Category Archives: Iran

Navy Quietly Starts Development of Next-Generation Carrier Fighter; Plans Call for Manned, Long-Range Aircraft

Navy Quietly Starts Development of Next-Generation Carrier Fighter; Plans Call for Manned, Long-Range Aircraft

An F/A-18E Super Hornet, assigned to the “’olden Warriors’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) on May 26, 2020. US Navy Photo

This post has been updated to clarify comments from Bryan Clark.

After nearly a decade of fits and starts, the Navy has quietly initiated work to develop its first new carrier-based fighter in almost 20 years, standing up a new program office and holding early discussions with industry, USNI News has learned. Read More

Iranians Raided Tanker Off UAE Searching for 1M Barrels of Petroleum Seized by U.S.; DOJ: ‘They Were Looking For Their Gas’

Iranians Raided Tanker Off UAE Searching for 1M Barrels of Petroleum Seized by U.S.; DOJ: ‘They Were Looking For Their Gas’

M/T Wila, a merchant vessel in international waters en-route to the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman, was boarded by armed Iranian personnel from both an Iranian Sea King helicopter and the Iranian auxiliary vessel Hendijan (1401) on Aug. 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

Iranian forces were looking for 1.1 million barrels in petroleum products seized by the U.S. Justice Department when they took over a merchant tanker in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week, DoJ officials confirmed to USNI News. Read More

VIDEO: Iranian Forces Briefly Seize Tanker in Gulf of Oman

VIDEO: Iranian Forces Briefly Seize Tanker in Gulf of Oman

Motor Tanker (M/T) Wila, a merchant vessel in international waters en-route to the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman, was boarded by armed Iranian personnel who fast roped aboard the ship from an Iranian Sea King helicopter as it hovered above on Aug. 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

An Iranian special forces team boarded and seized a Liberian tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates for about five hours on Wednesday. The action by Iranian forces drew swift condemnation from the U.S.-led collation created to deter harassment of merchant ships in and out of the Persian Gulf. Read More

Iranian Forces Briefly Seize Tanker in Gulf of Oman

Iranian Forces Briefly Seize Tanker in Gulf of Oman

Motor Tanker (M/T) Wila, a merchant vessel in international waters en-route to the UAE port of Khor Fakkan, in the Gulf of Oman, was boarded by armed Iranian personnel who fast roped aboard the ship from an Iranian Sea King helicopter as it hovered above on Aug. 12, 2020. US Navy Photo

An Iranian special forces team boarded and seized a Liberian tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates for about five hours on Wednesday. The action by Iranian forces drew swift condemnation from the U.S.-led collation created to deter harassment of merchant ships in and out of the Persian Gulf. Read More

Carrier Eisenhower Now Operating in Atlantic Near Spain

Carrier Eisenhower Now Operating in Atlantic Near Spain

Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) 2nd Class Marcus Bowen observes flight operations on the flight deck aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on July 15, 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) left the Mediterranean Sea and is now operating off the coast of southern Spain, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Friday. Read More

Carrier Ike Now Operating in Mediterranean After Months in Middle East

Carrier Ike Now Operating in Mediterranean After Months in Middle East

Naval Aircrewman (Helicopter) 2nd Class Philip Johnson flies in an MH-60S Knight Hawk, attached to the ‘Dusty Dogs’ of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 7, from the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) on July 23, 2020. US Navy Photo

USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) is now operating within U.S. 6th Fleet after spending the last several months in the Middle East, the Navy said today. Read More

5th Fleet CO: China Laying Groundwork in Middle East to Pose Future Threats; International Coalitions Pushing Back Against Iran

5th Fleet CO: China Laying Groundwork in Middle East to Pose Future Threats; International Coalitions Pushing Back Against Iran

Chinese sailors watch a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) pull into Djibouti. Xinhua Photo

The head of naval forces in the Middle East said Chinese actions in the region don’t pose a threat today but could lead to challenges down the road, with China laying the groundwork to gain economic and military leverage over countries in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Read More

NATO Crafting All-Domain, Euro-Atlantic Strategy As Threats to Alliance Shift

NATO Crafting All-Domain, Euro-Atlantic Strategy As Threats to Alliance Shift

A U.S. Marine with Marine Rotational Force – Europe 20.2, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, shouts orders to surrounding squad members during a squad fire and movement range at the Haltdalen Training Facility, Norway on June 20, 2020. US Navy Photo

NATO is drafting a comprehensive, all-domain strategy that will reset the focus of the alliance on high-end conflict with peer adversaries, a senior official said last week. Read More