Giovanni de Briganti, Author at DEFENSE-AEROSPACE

Why New Photos Suggest Ukrainian F-16s Are Now Armed With Laser-Guided 70mm Rockets

A photo that began circulating online in early December shows a Ukrainian F-16AM carrying two seven-shot 70mm rocket pods that match the LAU-131 family, mounted under the wings. A targeting pod appears on the intake station on the right side. The weapons

December 5, 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

Defense Infrastructure & Manufacturing

Why France Is Betting on Thundart to Replace MLRS and Expand Long-Range Strike

MBDA published the first photograph of its Thundart 227mm guided artillery rocket — a test round displayed on St. Barbara’s Day, the feast day recognized in France as the patron saint of artillery operators. The image arrived as European missile house MBDA

December 5, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Joshua Magbanua

Aircraft

Turkish C-130 Broke Up Over Georgia After Leaving Azerbaijan, Killing All 20 on Board

A Turkish Air Force C-130E Hercules that departed Ganja International Airport in Azerbaijan on 11 November broke apart in midair over eastern Georgia, killing all 20 people on board. Video shot from the ground shows the center section descending in a spin

November 11, 2025

Aircraft

PLAAF Reveals GJ-11 Mysterious Dragon Flying With J-20 Fighter and J-16D Electronic Warfare Jet

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force is openly featuring the GJ-11 unmanned combat air vehicle in its own anniversary film. A microfilm released in mid-November for the PLAAF’s 76th founding year shows the stealth flying-wing drone, callsign Xuanlong 08, flying in formation

November 11, 2025

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Donovin Watson

Air & Missile Defense Systems

U.S. Air Force CAMP Program Seeks Low-Cost Anti-Air Missile Under $500K

The U.S. Air Force is soliciting industry white papers for a new Counter-Air Missile Program, or CAMP. The service wants a missile with a unit price under $500,000 and the ability to build it in the low thousands per year. The presolicitation

November 10, 2025

Aircraft

New Su-57 Footage Reveals Loaded Weapons Bays and Stealth Strike Missile Loadout

New footage released on 9 November ahead of Dubai Airshow 2025 shows a Su-57 Felon flying with its internal weapons bays open and fully loaded. The aircraft is the T-50-9 prototype, bort number “509,” and the images give a clear view of

November 10, 2025

U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. Alexandria Romanack

Contracts & Deals

Three Indian Army AH-64E Apaches Return to Arizona After An-124 Delivery Flight Stalls in the UK

On 8 November, Antonov An-124 heavy transport UR-82008 returned to Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona carrying three AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters for the Indian Army. The aircraft had left the same airfield a week earlier for India and was due to make

November 10, 2025

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Alejandra Vega

Aircraft

HMS Prince of Wales Sets UK Record With 24 F-35Bs in Mediterranean Carrier Operations

HMS Prince of Wales has completed her Mediterranean work-up with 24 British F-35B Lightning II jets embarked, the largest number of the type yet fielded on a single ship and the biggest fifth-generation carrier air wing assembled by the United Kingdom. The

November 7, 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

Giovanni de Briganti

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