Weapons Archives

Defense Threat Reduction Agency test personnel prepare to carefully offload the 30,000-pound massive ordnance penetrator, or MOP, for a static test at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. (DTRA photo)

Battle damage assessment from Iran strikes could lead to improvements in MOP bomb technology

A senior defense official discussed the Massive Ordnance Penetrator weapon during a briefing with reporters Thursday.

Jul 10, 2025 By Jon Harper

U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Daniel Torres and Staff Sgt. Maxwell Carlson place an Unmanned Underwater Vehicle on level ground during a UUV Recovery rehearsal for exercise Kaiju Rain on Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, April 17, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kira Ducato)

U.S. military is on the hunt for killer UUVs

DIU is trying to find solutions that meet the U.S. military’s need for undersea kamikaze drones and UUVs that can be launched from submarines.

Jul 9, 2025 By Jon Harper

A U.S. Marine Corps XQ-58A Valkyrie, highly autonomous, tactical unmanned air vehicle, soars overhead during its second test flight at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., Feb. 23, 2023. The XQ-58A Valkyrie test flight and the data collected inform future requirements for the Marine Corps. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John McRell)

Marine Corps requests more funding for collaborative combat aircraft development

Details about plans for the CCA effort were included in fiscal 2026 budget justification documents.

Jul 9, 2025 By Jon Harper

(Nov. 13, 2012) An aerial view of the Southwest portion of the Naval Base Ventura County deep water port. (U.S. Navy photo by Vance Vasquez/Released)

Navy experiment cut short after unmanned vessel flipped a support boat

DefenseScoop has new details on the June 23 incident off the coast of California.

Jul 1, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

U.S. Soldiers from various units across Europe launch a Switchblade 600 during Loitering Munitions Training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Nov. 5, 2024. This was the first time U.S. Soldiers launched Switchblade 600s, a loitering munition system, in Europe. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Cody Nelson)

Army’s fiscal 2026 budget proposal aims to equip infantry brigades with more kamikaze drones

The request for additional loitering munitions comes as officials are undertaking a new Army Transformation Initiative to modernize the force for future high-tech combat.

Jun 27, 2025 By Jon Harper

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Marcella Philips, 2nd Maintenance Group weapons standardization loading standardization crew chief, and Tech Sgt. Darrell Stewart, 307th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron loading standardization crew member, secure the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon to the B-52H Stratofortress ejector rack, at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, November 2, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Nicole Ledbetter)

Air Force revives ARRW hypersonic missile with procurement plans for fiscal 2026

After nearly cancelling the program, Air Force is requesting $387.1 million in fiscal 2026 to start production of the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW).

Jun 26, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

A U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit takes off to support Operation MIDNIGHT HAMMER at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, June 2025. (Courtesy photo)

Joint Chiefs chairman supplies new details about MOP bomb attack on Iranian nuclear sites

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefed reporters Thursday.

Jun 26, 2025 By Brandi Vincent

(Aug. 3, 2022) Vice Adm. Brad Cooper signs a guest book at the Egyptian Navy headquarters in Alexandria, Egypt. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Terry Vongsouthi)

Centcom leader highlights need for more tech that can target underground sites

Vice Adm. Brad Cooper testified to lawmakers just a couple of days after U.S. attacks on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, that featured the first-ever…

Jun 24, 2025 By Jon Harper

A B-2 Spirit returns to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, from a deployment to Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory, May 9, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Devan Halstead)

Air Force drops 14 MOP bombs on Iranian nuclear sites during first operational use of the weapon

B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped a total of 14 GBU-57 “massive ordnance penetrator” weapons during Operation Midnight Hammer, according to senior officials.

Jun 22, 2025 By Jon Harper

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery Equipment) 2nd Class Diangelo Watson, from Jonesboro, Georgia, assigned to air department’s aircraft launch and recovery division, signals for an aircraft to take off on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) in the Pacific Ocean, Nov. 9, 2024. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)

Despite proposed cuts, Navy requirements for F/A-XX next-gen fighter ‘still valid,’ Joint Chiefs chairman says

The future of the the Navy's sixth-gen fighter remains uncertain as lawmakers support robust funding for the program while the Trump administration tries to slash spending in…

Jun 12, 2025 By Jon Harper