How The Navys New Very Long-Range AIM-174 Will Pierce China’s Anti-Access Bubble The War Zone 2024-10-03 | The Navy has officially acknowledged the existence of a weapon we had posited was in development for years, an air-launched version of the hugely versatile, far reaching, and hard hitting ship-launched SM-6. Designated the AIM-174, this massive, F/A-18 Super Hornet-carried air-to-air weapon is by default longer-ranged than any other the U.S. has ever fielded. While it isn’t clear if the AIM-174 will also retain the SM-6’s secondary anti-ship and land attack capabilities, just what it could provide in the anti-air and possibly anti-ballistic missile roles could be truly revolutionary. Clearly built to take full advantage of the Pentagon’s emerging ‘kill webs,’ this is especially true when it comes to popping China’s vaunted anti-access bubble by going after its most prized force-multiplier assets. So, how exactly could this work and what does it bring to the table? We break it all down for you in detail.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:57 Developing the AIM-1743:03 Employing the Navy’s Newest Missile4:21 The Navy’s Air-to-Air Arsenal6:51 Defending the Fleet12:20 Pushing Back China’s Force Multipliers16:12 Future PossibilitiesCheck out our article about the AIM-174 over on TWZ at twz.com/air/disclosure-of-new-aim-174b-missile-brings-navys-future-air-to-air-strategy-into-focusSpecial thanks to Growling Sidewinder and AZRZ Gaming for the use of their channel content to help us bring the AIM-174 to life for this video.You can find Growling Sidewinder at www.youtube.com/@GrowlingSidewinderAnd you can find AZRZ Gaming at www.youtube.com/@azrzgamingFind us at www.twz.comFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
Can The AC-130 Gunship Stay Relevant? The War Zone 2024-08-31 | The AC-130 was one of the most heavily tasked aerial assets during the Global War on Terror. Its ability to loiter on station and deliver surgical, devastating fire on demand meant the AC-130 always had a role to play in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and elsewhere. But now, as the strategic focus moves away from counter-terror and counter-insurgency operations to potential peer-state conflicts, particularly one in the Pacific against China, where the enemy sits beneath a highly complex air defense umbrella far beyond the range of its guns, the AC-130 is at an existential crossroads. The AC-130 has to adapt to survive, both literally and budgetarily. Here is what that could look like.Chapters:0:00 Intro1:28 The Future of the AC-1304:19 Gunship to Arsenal Ship8:48 Ghostriders Take Flight11:39 Rearming the Ghostrider17:12 Relevance in the Pacific21:46 Wrap-upFind us at twz.comFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
F-16s Delivered To Ukraine With Advanced Countermeasure Pods For Self Protection The War Zone 2024-08-08 | After many months of negotiations and training of pilots and ground crews, Ukraine has finally taken delivery of its first batch of F-16 Vipers. These donated F-16AM/BM Mid Life Upgrade (MLU) configured jets represent a big leap forward in capability for the Ukrainian Air Force, but they will also be one of Russia’s top targets. While a wide array of weapons could become available to them, Ukraine’s Vipers have so far been configured strictly for air defense, but they also are equipped with a unique self-protection system that can go a long way to keeping Russian SAMs and air-to-air missiles at bay.Join us for an in-depth look at the news surrounding this historic moment for the Ukrainian Air Force and at the exact F-16s and their stores, including their self-protection countermeasure and electronic warfare pylons, that are now blasting through Ukrainian skies.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:54 Getting Vipers to Ukraine1:49 Who’s Contributing F-16s2:39 F-16MLU Enhancements3:35 Unlocking the F-16’s Potential5:22 Arming the Viper7:08 Ukraine’s New Self-Defense Pylons9:55 The Targeting Shell GameFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
Just How Many Nuclear Weapons Does The U.S. Actually Have? The War Zone 2024-07-30 | The United States has long vacillated between periods of openness and total secrecy concerning its nuclear warhead stockpile. Amid calls from watchdogs for greater transparency, the past three Presidential administrations have differed in their policies of revealing these numbers and when. Now, the National Nuclear Security Administration has opened up the books for the first time since 2021 and provided information about how many nuclear warheads exist in its inventory and more detailed information about the rate at which some of those warheads are being dismantled. We break it down in the video above.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:32 Current Numbers1:57 Historical Comparison3:39 Watchdog Reactions5:09 Recent Transparency Timeline6:24 Nuclear Transparency Around the WorldFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
The Definitive Audit Of How Many Weapons Doug Masters Launched From His F-16 In Iron Eagle The War Zone 2024-07-17 | While heavily overshadowed by Top Gun, which was released in theaters just a few months later, Iron Eagle has become something of a cult classic. Its aerial sequences, far-fetched ‘80s action movie plot, fantastic soundtrack, and the fact that it’s stuffed full of movie tropes from that decade have kept it alive in popular culture. Louis Gosset Jr.’s dramatic motivational monologue that takes place in the middle of the film even got Iron Eagle a major cameo on the hit Netflix show Cobra Kai. However, the movie also draws the ire of some for its portrayal of its starring F-16s having what appears to be a never-ending supply of weapons.While it’s totally true that a LOT of stuff gets blown up in Iron Eagle, is this bad reputation really earned? And if not, how did it become a thing in the first place?Hop in the cockpit, strap your tape player to your thigh and crank up the Queen as we jet back to the ‘80s for a definitive audit of all the weapons Doug Masters launched off his F-16 in this totally stupid but absolutely necessary video that should settle Iron Eagle’s ‘bottomless F-16’ issue once and for all.Chapters:0:00 Intro1:21 The Definitive Weapons Audit4:14 Training Day6:10 First Strike8:39 Doug Flies Solo11:04 Doug and Dad Escape12:35 Iron Eagle, Mushy EditingFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
The Armys New M10 Booker: Deploy Fast and Carry a Big Gun The War Zone 2024-06-26 | The M10 Booker aims to revolutionize how U.S. Army light infantry units fight. It will have the ability to deploy rapidly aboard C-17 cargo jets right alongside the troops it was designed to support. And unlike the far heavier and slower to deploy M1 Abrams, the M10 will be an asset organic to light infantry units, regularly training alongside these agile forces. And while the Abrams excels in taking on other main battle tanks along the forward edge of a battle, the M10 is about taking out armored personnel carriers and other combat vehicles, as well as bunkers and fortifications, on demand for forward-operating light infantry. Just don’t call it a light tank to the Army though, even though that is pretty much what it actually is.Dive into the capabilities of the M10 Booker and its fascinating roots, as well as some of the questions surrounding its relevance, in our latest video feature.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:33 Deploy Fast and Carry a Big Gun1:48 Return of the Light Tank5:26 Developing the Booker8:19 Booker Specs10:54 Fielding the Booker17:04 Booker in the FightCorrection:01:38 SSG Stevon Booker is incorrectly identified as PVT in the text on screen.Follow TWZ on socials:twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
B-52 Future Stratofortress: The Upgrades That Will Transform The B-52H Into The B-52J The War Zone 2024-06-14 | The B-52 Stratofortress is a plane that really needs no introduction. It’s big, it’s loud, and it’s smoky. It’s also incredibly old. So old that the last airframes to roll off the production line took to the skies in the early 1960s, right in the thick of the Cold War. Despite its age, the plane commonly known as “The BUFF” remains a dependable and capable long-range bomber for the U.S. Air Force. As the B-52H enters its seventh decade of service, there are no plans to retire the type. In fact, the US Air Force has laid out a host of upgrades that will see a jet designed with slide rules become a networked, high-tech, multi-role, long-range platform of the future…and potentially serving for over a century. This deeply revamped Stratofortress that will serve alongside the B-21 Raider will be known as the B-52J. Here are all the upgrades that will make its modernization makeover complete.Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:48 The Ultimate B-52: The Making Of The 100-Year Bomber2:21 A Legacy Of Adaptability4:10 Today’s Stratofortress5:48 Powering the Future11:33 The BUFF Sees All14:26 The Connected B-5216:16 Arming the B-52JFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
Americas Cold War Doomsday Satellite The War Zone 2024-06-04 | During the Cold War, the U.S. became concerned with how it could initiate the launch of long-range nuclear strikes in the event its command and control apparatus was knocked out. This is the story of the development and deployment of the AN/DRC-8 Emergency Rocket Communication System, better known as ERCS, the suborbital satellite that could give the orders to unleash Armageddon if nobody else could.For a more in-depth look at the ERCS, check out our article at: twz.com/this-icbm-launched-satellite-could-transmit-nuclear-codes-when-nothing-else-was-left-toChapters: 0:00 Intro 1:28 What Delivers Orders When Nothing Else Can?2:49 Developing the Last Chance Solution 5:45 ERCS Capabilities and the Minuteman II8:14 The Future of Nuclear Force CommunicationsFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
How the A-10s Avenger Cannon Went From Terrible to Terrifying The War Zone 2024-05-28 | The A-10 Warthog has a reputation of being the last aircraft enemy troops want to see circling above them. This is due in part to its massive GAU-8/A Avenger 30mm cannon it uses to rip apart ground targets. But the A-10’s signature weapon wasn’t always the fearsome cannon we are now accustomed to. Early on it was plagued with a number of serious issues, from blinding its pilot to suffocating it's host platform's engines. This is the story of how the A-10 overcame its teething issues and became the feared 'flying gun' it is today. Check out our original post on the the A-10 Avenger growing pains at twz.com/13329/early-on-the-a-10-warthogs-legendary-gun-was-both-a-blessing-and-a-curseChapters: 0:00 Intro 1:01 The Birth of BRRRRRT 1:45 The Avenger Takes Flight 3:30 Shake, Rattle, and Choke4:55 Sharpening the TusksFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.
First In-Flight Images of the B-21 Raider Released The War Zone 2024-05-23 | The Air Force’s next-generation bomber, the B-21 Raider, continues to undergo flight testing and now we have the first official aerial imagery of the jet. Make sure you check out our full analysis of these official in-flight photos at twz.com/air/first-aerial-view-of-b-21-raider-offers-new-insights.
What Do The Navys Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Cost? The War Zone 2024-05-21 | Most of America’s warships set sail packed full of missiles. These include surface-to-air missiles to shoot down everything from drones to ballistic missiles, surface-to-surface missiles used to attack targets on land and sea, and even rocket-delivered torpedoes to defend against prowling submarines. These weapons can be depleted quickly during combat operations, as we have seen in and around the Red Sea recently. So, how much do each of those missiles really cost? We dug into the Pentagon’s budget documents to find out.Check out our original post on the cost of these missiles at twz.com/38102/here-is-what-each-of-the-navys-ship-launched-missiles-actually-costsVideo courtesy of RTXFollow TWZ on socials: twitter.com/thewarzonewire instagram.com/thewarzonewire facebook.com/thewarzonewire The War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere. We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Email youtube@twz.com for inquiries.Chapters:0:00 Intro0:29 Surface-to-Air Missiles5:15 Surface-to-Surface Missiles7:06 What's the Total Cost?
Viper Demo Teams Paint Job Celebrates F-16s 50th Anniversary The War Zone 2024-05-15 | This is a huge year for the F-16. The most successful 4th generation fighter of all time with nearly 5,000 jets produced just marked 50 years since its first flight. To commemorate the F-16's half-century anniversary and the type's monumental success, the United States Air Force's Viper Demonstration Team just pulled off a grand surprise, painting their lead jet in the same iconic red, white, and blue color scheme as the aircraft that started it all, the YF-16. TWZ Story: twz.com/air/viper-demo-team-secretly-painted-jet-in-yf-16-scheme-to-celebrate-types-50th-anniversary
Live Fast, Die Young: The Story of the U.S. Navys Hot-Rod F-16N The War Zone 2024-05-14 | When you think of the F-16, the U.S. Navy probably isn't what pops into your head, but the truth is that the Air Force's mainstay fighter has a very colorful past serving with the seagoing service in the hands of highly-trained Topgun instructors and fleet adversary pilots. It all started with a purpose-built, stripped-down, hotrod of a Fighting Falcon, the F-16N. This is its fascinating story. Check out one Naval Aviator's experience flying the F-16N here: twz.com/3383/what-it-was-like-flying-and-fighting-the-f-16n-viper-topguns-legendary-hotrodDigital Combat Simulator footage from HeatBlur. store.heatblur.comThe War Zone — also known by the shorthand TWZ — has become an essential resource for the national security community, the defense industry, and the interested public at large since it was launched in 2016. From its early beginnings to the present day, TWZ’s purpose remains the same. We stand at the nexus of military technology, strategy, and foreign policy. As a full-spectrum defense news and analysis site, TWZ covers the air, sea, land, space, and cyber domains of warfare, with an infusion of geopolitical context and technological analysis that provides viewers with deeper insights and a richer understanding of the subjects we cover than what they will find elsewhere.We have a true passion for the topics we cover and it’s an honor to be able to share that passion with our YouTube audience.Follow TWZ on socials:twitter.com/thewarzonewireinstagram.com/thewarzonewirefacebook.com/thewarzonewireEmail youtube@twz.com for inquiries.Chapters:0:00 Intro1:05 The F-16N's Origins3:16 The F-16N's Design Specs6:56 F-16N Training Ops12:12 The Navy Says Goodbye To F-16Ns13:58 Navy Vipers Rise Again
Chinas Fujian Aircraft Carrier Sets Sail For The First Time The War Zone 2024-05-08 | The People's Liberation Army Navy's newest Type 003 Aircraft Carrier, the Fujian, took to the seas recently for its first ever sea trials. This carrier is the first one fully designed by China, with many of its features not seen on previous Chinese carriers.
Minigun-Armed Mojave Drone Now Blasting Targets At 6,000 Rounds Per Minute The War Zone 2024-04-24 | General Atomics' Mojave short take-off and landing drone armed with a pair of Dillon Aero DAP-6 Minigun pods shredded several static targets in a first-of-its-kind live-fire demonstration.Story: twz.com/air/minigun-armed-mojave-drone-now-blasting-targets-at-6000-rounds-per-minute
Kazakh A400M Debuts Paint Job That Looks Straight Out Of A James Bond Movie The War Zone 2024-04-18 | Kazakhstan got a look at their new A400M Atlas Airlifter's fresh paint job that they should be taking delivery of by the end of the year.Story: twz.com/air/paint-job-on-kazakhstans-new-a400m-looks-like-a-soviet-plane-in-a-bond-film
