light on problems they face. Many of us have been downrange to bring home their experiences to the American public. Our commitment to this mission continues.

“We believe that this is the largest single Patriot engagement in US military history." Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine offers new details about how air defenders protected Al Udeid www.twz.com/land/largest...

I am thrilled to announce that the annual Military Reporters & Editors 2025 Journalism Contest is now open. You worked hard, did great work and deserve to be recognized in these challenging times. You can find the details and entry form in this link: mrecontest.org

Exclusive: Budanov gives me new details about Ukraine's game-changing drone boat campaign.

Exclusive: Budanov tells me Russia is giving North Korea the capability of producing Shahed and Garpiya drones, which could change the balance of power on the peninsula.

Exclusive: The commander of Azov's Unmanned Systems Battalion tells me about the brutal fight in eastern Ukraine, changing Russian tactics, the trouble with "dragon drones," why he's wary of using gun-toting ground robots and much more.

Ukraine destroyed Russian strategic bombers in a massive drone attack. What we know and our early analysis.

New rules on Pentagon media access put in place by @SecDef further chill the free flow of information vital to the public. Our Military Reporters & Editors statement:

To all the Gold Star families I have come to know, your loved ones will always be honored, and your losses will never be forgotten.

A US defense official tells me more F-15E Strike Eagles have deployed to Diego Garcia to help protect the island and its assets, including four B-52 bombers.

Scoop: F-15s deployed to Diego Garcia for force protection.

An executive with Global Ordnance talks about the worldwide shortage of TNT and propellant for artillery shells.

There has been much debate about the Qatari gift of a 747-8. But the bottom line is that turning it into an Air Force One will cost a bundle.

Scoop: Budanov tells me GUR shot down two Su-30 Flankers with AIM-9 Sidewinders. Marks the first downing of jets by drone boats and the first successful use of Sidewinders from a drone boat.

Sig Sour? Army CPT rips into XM7 rifle as "unfit." Sig Sauer gave us a point-by-point rebuttal.

The attack by @CENTCOM devastated the Houthi-controlled port, as you can see in these satellite images. How much this will affect the Yemen-based, Iran-backed rebel group remains to be seen.

NORAD responded to this video. ”https://www.twz.com/air/very-close-encounter-between-f-35-and-su-35-caught-on-cockpit-camera

Inspired by the success of fiber optic-controlled FPV aerial drones, Ukraine is testing how this system works on ground drones.

Greenland plays a vital role in U.S. national defense -especially tracking the increasing danger from Russian submarines - the top U.S. commander in Europe testified today. He made it clear he was talking about the military value, not the policy issue of Trump wanting to take it from Denmark.

NORTHCOM's commander wants permission for U.S. troops to take down Mexican cartel drones flying over the southern border.

Those in the infamous Signal chat about a looming strike against the Houthis had government-issued secure options that adhere to data-retention laws. So why weren't they used?

Engels Air Base, 300 miles from Ukraine, suffered extensive damage to its munitions storage area during yesterday's Ukrainian drone attack, satellite imagery shows

Caves and tunnels are dark, dangerous and confined spaces in which to fight. @USSOCOM wants to give Green Berets FPV drones to provide underground overmatch.

Scoop: Cracks In KC-46 Pegasus Tankers Halt All Deliveries

Here's the first look at the Army's new Multi Purpose Company concept trial. Informed by lessons from Ukraine, it is an 80-soldier unit designed to find and engage enemies and bring down lethal effects quicker.

As a non-profit dedicated to protecting the rights of those who cover the military, @milreporters.bsky.social calls on the Pentagon to retain the assigned workspaces while accommodating additional organizations seeking to cover "the building." Our statement:

Exclusive: Budanov Disputes Claim That North Koreans Have Fled Kursk Front #Ukraine #Budanov #Kursk #Russia #NorthKorea #Zelensky #Putin #KimJongUn

Exclusive: Budanov tells me more North Korean artillery and missile troops, short-range ballistic missiles and tubed and rocket artillery are headed to Russia.

Boston Steak Bomb > Philly Cheesesteak Let's get ready to ruuuuuuuumble

At least 20 drone boats will take part in NATO's Baltic Sentry operation to detect and deter sabotage of undersea cables, a NATO official tells me. #NATO #DroneBoats #USV #BalticSea #Russia #Ukraine #BalticSentry

Nearly a decade ago, after a little-reported Russian drone strike on a Ukrainian position, I examined whether drones would become an essential weapon of modern warfare. The answer has been clear for a while and Skip Parish proved quite prescient.

The loss of this key firefighting plane to a drone strike was a blow to those risking their lives fighting the Palisades Fire and those suffering its consequences. By next week, though, Cal Fire's fleet of CL-415 Super Scoopers could double. Here's why.

Budanov told me the Azerbaijan Airlines jet was brought down by a Russian Pantsir S1 air defense system, an assessment in line with several others.

New by us: An F/A-18F Super Hornet was downed in a friendly fire incident as jets were returning to carrier USS Harry S. Truman. Its CSG was fending off a sustained Houthi drone and missile attack leading up to the friendly fire incident.

Scoop: Navy tells me that the F/A-18F shot down by a U.S. cruiser in the Red Sea was performing a refueling mission at the time. W @FranticGoat and @JournoGeoffZ