Thomas Newdick

Staff Writer

About

Thomas is a defense writer and editor with over 20 years of experience covering military aerospace topics and conflicts. He’s written a number of books, edited many more, and has contributed to many of the world’s leading aviation publications. Before joining The War Zone in 2020, he was the editor of AirForces Monthly.

More from Thomas Newdick

Russia says it will respond to the United States’ decision to dramatically increase its long-range fire capabilities in Europe starting in 2026. The United States will deploy to Germany a range of advanced ground-launched weapons, including the Typhon (firing both SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles) and “developmental hypersonic weapons” — a reference to the yet-to-be-fielded Dark Eagle.

U.S. Long-Range Missiles Headed To Germany As Arms Race Escalates

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 11 1:43 PM EDT
Northrop Grumman has offer a new and interesting look at its secretive XRQ-73 drone.

Our Best Look Yet At The XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Stealthy Flying Wing Drone

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Jul 10 7:46 PM EDT
AIM-9 Shorads system which could be similar to FrankenSAM.

Ukraine’s FrankenSAM Air Defense Concept Could Be Used To Protect USAF Bases

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 10 2:57 PM EDT
Chinese soldiers are taking part in maneuvers in Belarus, adding another new dynamic to the security situation in Eastern Europe, dominated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and the fallout surrounding it. While Belarus has been a staunch ally of Russia it has, more recently, made overtures toward China, with the aim of building closer relations with it, including in the military sphere.

Chinese Troops Begin Drills Along Poland’s Border In Belarus

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 9 6:11 PM EDT
A video has emerged showing a Greek warship knocking out a Houthi drone, in one of the latest such incidents in an ongoing campaign that has been waged by the Iranian-backed rebel group since last November, in the wake of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. In this encounter, the Greek Navy frigate apparently used its 127mm main gun, reinforcing the utility of these weapons against drones, while the drone itself was seen adjusting its flight altitude to make it harder to intercept.

Greek Warship Guns-Down Houthi Drone In New Video

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 9 2:09 PM EDT
The Ukrainian Air Force has, apparently for the first time, published a video showing in detail its U.S.-made HAWK surface-to-air missile system. As we have discussed in the past, the missile provides a useful boost to Ukraine’s middle-tier air and missile defense capacity and, according to the Ukrainian Air Force, has scored some notable ‘kills.’

First Inside Look At Ukraine’s HAWK Air Defense Systems

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 8 6:25 PM EDT
Ukraine’s unorthodox efforts to develop ways of defeating Russian drones have taken an apparent new turn, with the appearance of a light airplane carrying a sharpshooter to intercept uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs). At this stage, few details about the concept are available, but it’s notable that the aircraft in question — the Ukrainian-made Aeroprakt A-22 ultralight — is a type that we have seen in the past adapted as one-way attack drone, something you can read more about here.

Ultralight Drone Hunting Planes Now In Use In Ukraine

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 8 2:49 PM EDT
In a bizarre turn of events, Chinese-made Wing Loong drones, apparently headed to Libya, have been seized by Italian authorities off the coast of southern Italy. The disassembled drones were in crates that were marked as containing parts for wind turbines, in what seems to have been an effort to evade a United Nations arms embargo imposed on Libya.

Chinese Wing Loong Drones Disguised As Wind Turbines Seized By Italy

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 3 3:59 PM EDT
The air-launched version of the hugely versatile SM-6 missile, also known as the RIM-174, has appeared on U.S. Navy F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters at the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world’s largest international maritime exercise. We now also know the missiles are designated AIM-74B, indicating an air-to-air missile, although, as we have discussed in the past, the weapon also has the potential to strike high-priority ground targets, such as air defense sites, and warships, acting as a quasi-ballistic missile.

AIM-174 Super Hornet-Launched Variant Of SM-6 Missile Breaks Cover In Hawaii (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway
Jul 3 7:21 AM EDT
Russia has unveiled a counter-drone interceptor, a single-use drone with an explosive warhead that’s expressly designed to bring down the kinds of Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicles that have taken a steady toll of Russian troops and equipment on the battlefield. The Vogan-9SP counter-drone interceptor was developed by Russia’s Red Line company, seemingly a new entrant in the field.

Russia Jumps Into Purpose-Built Drone-Hunting Drone Weapons Space

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 2 4:13 PM EDT
Israeli AH-64 helicopter gunship pilots have provided an extensive account of their operations during the surprise attack on the country by Hamas militants last October 7. Their accounts — provided to the Israeli media — give a rare insight into the Israeli Air Force’s immediate response to the first invasion of Israeli territory since 1948.

Israeli AH-64 Apache Commanders Describe Brutal Reality Of October 7 Missions

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 2 1:10 PM EDT
Billionaire Jared Isaacman Is going to fly a Tornado F2A.

Tornado F2 Set To Become Most Advanced Flying Fighter In A Private Individual’s Hands

By Thomas Newdick
Jul 1 7:21 PM EDT