New Submachine Gun

The U.S. Army Selects New Submachine Gun

The Swiss-made Brugger and Thomet APC9K is the Army’s first official subgun since World War II.

By Kyle Mizokami
YOUTUBE

The U.S. Army has officially selected the Brugger and Thomet APC9K to outfit its Personal Security Details.

The APC9K is the first new submachine gun for the U.S. Army since the M3 “Greasegun” of World War II. The service will buy 350 of the compact automatic weapons for $2.5 million, with an option to buy 1,000 more. The B&T APC9K beat out guns from more than ten other companies, including Colt and Heckler and Koch, as well as guns based on the M-16 and MP-5 weapons platforms.

Aircraft Carrier Is Delayed

The Navy’s Newest Aircraft Carrier Is Delayed, Yet Again

The USS Ford is already two years behind schedule and billions over budget.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. NAVY/GETTY IMAGES

The USS Gerald R. Ford, the first in a new class of aircraft carriers, will be delivered to the U.S. Navy three months later than planned. The Navy says the delay is necessary to resolve issues with the ship’s nuclear propulsion system and elevators designed to lift munitions up to the hangar. The technologically ambitious Ford, which introduces several technologies to frontline service, is already at least two years behind schedule.

Rugged Tank Robot

Grizzly Is a Rugged Tank Robot That Could Carry a Soldier’s Stuff

The tracked robot could haul an infantry squad’s heavy equipment, freeing soldiers to move more quickly.

By Kyle Mizokami
TEXTRON SYSTEMS

The modern solider is overburdened, so defense researchers have been trying to invent new ways to lighten the load, such as wearable exoskeletons that shoulder some of the weight. Now, here comes the latest possible solution, a tracked robot designed to operate with Army ground forces, carrying important, heavy gear.

Potential Blackhawk Replacement

First Flight of the SB-1 Defiant, a Potential Blackhawk Helicopter Replacement

The Defiant, or something very much like it, could replace the UH-60 Blackhawk transport helicopter in U.S. Army service.

By Kyle Mizokami
SIKORSKY BOEING

The SB-1 Defiant helicopter, a new rotary-winged aircraft design developed by Sikorsky-Boeing, flew for the first time on Friday, March 21, 2019.

New 'Ambulance Ship'

The U.S. Navy Wants a New 'Ambulance Ship' to Treat War Wounded

The ship, the first of its kind, would treat war wounded that didn’t need to be evacuated out of theater.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS RYAN M. BREEDEN

The United States Navy wants a new “ambulance” ship that would have just enough medical facilities to treat lightly or moderately injured troops. The service included a funding request to convert an expeditionary fast transport ship typically used to move troops and equipment around to instead harbor medical facilities and personnel.

Laser Weapon on Destroyer

The Navy Plans to Put HELIOS Laser Weapon on Destroyer by 2021

HELIOS will be capable of downing drones and “burning boats”.

By Kyle Mizokami
LOCKHEED MARTIN

Pew-pew-pew is coming soon-soon-soon.

The U.S. Navy plans to put a laser weapon on a warship by 2021. The High Energy Laser with Integrated Optical-dazzler and Surveillance (HELIOS) system, or HELIOS, is a defensive weapon system designed to burn boats and shoot down unmanned drones. The weapon will go to sea with a guided missile destroyer assigned to the Pacific Fleet in two years' time, the Navy says.

Anti-Submarine Torpedoes

How the U.S. Navy Launches Anti-Submarine Torpedoes from Ships

The torpedoes are designed to home in on enemy submarines.

By Kyle Mizokami

YOUTUBE

A video on YouTube shows the dramatic way U.S. Navy warships launch submarine-hunting torpedoes.

The Mark 32 Triple Torpedo Tube (TTT) launcher allows cruisers and destroyers to participate directly in anti-submarine warfare, hunting down submarines with acoustic homing torpedoes. The Mark 32 uses a pneumatic ejection system to launch torpedoes away from the sub-hunting ship and into the sea.

“Ghost Fleet”

The U.S. Navy Wants To Build a “Ghost Fleet” of Drone Warships

The naval service, having kickstarted flying carrier drones, is now turning its attention to ship drones.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. NAVY/NAVSEA

The U.S. Navy plans to buy ten new warships over the next five years that won't carry any sailors.

These drone ships are designed to carry sensors and weapons. Measuring up to 300 feet long and displacing 2,000 tons, the vessels are meant to extend the sensor range of fleets at sea. The ships will also likely carry weapons, giving the fleet greater firepower and an asset commanders won’t hesitate to send on the most dangerous missions, since that won't mean endangering the lives of sailors.

Rectangular, Computerized Grenade

Rectangular, Computerized Grenade Puts a New Spin on the Flashbang

The Liberty Dynamics Enhanced Diversionary Device offers huge advantages over traditional flashbang grenades.

By Kyle Mizokami
LIBERTY DYNAMIC

A new “diversionary device” is a total redesign of the traditional flashbang stun grenade. Designed to stun and disorient, the Enhanced Diversionary device is computer-controlled, safer, and more effective than traditional flashbangs.

Army’s Battlefield Nuclear Reactor

Critics Roast the Army’s Battlefield Nuclear Reactor

The Army wants a reactor to power remote military bases, but critics claim it's unlikely any design would be safe enough.

By Kyle Mizokami
BUREAU OF THE ATOMIC SCIENTISTS

You can see the logic behind the idea. The U.S. army envisions a kind of portable nuclear reactor that could move with units and provide all the power needs for a remote military base, eliminating the need to transport lots of fuel and maintain long supply lines to keep a base fueled up. But a prominent nuclear organization just weighed in, arguing that such a plan is a colossal mistake.

'Loyal Wingman' Sidekick Drone

Boeing Reveals 'Loyal Wingman' Sidekick Drone for Fighter Jets

The robotic aircraft would fly shotgun with crewed aircraft, giving them an edge in combat.

By Kyle Mizokami
BOEING

Boeing unveiled a surprise new aircraft yesterday, an uncrewed drone designed to fly alongside traditional aircraft in battle. The aircraft, known as the Loyal Wingman, is being developed in Australia as a rapidly configurable platform capable of a variety of tasks to support manned aircraft on dangerous missions.

New F-15s

The U.S. Air Force is Buying New F-15s After All

The F-15X will complement the F-22 and F-35 in tomorrow's aerial battlefields.

By Kyle Mizokami
GETTY IMAGES/AVIATION-IMAGES.COM

The U.S. Air Force will go ahead and buy brand-new F-15s even as it purchases large numbers of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Updated with the latest technology, the F-15X can carry nearly two dozen air-to-air missiles and will likely work together with stealth jets to take on fleets of enemy fighters.

Army’s Next Infantry Guns

The Army’s Next Infantry Guns Will Have Computerized Fire Control for Unreal Accuracy

Next generation infantry weapons will incorporate computer technology previously only available on tanks.

By Kyle Mizokami
PAOLO BOVO, DVIDS

The U.S. Army’s next assault rifle and machine gun will have built-in computers to give soldiers unparalleled firing accuracy. The so-called Next Generation Squad Weapons will feature a digital fire control system borrowing many features from today’s main battle tanks, allowing shooters to engage targets faster and with greater precision than their opponents can muster.

Navy's 'Orca'

The Navy Just Ordered the 'Orca,' an Extra-Large Unmanned Submarine by Boeing

The Orca unmanned autonomous submersible will be capable of crossing entire oceans and fulfilling a variety of missions, from hunting mines to sinking submarines.

By Kyle Mizokami
BOEING

The U.S. Navy has awarded a contract to Boeing for four Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs). In other words: giant drone subs.

Air Force is Changing

The Air Force is Changing How Special Ops Fighters Are Trained

Big data and new technology helps the USAF determine their elite fighters' precise mental and physical limits—and push past them.

By Joe Pappalardo

Australian And US Air Forces Train Together As Part Of Exercise Angel Reign
GETTY IMAGES/IAN HITCHCOCK

The future of the U.S. Air Force special operations stomps into the room on the double—in the form of a half-dozen men and women, fresh out of Basic Training, clad in identical off-white t-shirts and blue shorts. At Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, no trainee walks. Ever. This facility is about sustained maximum effort.

New Nuclear Weapon

Trump Administration Begins Production of New Nuclear Weapon

The W-76-2 weapon has a smaller bang than most nukes, but it’s a nuke just the same.

By Kyle Mizokami

U.S. NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 1ST CLASS RONALD GUTRIDGE/RELEASED

The Trump Administration is racing to field a new nuclear weapon designed to counter Russia and enhance nuclear deterrence.

Unflyable F-35s

Some F-35s Could Become Unflyable by 2026

Structural cracks could limit early production F-35s to nearly a quarter of their planned service lives.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO BY CPL. DESEREE KAMM

A handful of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters built during the early days of the program could become unflyable by 2026, after just 2,100 flight hours—another embarrassing piece of news for the troubled program. The culprit is almost certainly the F-35’s design and production plan, which involving starting to build the planes before the final design specifications were set. A fix to keep the aircraft in the air is in the works.

U-2 Spy Plane

A U-2 Spy Plane is Flying Over Northern California Pretending to be the Starship Enterprise

The secretive spy plane is taking a cue from one of the most popular sci-fi shows of all time.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY STAFF SGT. JEFFREY SCHULTZE

One of the U.S. Air Force’s secretive planes is pretending to be a vessel from the far, far future—the 23rd Century in fact. A U-2 spy plane took off from Northern California today broadcasting the aviation code NCC-1701A, which, as all Star Trek fans know, is the designation for the USS Enterprise.

Space Tankers

The U.S. Air Force May Not Buy New Stealth Tanker After All, and the Light Attack Aircraft Could be Dead Too

The service appears to be trimming expectations to meet operational realities, budgets. But what's this thing about space tankers?

By Kyle Mizokami
LOCKHEED MARTIN

The U.S. Air Force may not buy a stealthy tanker after all, dashing hopes of a radar-invisible refueling plane that could fly close to the aerial front line. Meanwhile, the service also announced its new OA-X light attack aircraft program is on indefinite hold. It would seem the Air Force is cutting back programs to reflect changing the changing global landscape and the fact that USAF has a number of other, higher priorities in the form of new aircraft and missiles.

Army’s 1,000 Mile Supergun

The Army’s 1,000 Mile Supergun Could Be Aimed At China

The gun could strike targets in the South China Sea and beyond.

By Kyle Mizokami
U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY SGT. EDWARD BATES

The U.S. Army’s mysterious new super extended long range gun could sit on an island in the South China Sea and hit Chinese targets hundreds of miles away, smashing artificial islands made from dredged sediment acting as Beijing’s military outposts. That’s according to Secretary of the Army Mark Esper, who says the fantastical weapon would “open the door” for the other services, blasting enemy defenses before they have a chance to open fire on U.S. Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps forces converging on the region.