Yesterday, we revealed that the new movie “Top Gun: Maverick” will feature what appears to be a Russian Su-57, but that’s not the only fictional-fighter shown in the movie’s trailers. Another scene seems to show Maverick flying a next-generation fighter dubbed “Darkstar,” according to the movie’s Matchbox toy line. The Darkstar aircraft shown only briefly […]
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It looks like Maverick will take on Russia’s SU-57 in new ‘Top Gun’
LifestyleIt looks like the next generation bad guy jet in Top Gun: Maverick will be Russia’s stealthy Su-57. The long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick may be delayed until next year due to the coronavirus, but its toy lines are still moving ahead at full steam. Among the long list of licensed Top Gun toys and memorabilia […]
The ‘Stealth Fighter’ that wasn’t: Why we keep getting the F-117 wrong
Air ForceThe Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, often referred to as the “stealth fighter,” was the world’s first operational stealth aircraft, born out of a program so secretive that the plane itself was flying combat missions for seven entire years before it was formally unveiled to the public. Because of the secrecy surrounding the plane’s development and capabilities, along with […]
Watch: 2 daring Coast Guard rescues near Boston in less than a week
NewsThe U.S. Coast Guard performed two daring rescues at sea over the past week. The first, on November 13, involved a stroke victim aboard a commercial fishing vessel. Then, just six days later, Coast Guard aircrews were tasked with the rescue of another fisherman who had fallen overboard. Footage of both rescues has been released. […]
How do America’s nuclear submarines get resupplied at sea?
Military AffairsAmerica’s ballistic missile submarines can stay submerged and hidden from prying eyes for up to three full months at a time, but what happens when one of these vessels needs to be resupplied while out at sea? As a recent video released by the U.S. Navy shows, there are a number of resupply options available […]
Russia once actually built a laser tank
FeaturedNear the end of the Cold War, the Soviet Union began experimenting with the idea of fielding a laser-equipped tank that could blind the targeting systems of inbound ballistic missiles or vehicles. Ultimately, two prototypes of the laser-armed 1К17 Сжатие, translated to “Compression,” were built, though they weren’t complete until the Soviet Union fell and […]
Buy this (inert) backpack nuke to liven up your operator cosplay
FeaturedWho can pass up owning their very own backpack nuke? There’s no denying that the “operator aesthetic” has come to dominate the military, veteran, and tough-guy LARPER (Live Action Role Player) communities in recent years, and for good reason. My hearty veteran beard strategically hides the fact that I was born without a man’s chin, […]
An F-22 pilot in a real jet just took on China’s J-20 in augmented reality
FeaturedAn American veteran F-22 pilot just took on a virtual representation of China’s Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter from the seat of a very real aircraft in flight. The Chinese fighter was projected on the pilot’s augmented reality helmet-mounted display, giving a real pilot in a real aircraft the opportunity to train against a seemingly real […]
Project Pluto: The craziest nuclear weapon in history
FeaturedOn August 29, 1949, the Soviet Union conducted its first-ever atomic weapons test, ending America’s monopoly on the most destructive weapon system ever conceived by man. An arms race that had already begun immediately kicked into high gear, with both nations working frantically to develop new weapons and capabilities that were powerful enough to keep […]
How B-52 Bombers shot down enemy fighter jets in Vietnam
HistoryThe air war over Vietnam saw some incredible dog fights, but it still may surprise you to learn that the mighty B-52 heavy bomber successfully shot down not one but two Vietnamese Mig 21 fighter jets near the tail end of the conflict. The venerable Boeing B-52 Stratofortress has been flying since 1952, and thanks […]
