Clara Nguyen, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Crashed USS Nimitz Super Hornet and Seahawk Recovered From South China Sea

The U.S. Navy recovered an MH-60R Seahawk and an F/A-18F Super Hornet from the South China Sea on Dec. 5. The aircraft came from USS Nimitz. Both crashed on Oct. 26, about 30 minutes apart. The Navy said recovery teams lifted them

December 9, 2025

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tanner Orth

GAO / Think Tank Reports

How USS Gettysburg Misidentified Friendly F/A-18 Super Hornets and Opened Fire in the Red Sea

A Navy investigation package released in early December 2025 remains the latest public record on how USS Gettysburg fired Standard Missile-2 rounds at friendly aircraft during USS Harry S. Truman flight operations in the Red Sea on Dec. 22, 2024. The summary

December 5, 2025

Asia-Pacific

China’s New Missiles, Drones and Carrier Aircraft Test U.S. Intelligence Capacity

Chinese forces sent new missiles, drones, and aircraft past Tiananmen Square, with all three legs of the nuclear force on display. Hypersonic anti-ship weapons, new families of intercontinental missiles, submarine drones, laser air-defense systems, and seven types of uncrewed aircraft appeared in

November 7, 2025

Author: Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Skyfall Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Reported to Have Flown Across Arctic for More Than 15 Hours

Russia’s leadership announced a new long-range flight for the 9M730 Burevestnik (Skyfall) on Oct 21, describing a subsonic cruise of about 14,000 kilometers in roughly 15 hours. The briefing ran on camera and signaled a push toward preparation for service. No telemetry,

October 27, 2025

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Russia Deploys Jet-Powered Glide Bombs With Up to 200 km Range in Ukraine

Russian strike aircraft are now dropping jet-powered glide bombs on Ukrainian targets at ranges approaching 200 kilometers, extending the reach of Soviet-era free-fall bombs with bolt-on wings, guidance units, and small turbojet engines. Ukrainian intelligence officers describe a new long-range variant entering

October 24, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Richard P. Ebensberger

Civil-Military Aviation & Cooperation

Qatar F-15QA Training Detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base Deepens US-Qatar Defense Cooperation

On October 10, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a Qatari Emiri Air Force training detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The site will host F-15QA aircraft and Qatari aircrews for combined training with the US Air Force. Officials confirm

October 22, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Ashley Talley

Defense Budgets / Policy

The Trump Administration Nominates Jason Hinds to Lead USAFE at the Three-Star Rank

President Donald Trump sent the nomination of Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds to the Senate on September 29 to command U.S. Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa. The billet is redesignated at the lieutenant general grade, so Hinds would not receive a

October 21, 2025

Missiles / Drones / Directed Energy

Rafael Introduces L-SPIKE 4X High-Speed Loitering Munition

Rafael’s U.S. subsidiary introduced a rocket-powered loitering munition, the L-SPIKE 4X, during the Association of the United States Army exhibition in mid-October. The company presents it as a “Launched Effect” that complements the wider SPIKE family and uses legacy SPIKE launchers and

October 14, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Jeffery Stevens

Air & Missile Defense Systems

NATO Moves to Field Counter-Drone Systems Within Months to Oppose Russian Airspace Incursions

Gen. Ingo Gerhartz urged deployment timelines counted in months for counter-drone units across allied territory, using public remarks at the Warsaw Security Forum on Sept 29-30 to press the point. He now commands NATO’s Joint Force Command Brunssum and paired the schedule

October 9, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Apollo Wilson

Defense Budgets / Policy

UK Royal Navy to rebuild fleet with autonomous ships and carrier-based drones by 2030

First Sea Lord General Sir Gwyn Jenkins told industry and allies at DSEI in London that the Royal Navy will follow a clear rule from now on: “uncrewed wherever possible; crewed only where necessary.” He set a four-year target to restore war-fighting

September 10, 2025

Clara Nguyen

Crashed USS Nimitz Super Hornet and Seahawk Recovered From South China Sea

How USS Gettysburg Misidentified Friendly F/A-18 Super Hornets and Opened Fire in the Red Sea

China’s New Missiles, Drones and Carrier Aircraft Test U.S. Intelligence Capacity

Skyfall Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missile Reported to Have Flown Across Arctic for More Than 15 Hours

Russia Deploys Jet-Powered Glide Bombs With Up to 200 km Range in Ukraine

Qatar F-15QA Training Detachment at Mountain Home Air Force Base Deepens US-Qatar Defense Cooperation

The Trump Administration Nominates Jason Hinds to Lead USAFE at the Three-Star Rank

Rafael Introduces L-SPIKE 4X High-Speed Loitering Munition

NATO Moves to Field Counter-Drone Systems Within Months to Oppose Russian Airspace Incursions

UK Royal Navy to rebuild fleet with autonomous ships and carrier-based drones by 2030

Authors

Julien Mercier

Clara Nguyen

Priya Shah

Michael Adler

Lena Kovacs

Diego Ramos

Peter Johansson

Lucas Meyer