The F-15 has long been a legendary fighter, but NASA’s ACTIVE program aimed to make it even better. Faced with the looming threat of nuclear war with the Soviet Union, the United States began testing next-generation capabilities before the 10th F-15 even rolled off the assembly line. In the 44 years since the F-15 Eagle […]
The MTM Silver Silencer: At home in the boardroom and the field
FeaturedFor weeks now, I’ve been putting the MTM Silver Silencer through its paces, looking for the compromise in this field-durable timepiece that would allow me to temper my praise over how good it looks. Now, as the third week of abuse comes to a close, I’m genuinely convinced that this piece of kit is just […]
Russia is testing their own ‘Loyal Wingman’ for the Su-57
TechAccording to reports released by Russia’s state-owned media outlet RIA, Russia’s S-70 Okhotnik (Hunter) uncrewed combat aerial vehicle recently completed its first “fighter-interceptor” exercise, in which the drone carried simulated air-to-air missiles while completing a series of test flights. According to an unnamed source within the Russian military that was cited by RIA, these tests […]
Sea Raptor: The Navy’s sweep-wing F-22 that wasn’t to be
FeaturedThe U.S. Air Force’s venerable F-22 Raptor is widely seen as the world’s most capable air superiority fighter, but for a short time, it was nearly joined by a sister platform modified specifically for the Navy in the NATF-22. The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor came about as a result of the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced […]
Darkstar: Is ‘Top Gun’s’ Maverick flying an SR-72?
TechYesterday, 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 […]
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 […]
