Thomas Newdick
@combatair.bsky.social
Writer and editor. TWZ. Military aerospace and air warfare, mostly. Contact me: t.newdick (at) http://gmail.com. RT, like ≠ endorsement.
Reposted by Thomas Newdick
China’s Massive J-36 Tailless ‘Fighter’ Gets Major Design Tweaks With Second Prototype www.twz.com/air/chinas-m...
China's Massive J-36 Tailless 'Fighter' Gets Major Design Tweaks With Second Prototype
A second J-36 airframe has emerged with significant changes to its inlets, gear, and exhaust, offering clues to its state of development.
www.twz.com
October 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
China’s Massive J-36 Tailless ‘Fighter’ Gets Major Design Tweaks With Second Prototype www.twz.com/air/chinas-m...
Reposted by Thomas Newdick
Taiwan’s RF-5 Tigergazer Reconnaissance Jets Have Retired
Tigergazer, with its elongated nose full of film cameras, will be replaced by drones and new pods for Taiwan’s F-16s that use digital imaging systems.
www.twz.com/air/taiwans-...
Tigergazer, with its elongated nose full of film cameras, will be replaced by drones and new pods for Taiwan’s F-16s that use digital imaging systems.
www.twz.com/air/taiwans-...
Taiwan’s RF-5 Tigergazer Reconnaissance Jets Have Retired
Tigergazer, with its elongated nose full of film cameras, will be replaced by drones and new pods for Taiwan's F-16s that use digital imaging systems. The
www.twz.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Taiwan’s RF-5 Tigergazer Reconnaissance Jets Have Retired
Tigergazer, with its elongated nose full of film cameras, will be replaced by drones and new pods for Taiwan’s F-16s that use digital imaging systems.
www.twz.com/air/taiwans-...
Tigergazer, with its elongated nose full of film cameras, will be replaced by drones and new pods for Taiwan’s F-16s that use digital imaging systems.
www.twz.com/air/taiwans-...
Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside The Country: Report
Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets.
www.twz.com/air/israel-h...
Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets.
www.twz.com/air/israel-h...
Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside The Country: Report
Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets. Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major a...
www.twz.com
June 13, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside The Country: Report
Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets.
www.twz.com/air/israel-h...
Mossad operatives went as far as setting up drone and missile bases near major air defense sites and other key targets.
www.twz.com/air/israel-h...
Confirmed Losses Of Russian Aircraft Mount After Ukrainian Drone Assault
Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them.
www.twz.com/air/firm-evi...
Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them.
www.twz.com/air/firm-evi...
Confirmed Losses Of Russian Aircraft Mount After Ukrainian Drone Assault
Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them. Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them.
www.twz.com
June 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Confirmed Losses Of Russian Aircraft Mount After Ukrainian Drone Assault
Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them.
www.twz.com/air/firm-evi...
Some of the bombers were armed with cruise missiles when Ukraine’s drones rained down on them.
www.twz.com/air/firm-evi...
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs. Russia is currently in no position to repla...
www.twz.com
June 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs. Russia is currently in no position to repla...
www.twz.com
June 2, 2025 at 6:38 PM
What Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack Means For Russia's Bomber Force
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
Russia is currently in no position to replace large losses of its strategic bombers and future operations will likely be impacted by force protection needs.
www.twz.com/air/what-ukr...
Reposted by Thomas Newdick
Great backgrounder by @combatair.bsky.social about Russian nuke air-to-air missile mentioned in recent DIA testimony. www.twz.com/air/russia-f...
Thanks for crediting my post bsky.app/profile/nuke...
Thanks for crediting my post bsky.app/profile/nuke...
May 22, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Great backgrounder by @combatair.bsky.social about Russian nuke air-to-air missile mentioned in recent DIA testimony. www.twz.com/air/russia-f...
Thanks for crediting my post bsky.app/profile/nuke...
Thanks for crediting my post bsky.app/profile/nuke...
China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality
China's J-10C is in the spotlight after claims of Pakistani air-to-air kills against their Indian counterparts, but just how capable is it?
www.twz.com/air/chinas-j...
China's J-10C is in the spotlight after claims of Pakistani air-to-air kills against their Indian counterparts, but just how capable is it?
www.twz.com/air/chinas-j...
China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality
China's J-10C is in the spotlight after claims of Pakistani air-to-air kills against their Indian counterparts, but just how capable is it? Multiple reports suggest that Pakistan’s J-10Cs played an ou...
www.twz.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
China’s J-10C Fighter: Separating Myth From Reality
China's J-10C is in the spotlight after claims of Pakistani air-to-air kills against their Indian counterparts, but just how capable is it?
www.twz.com/air/chinas-j...
China's J-10C is in the spotlight after claims of Pakistani air-to-air kills against their Indian counterparts, but just how capable is it?
www.twz.com/air/chinas-j...
F-16s Pulled From U.S. Boneyard Are Being Delivered To Ukraine For Spare Parts
The U.S. had not committed to giving Ukraine its F-16s, but images of the type being flown out of Arizona on a Ukrainian An-124 began circulating last week.
www.twz.com/air/f-16s-pu...
The U.S. had not committed to giving Ukraine its F-16s, but images of the type being flown out of Arizona on a Ukrainian An-124 began circulating last week.
www.twz.com/air/f-16s-pu...
F-16s Pulled From U.S. Boneyard Are Being Delivered To Ukraine For Spare Parts
The U.S. had not committed to giving Ukraine its F-16s, but images of the type being flown out of Arizona on a Ukrainian An-124 began circulating last week. The non-operational F-16s appear to be the ...
www.twz.com
May 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
F-16s Pulled From U.S. Boneyard Are Being Delivered To Ukraine For Spare Parts
The U.S. had not committed to giving Ukraine its F-16s, but images of the type being flown out of Arizona on a Ukrainian An-124 began circulating last week.
www.twz.com/air/f-16s-pu...
The U.S. had not committed to giving Ukraine its F-16s, but images of the type being flown out of Arizona on a Ukrainian An-124 began circulating last week.
www.twz.com/air/f-16s-pu...
How times change… back in 2011, the Belarusian Oboronnyye Initsiativy company was offering its Talisman electronic warfare self-protection pod for the Eurofighter Typhoon, with a combined stores carriage/jammer outboard pylon.
April 20, 2025 at 8:27 AM
How times change… back in 2011, the Belarusian Oboronnyye Initsiativy company was offering its Talisman electronic warfare self-protection pod for the Eurofighter Typhoon, with a combined stores carriage/jammer outboard pylon.
Reposted by Thomas Newdick
Good overview on recent developments at the land-based carrier mockup site in Wuhan, by @combatair.bsky.social. I like how the writing especially caveats on what we do or do not know. As noted, its early, but nevertheless very interesting days in regards to Type 004.
www.twz.com/sea/chinas-g...
www.twz.com/sea/chinas-g...
China's Giant Land-Based Carrier Mockup Grows In Size, Now Resembles Ford Class
The full-size aircraft carrier test facility in Wuhan is now a better approximation of China’s latest and future flattop designs. The modified land-based aircraft carrier test facility should be a bet...
www.twz.com
April 17, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Good overview on recent developments at the land-based carrier mockup site in Wuhan, by @combatair.bsky.social. I like how the writing especially caveats on what we do or do not know. As noted, its early, but nevertheless very interesting days in regards to Type 004.
www.twz.com/sea/chinas-g...
www.twz.com/sea/chinas-g...
Su-35s Once Expected To Arm Iran Are Now In Algeria
Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Algeria had long been expected to bolster Iran’s decrepit air arm.
www.twz.com/air/su-35s-o...
Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Algeria had long been expected to bolster Iran’s decrepit air arm.
www.twz.com/air/su-35s-o...
Su-35s Once Expected To Arm Iran Are Now In Algeria
Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Algeria had long been expected to bolster Iran’s decrepit air arm. Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Alger...
www.twz.com
April 9, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Su-35s Once Expected To Arm Iran Are Now In Algeria
Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Algeria had long been expected to bolster Iran’s decrepit air arm.
www.twz.com/air/su-35s-o...
Originally built for Egypt, the Su-35s now being transferred to Algeria had long been expected to bolster Iran’s decrepit air arm.
www.twz.com/air/su-35s-o...
Reflections Of The F-47: Looking Back At The X-36
The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several test planes and studies that likely paved the way for the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter.
www.twz.com/air/reflecti...
The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several test planes and studies that likely paved the way for the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter.
www.twz.com/air/reflecti...
Reflections Of The F-47: Looking Back At The X-36
The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several test planes and studies that likely paved the way for the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter. The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several tes...
www.twz.com
March 31, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reflections Of The F-47: Looking Back At The X-36
The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several test planes and studies that likely paved the way for the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter.
www.twz.com/air/reflecti...
The tailless X-36 demonstrator was one of several test planes and studies that likely paved the way for the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter.
www.twz.com/air/reflecti...
Super Hornets Are Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions
Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.
www.twz.com/air/super-ho...
Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.
www.twz.com/air/super-ho...
Super Hornets Are Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions
Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen. Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers bein...
www.twz.com
March 24, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Super Hornets Are Now Carrying Stormbreaker Glide Bombs On Combat Missions
Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.
www.twz.com/air/super-ho...
Imagery shows Navy F/A-18E/Fs equipped with GBU-53/B Stormbreakers being launched on missions against Houthi militants in Yemen.
www.twz.com/air/super-ho...
Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract
The Air Force's next and possibly last manned tactical jet will be built by Boeing.
www.twz.com/air/boeing-w...
The Air Force's next and possibly last manned tactical jet will be built by Boeing.
www.twz.com/air/boeing-w...
Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract
The Air Force's next and possibly last manned tactical jet will be built by Boeing.
www.twz.com
March 21, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Boeing Wins F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance Fighter Contract
The Air Force's next and possibly last manned tactical jet will be built by Boeing.
www.twz.com/air/boeing-w...
The Air Force's next and possibly last manned tactical jet will be built by Boeing.
www.twz.com/air/boeing-w...
Our Best Look At Ukraine’s ‘FrankenBuk’ Air Defense System
The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles on a Soviet-era Buk-M1 ground-based air defense system.
www.twz.com/air/our-best...
The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles on a Soviet-era Buk-M1 ground-based air defense system.
www.twz.com/air/our-best...
Our Best Look At Ukraine’s ‘FrankenBuk’ Air Defense System
The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles on a Soviet-era Buk-M1 ground-based air defense system. The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM...
www.twz.com
March 18, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Our Best Look At Ukraine’s ‘FrankenBuk’ Air Defense System
The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles on a Soviet-era Buk-M1 ground-based air defense system.
www.twz.com/air/our-best...
The best-known of Ukraine’s so-called ‘FrankenSAMs’ puts RIM-7 Sea Sparrow missiles on a Soviet-era Buk-M1 ground-based air defense system.
www.twz.com/air/our-best...
What’s old is new again? The recent suggestion of possible deployment of nuclear-armed French fighters in Germany led me to recall when this happened before: F-100D/F Super Sabres from the 11e Escadre de Chasse based at Bremgarten and Lahr-Hugsweier, 1963-64.
February 26, 2025 at 2:04 PM
What’s old is new again? The recent suggestion of possible deployment of nuclear-armed French fighters in Germany led me to recall when this happened before: F-100D/F Super Sabres from the 11e Escadre de Chasse based at Bremgarten and Lahr-Hugsweier, 1963-64.
Reposted by Thomas Newdick
I spoke with @twz.com about The Telegraph report on hypothetical deployment of some French nuclear-capable fighters in Germany. It’s a lot more complex than the off-the-cuff comment suggests. www.twz.com/air/france-e...
Also see our French nuke notebook: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
Also see our French nuke notebook: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
France Eyeing Deployment Of Nuclear-Armed Rafale Fighters To Germany: Report
Amid concerns over U.S. commitment to European security, France is mulling the extension of its nuclear umbrella farther across Europe. The latest proposal reportedly involves the deployment of nuclea...
www.twz.com
February 26, 2025 at 1:19 PM
I spoke with @twz.com about The Telegraph report on hypothetical deployment of some French nuclear-capable fighters in Germany. It’s a lot more complex than the off-the-cuff comment suggests. www.twz.com/air/france-e...
Also see our French nuke notebook: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
Also see our French nuke notebook: www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....
Air-Launched Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Being Tested By Taiwan
The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide Taiwan’s F-CK-1 fighter with a faster, more survivable missile than the F-16-launched Harpoon.
www.twz.com/air/taiwan-i...
The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide Taiwan’s F-CK-1 fighter with a faster, more survivable missile than the F-16-launched Harpoon.
www.twz.com/air/taiwan-i...
Air-Launched Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Being Tested By Taiwan
The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide Taiwan’s F-CK-1 fighter with a faster, more survivable missile than the F-16-launched Harpoon. The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide...
www.twz.com
February 25, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Air-Launched Supersonic Anti-Ship Missile Being Tested By Taiwan
The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide Taiwan’s F-CK-1 fighter with a faster, more survivable missile than the F-16-launched Harpoon.
www.twz.com/air/taiwan-i...
The air-launched adaptation of the HF-3 will provide Taiwan’s F-CK-1 fighter with a faster, more survivable missile than the F-16-launched Harpoon.
www.twz.com/air/taiwan-i...
Trump Offers India Path To F-35
As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighter fleet plans, the U.S. has just upped the ante with the prospect of F-35 deliveries.
www.twz.com/air/trump-of...
As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighter fleet plans, the U.S. has just upped the ante with the prospect of F-35 deliveries.
www.twz.com/air/trump-of...
Trump Offers India Path To F-35
As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighter fleet plans, the U.S. has just upped the ante with the prospect of F-35 deliveries. As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighte...
www.twz.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Trump Offers India Path To F-35
As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighter fleet plans, the U.S. has just upped the ante with the prospect of F-35 deliveries.
www.twz.com/air/trump-of...
As India sits at a fork in the road for its future fighter fleet plans, the U.S. has just upped the ante with the prospect of F-35 deliveries.
www.twz.com/air/trump-of...
Airbus A321 Airliners To Be Modified Into “Flying Frigate” Patrol Jets By France
www.twz.com/air/airbus-a...
www.twz.com/air/airbus-a...
Airbus A321 Airliners To Be Modified Into “Flying Frigate” Patrol Jets By France
The maritime patrol jet is intended to replace the French Navy’s aging Dassault Atlantique 2s and comes as Boeing’s P-8 gobbles up market share. The maritime patrol jet is intended to replace the Fren...
www.twz.com
February 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Airbus A321 Airliners To Be Modified Into “Flying Frigate” Patrol Jets By France
www.twz.com/air/airbus-a...
www.twz.com/air/airbus-a...
North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region.
www.twz.com/land/north-k...
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region.
www.twz.com/land/north-k...
North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region. A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly ana...
www.twz.com
January 13, 2025 at 6:38 PM
North Korean Air Defense System Revealed In Ukraine By Russian Friendly Fire Strike
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region.
www.twz.com/land/north-k...
A North Korean-made surface-to-air missile, broadly analogous to the Russian Tor, has appeared for the first time in combat in the Kursk region.
www.twz.com/land/north-k...
Personalized helmet (presumably a Soviet-era ZSh-7 series) belonging to a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 pilot, with the callsign “Hooligan.” Source: @army_tv_ua
January 13, 2025 at 11:22 AM
Personalized helmet (presumably a Soviet-era ZSh-7 series) belonging to a Ukrainian Air Force Su-27 pilot, with the callsign “Hooligan.” Source: @army_tv_ua