From Scientology to disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, documentarian Alex Gibney has never met a subject too big or too controversial to tackle.

Then came Elon Musk.

When Gibney was approached with the idea to do a documentary on the Tesla and SpaceX CEO in 2022, his plan was straightforward: Tell the story of how Musk used his businesses to become one of the most powerful figures in the world.

But when he was ready to deliver a two-hour feature film on Musk two years later, HBO issued him a directive a filmmaker rarely hears: Make it longer.

It was 2024, and the breadth of Musk's influence had expanded into the political sphere. With Gibney's subject helping President Donald Trump campaign for a second term, then later spearheading the second Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, Gibney's story had expanded. His documentary would need to, too.

The result is "Musk," an incisive, nearly four-hour documentary that chronicles the personal, professional, and political life of the richest man in the world. From his controversial acquisition of Twitter, which he renamed X; to his relationships with the mothers of his children; to the accidents tied to Tesla's self-driving feature, Gibney's film is a comprehensive look at the scope of Musk's power and influence in the 21st century.

Gibney even found a clever workaround for featuring Musk in the doc after he declined to be interviewed. Playing on Musk's belief that we are all living in a simulation, the director used AI to craft an avatar of Musk, who speaks in quotes amalgamated from his past interviews.

Of course, a man as powerful and outspoken as Musk has already voiced his displeasure with someone else controlling his narrative. After the movie's world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, Musk threatened to sue Gibney's production company for defamation. Musk has also bashed the movie on X, stating: "Gibney just assembled a hit list of people who either have an axe to grind or don't even know me (but still have an axe to grind). He has ZERO integrity. Horrible human."

Hearing from angry subjects is nothing new for Gibney, who was the subject of the Church of Scientiology's full-page newspaper ads decrying his work over 10 years ago tied to the premiere of his documentary "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief."

"With Elon Musk — and he's not unique in this, but he specializes in it — he begins tweeting horrible things about people and the next thing you know, this army of followers and bots starts to gin up the rage matrix," Gibney told Business Insider.

Not that he's rattled yet. With decades of documentaries speaking truth to power under his belt, Gibney has developed thick skin and some top-secret harassment survival strategies.

"Let's just say I've taken some precautions," he said.

For the latest interview in Business Insider's Director's Chair series, Gibney talks about creating an AI Musk, being followed by Scientologists, and his nerve-racking experience in a self-driving Tesla.

On creating an AI Musk avatar and making the movie longer

Business Insider: You thought you had finished this movie in 2024. Was it daunting to go back down the Elon Musk rabbit hole when HBO asked you to?

Alex Gibney: Yeah, it was daunting. We had to renegotiate the budget and all sorts of other stuff. But I got why HBO wanted that. And when Musk hitched his wagon to Trump, it was clear: This is big.

I started out making a film about 21st century power, which in this case involved economic power but also tech power. Now, add to that political power, and suddenly it's a really big story.

Was AI Musk in the original movie? 

The idea of it was. We had put in a placeholder for it, but we were also anticipating that maybe we might get an interview with him at some point.

It was kind of an epiphany to do it this way. It came out of past experience: What's the workaround for somebody who won't or can't talk to you? In "Client 9" and "Zero Days," we came up with workarounds that fit those stories. The key here was to find a workaround that would fit this story. That's how we ultimately came up with the idea of the avatar.

Did it unlock anything in you regarding using AI tools in your work in the future?

I think it will depend on the project. AI has become a kind of suitcase term for everything from Siri to AGI. In this instance, this was a human effort using AI tools, which revolved mostly around sync; in other words, making the lips and the body sort of move with the voice. But there was also designing the room, what he was going to wear, the gamer chair.

The further we pushed it and the more interested we got in AI with the company we used, Makemake A.I., this idea of memes and looking at his own image, that's where we came up with certain scenes where you see the back of his head and he's watching himself. Those were things that we improvised on.

On the qualities Musk and Elizabeth Holmes share and Tesla's image

I couldn't help but think about your Elizabeth Holmes doc, "The Inventor," when watching "Musk." The "fake it 'til you make it" ethos that's baked into Silicon Valley, has that been fascinating to observe? Both Holmes and Musk are founders who are amazing salespeople hoping that what they bet on takes off. 

I think there is a similarity with Elizabeth Holmes. What was rattling around in my head through this was confidence. Musk, like Holmes, was able, through force of confidence, to convince people of things that they knew not to be true. That became a superpower.

The big difference between Tesla and SpaceX and Elizabeth Holmes is that those are real products. The Tesla S is a great car. These reusable rockets are extraordinary, and we show the magnificence of that in the film.

Not to take anything away from him or those companies, but there's also the bullshit factor. The idea of going to Mars and the promises. And you can see how they repeat themselves and get bigger and bigger. Oh, yeah, full self-driving! I'm sorry, Tesla's self-driving option is still a level two system, and over 60 people have died.

(Editor's note: Tesla has maintained that its Autopilot feature requires constant driver attention, and that its vehicles issue prompts warning the driver to stay alert and hold the steering wheel.)

The things you highlight about Musk's involvement in DOGE and suggesting he influenced the election are shocking, but the things you highlight about Tesla got me the most. The battery swapping, the self-driving car feature. Were you shocked by how much smoke and mirrors there are at Tesla?

Yes. It was something that I didn't know when I started. And as you mentioned, fake it 'til you make it. They just faked it. Mostly, it was in order to raise the stock. The economic fundamentals of the company never warranted a high stock price, but if you can convince people that the CEO is a genius and also that it's not really a car company — it's a tech company, so some super inventions are coming down the road — you can persuade people to gin up the stock. 

(Editor's note: Musk and Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.)

On almost hitting a child while using the self-driving feature on a Cybertruck

You rode a self-driving car yourself; you did it with a Cybertruck for the movie. 

I did. There was a cut where we included a four-minute sequence of me in the Cybertruck. I went to the San Francisco Tesla showroom and wanted to drive a Cybertruck, and they showed me how to turn on the self-driving feature. I pressed "Go," and off I went to the other side of the city. It was like a 20-minute ride there and back.

What's interesting is for most of the trip it was kind of astoundingly good. But then there were moments when it was astoundingly bad, sometimes in ways that were played to safety. Like, I was trying to merge onto a very busy thoroughfare, and cars kept coming, and if it were me as the driver, I would nudge out there, but full self-driving couldn't figure that out, so I sat there for 10 minutes. Other instances, it couldn't decide what to do at critical moments and almost hit a pedestrian. 

It came uncomfortably close to a child. The child kind of came from the side out of a parked car. It's not something you would anticipate, but it was really scary.

Why didn't you put that in the movie?

Ultimately, the legal case that we spotlight in the movie was a far more powerful deep dive. There were mortal consequences. A woman died. And the deep dive into the evidence itself was so much more powerful. If I had only done a film about Tesla, I probably would have included it. 

On the movie's fate on HBO and the consequences of checking power

The greatest irony in all of this is this movie could have been out a year or so ago, but HBO asked you to make it longer. Now Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery have merged, so HBO is now under David Ellison, who once considered bringing on Musk as an equity investor in Paramount. Are you concerned HBO will not air "Musk"?

I was concerned until recently. I'm always on the alert. But I've been told that they will air it and that even David Ellison very well knows about it and promises he will air it. 

You have worked with HBO forever. 

Yeah, I love them. 

So if they are telling you it is going to happen, you believe them. 

But what you learn is, shit happens. [Laughs.] Executives change. Circumstances change, and the next thing you know, it's not what you thought. But, for now, we are making very specific plans about when it's going to come out, which is likely in January. 

Because of where the industry is going — fewer networks and distribution options, and the options available are mostly run by conglomerates often looking for political cooperation — for the kind of stories you tell, are you looking for alternative distribution avenues in the future with your company, Jigsaw?

We have a skunkworks inside Jigsaw to try to solve some of these distribution problems.

In this new environment, films that people desperately want to see are being held back from audiences. The platforms tell you people don't want to see them, but that's just not true. HBO is the exception, but what a lot of the platforms are doing is investing in predictable, least objectionable programming. A lot of the platforms want it to be like the cereal aisles at the grocery market: they are all the same cereal, but different variations between Rice Krispies and Froot Loops. They can predictably get people invested in that mixture of salt and sugar that keeps them coming back for more without providing anything that is nutritious. 

So the avenue is theatrical, like it was a decade-plus ago. "Musk" is out in theaters through Bleecker Street, and that's powerful because it's a lot harder to put the genie back in the bottle when it's already out there. 

Checking power sometimes comes with blowback. You have experienced everything from Julian Assange leaking the script to "We Steal Secrets" before that movie came out to Scientologists following you around after you made "Going Clear." Do these things wear on you, or do they fuel you?

I mean, given the fact that I haven't stopped, it seems to be fueling me. That said, it doesn't mean I don't need to take precautions. But I'm still motivated by the idea of people with enormous power abusing it at our expense; that seems to be a spur for me. 

When it comes to Elon Musk, he's the richest and arguably the most powerful person in the world, so it can have these devastating consequences. Ashley St. Clair has security because the X platform has a way of directing vitriol at people. And Elon can say it's just free speech, but he knows very well that by doing what he does and by the platform tweaking its algorithm for replies and rage addiction, he knows that his statements are going to be amplified in a really horrible way that may result in harm to an individual.

(Editor's note: Musk, who has called himself a "free speech absolutist," described X's policy in 2022 as "freedom of speech, not freedom of reach," saying the company would limit the reach of negative posts but not delete them. Musk did not respond to a request for comment about his X posts and the company's algorithm.)

Is your experience with Musk's followers different from what you experienced with Scientology?

Scientology is a little different, but people did come up to me in dark parking lots in a way that was discomforting. But what some ex-Scientologists told me was, "What they are doing is they aren't going to put a rattlesnake in their mailbox; they are trying to get inside your head. So once you understand that, just don't let them inside your head." That turned out to be very wise advice.

Scientology was tough, and when my film on Assange came out, the vitriol on Twitter was extreme, and I wasn't prepared for that. What I've come to learn is you have to know your enemy. 

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

"Musk" is in theaters now.

A U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31) has been spotted carrying both the AIM-174B and AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM) during a flight over Ridgecrest, California. This represents the first known publicly documented instance of these two advanced air-to-air weapons appearing on the same aircraft.

The aircraft was photographed on October 14 by aviation photographer @photosxlyss2, who shared the result with TWZ. The same Super Hornet was also carrying an IRST21 infrared search-and-track pod on its centerline station.

Two critical elements of the modernization of the U.S. military’s air-to-air missile arsenal, the AIM-174B and AIM-260 provide complementary capabilities, addressing different aspects of the Navy’s evolving air-combat requirements.

Based on the SM-6 missile family, the AIM-174B provides the Navy with an extended-range air-to-air weapon. Its size and reach make it particularly relevant to engagements against high-value airborne assets, including aerial refueling tankers and airborne early warning and control aircraft.

Threatening these support platforms at extended distances complicates an adversary’s ability to sustain fighter operations, maintain airborne surveillance, and coordinate engagements across domains. Such targets are especially important in the Indo-Pacific, where distances are vast and combat aircraft may depend heavily on tanker support to reach and remain on station over contested areas.

 The range of this missile is classified but should be far in excess of that of the AIM-120D AMRAAM, probably in the hundreds of miles, as discussed in the video below.

The AIM-174B has already appeared in several major exercises, including RIMPAC 2024 and Northern Edge 2025. Following developmental trials at RIMPAC, the weapon entered Live Fire Test and Evaluation in 2025. Some examples of the missile have since reached forward-deployed Navy squadrons in Japan.

The AIM-260, meanwhile, is being developed to provide a next-generation beyond-visual-range air-to-air capability. It is intended to address increasingly sophisticated aerial threats and improve upon the capabilities of the very widely used AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) family.

It was another F/A-18F from VX-31 on which the AIM-260 was first publicly seen when departing Eglin Air Force Base in Florida in May of this year. The same type of weapon has since also appeared on a Royal Australian Air Force F/A-18F, as you can read about here.

The AIM-260’s precise specifications remain classified, but it is designed to deliver significantly greater range than the AIM-120 AMRAAM while maintaining a broadly similar form factor. Its compact design is important, as the missile is intended for both external carriage and internal carriage aboard aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35.

The AIM-260 is being developed to counter the growing long-range air-to-air threat posed by China’s PL-15 and other advanced missiles. Although no official range figures have been disclosed, previous reporting has indicated a target range of at least 120 miles, with the potential to reach considerably farther.

It is unclear when the first operational AIM-260s may begin entering the U.S. inventory. Together, however, the two weapons give the Super Hornet access to a broader range of engagement options, depending not only on the range of the target, but also on the nature of the engagement and overall tactical situation.

The presence of an IRST21 pod is also noteworthy. The infrared search-and-track system passively detects and tracks airborne targets rather than relying exclusively on radar emissions.

Passive sensing is especially valuable in environments where electromagnetic emissions must be managed carefully. Although an IRST system does not automatically provide all the information needed to support a long-range missile engagement, it can contribute to a broader sensor picture and potentially help crews detect targets without immediately revealing their own position through radar emissions.

After a long and troubled development, a full-rate production contract for Block II IRST21 sensors to go into pods for U.S. Navy and U.S. Air National Guard fighters was awarded this time last year, as you can read about here.

The appearance of both missiles on a VX-31 Super Hornet is a notable development in the Navy’s ongoing testing of advanced air-combat capabilities. VX-31, based at the sprawling Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, conducts test and evaluation activities involving naval aviation weapons and systems.

On this occasion, the jet is carrying inert missiles (denoted by their blue bands) in a captive-carry configuration. The flight may have been part of ongoing weapons-integration testing, handling and compatibility evaluations, or another test activity.

At the very least, the configuration offers an intriguing glimpse into how a Navy Super Hornet might go into battle in a future high-end air combat scenario. Pairing the extended-range AIM-174B with the next-generation AIM-260 would provide a powerful combination.

Added to those two will be the AIM-424 Malice, an all-new, very long-range air-to-air missile, the existence of which was only disclosed in August of this year. This is reportedly a two-stage design, which should result in extreme range — said to be in excess of 250 nautical miles — and very high speed. It isn’t known where Malice slots in next to the AIM-174B, although the newer missile is purpose-designed for air launch, unlike the Standard-derived weapon.

As the service prepares for increasingly demanding scenarios in the Indo-Pacific, the new photo underscores the fact that the ability to threaten a wider range of targets at greater distances is one of the key considerations in the evolution of the Navy’s carrier-based fighter force.

With thanks to @photosxlyss2_; check out more of her work via PhotosxLyss on Facebook.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The post Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet Spotted Carrying New AIM-174B And AIM-260 Long-Range Missiles Together appeared first on TWZ.

The U.S. Air Force says any decision on whether or not to acquire new production F-16 Viper fighters is likely a year or more away. The service’s top officer in charge of force structure planning has also now raised the prospect of using a “spectrum of capability” to eventually supplant aging older-model F-16s. All of this comes as the Air Force has laid out a new vision to have 1,509 combat-coded fighters in inventory, hundreds more than it has now, by 2035, amid questions about whether industry and budgets can keep up.

Inside Defense and Air & Space Forces Magazine were among the first to report on the Air Force’s latest long-term fighter force structure plan late yesterday. This followed a roundtable with Lt. Gen. David Tabor, the service’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Plans and Programs. At the time of writing, an unclassified copy of the report, which was submitted to Congress last week, has not been released publicly. TWZ has reached out for more information.

Tabor said yesterday that the target fleet of 1,509 combat-coded fighters by 2035 would be approximately 40 percent F-35s, 40 percent F-15s (inclusive of F-15E Strike Eagles and F-15EX Eagle IIs) and F-16s, and 20 percent F-22 Raptors and F-47s, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine. As an aside, the final expected F-47 fleet size remains unclear, though the Air Force continues to say it plans to acquire at least enough of those jets to replace its 185 F-22s on a one-for-one basis.

The current breakdown of the service’s fighter force structure is 45 percent F-16s, 30 percent F-35s, 15 percent F-15s, and 10 percent F-22s. Last year’s long-term fighter force structure report said the service was aiming for an eventual inventory of 1,558 combat-coded fighters and hoped to hit a milestone of 1,369 aircraft by Fiscal Year 2030. As of the start of Fiscal Year 2026, the Air Force had 1,168 combat-coded fighters, not including 103 A-10 Warthog ground attack jets, which have been part of this force structure planning in the past. The plan now is for the last of the A-10s to be retired by 2030. The new 2035 figure also does not include the hundreds of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones the service wants to have acquired by that time, something we will come back to later on.

Currently, the Air Force expects fighter fleet expansion to be driven by the acquisition of new F-35As, F-15EXs, and F-47s. This was also the case when last year’s fighter force structure report was released. The possibility of the Air Force also acquiring new-production F-16s has come up several times in recent years. Most recently, there were several reports last month that prime contractor Lockheed Martin had made a new pitch to the service for a version of the latest Block 70 version of the fighter, tentatively dubbed the F-16G. New Block 70 and Block 72 F-16s, which differ in what engine they use, are being actively produced at Lockheed Martin’s plant in Greenville, South Carolina. At that time, TWZ did a deep dive into the benefits that this could offer the Air Force.

“There is a spectrum of capability that we might want to replace the F-16s with,” Lt. Gen. Tabor said amid a discussion about the prospect of acquiring new Vipers at the roundtable yesterday, per Air & Space Forces Magazine. “It’s not urgent, frankly. What we don’t want to get to is a point where it is urgent, and we haven’t done the homework and decided ‘hey, this is really the right place to be.’ We do have time to churn through that and make sure that we have a good option going forward.”

“We’re not in a position where that decision has to be made immediately,” Tabor added, while acknowledging that “we are very conscious” that older-model F-16s are set to begin reaching the end of their lifespans in the 2030s. He also said any such planning was unlikely to be part of the process of developing the service’s Fiscal Year 2028 budget proposal, which will be released sometime early next year.

The Air Force is “in the initial phases of analyzing options for the next Future Years Defense Program,” a spokesperson for the service had told us last month without specifically mentioning any particular type of aircraft. “At this stage, we have neither defined the precise mission requirements nor the spectrum of options that could fill it.”

When it comes to the current F-16 fleet, the Air Force had 774 Vipers in inventory at the start of Fiscal Year 2026 and expected that number to drop to 768, according to past budget documents. This includes a mixture of subvariants, and not all of them are assigned combat-coded units. The Air Force has been substantially upgrading at least a portion of its existing F-16s, including with the addition of new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars and electronic warfare suites, to ensure their operational relevance for years to come.

The Air Force has also already been taking newer F-16s from squadrons transitioning to the F-35 and using them to replace older Vipers in other units. Last year’s fighter force structure report explicitly highlighted plans to supplant Block 30 F-16s in five Air National Guard formations – three combat-coded squadrons and two training units – with Block 40 and 50 types in this way.

As we’ve previously written:

“A new F-16 offers a fresh and highly mature airframe — one with a full service-life ahead of it, on the order of 12,000 flight hours without the need for structural upgrades — double that of the original F-16. This is compared to existing F-16s in the inventory with the decades of wear and fatigue already accumulated on them, with structural upgrades keeping them in the air. That difference in remaining structural life is arguably the single biggest advantage a new-build aircraft has compared with extending an existing one.”

“Dumping more money into existing F-16s is becoming questionable. Service life extensions and technical upgrades can only go so far and supporting these jets is becoming harder as parts dry up and suppliers who made them are long gone. A new airframe would give the Guard many decades of highly efficient service and the piece of mind for future force planning that goes with it.”

…

“The new [F-16G] proposal would let some Guard and Reserve units swap their F-16s for vastly improved F-16s — the same logic that drove the F-15EX buy — while also keeping the Greenville line hot, which is a significant benefit in its own right. And it accomplishes both in the most efficient way possible: not just in acquisition cost, but in sustainment cost, which is really the more problematic burden of the two. In the end, this points to another glaring reality check for the all-stealth-force concept, a vision the Air Force has effectively already abandoned.”

“The Air Force has spent years describing the F-35 as the replacement for its F-16 fleet, yet it now has to contend with aging F-16s, delayed or constrained fighter production, a larger stated requirement for total fighter capacity, and the lengthy transition toward the F-47 and uncrewed combat aircraft. In that environment, a new-build F-16 provides an option that sits between extending legacy aircraft and buying the most sophisticated — and expensive — fighters available.”

You can read our full prior deep analysis on this topic here.

Lt. Gen. Tabor acknowledged many of these exact same points at the roundtable yesterday. He notably described acquiring new F-16s as “maybe the lazy” option, but also one that would benefit from “practically a ready-made aircraft” that is in production now, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

“The question is, can industry produce at those levels?” he also said, speaking more generally. “They’ve assured us that they can, and we believe them, but we also actually need to see it manifest.”

In the context of acquiring new F-16s, especially, it is important to note here that Lockheed Martin order books are very full already as a result of demand for these fighters from U.S. allies and partners. The company’s capacity, at least at present, to add a substantial new Air Force acquisition program on top of that is a real question. This, in some ways, mirrors questions that surround Boeing efforts to meet surging Air Force demand for F-15EXs.

On top of all this, the Air Force’s still-evolving CCA plans remain something of a wildcard in these discussions. The Air Force has ordered General Atomics FQ-42 Vengeance and Anduril’s FQ-44 Fury CCAs into production, and is now aiming to have a combined fleet of at least 500 of these drones in inventory by 2032. The service is also still expecting to acquire additional CCAs, which could be of entirely different types, through a second iterative development cycle, or Increment 2, under this program. This is influencing the service’s crewed fighter force structure plans, but the full scale and scope of those impacts remain to be seen.

“CCA is very much a reality,” Tabor said yesterday, per Air & Space Forces Magazine. “It is going to be a part of our future, and there is absolutely a world in which the incorporation of CCAs into the force will mitigate the requirement for the number of fighters. That’s not the CCA that we have right now, but it is advancing very, very rapidly. We’re confident that it will play a major role in future versions of the fighter force structure report.”

The Air Force’s F-22s are currently set to be its first ‘aerial quarterbacks’ for CCAs, with F-35s and F-47s expected to follow. At the same time, TWZ has highlighted previously how CCA could offer particular value when paired with fourth-generation fighters like the F-16. This, in turn, could actually bolster the case for new Viper acquisitions as a more affordable force multiplier.

The Air Force’s ability to secure necessary funding and other factors will play in all this, too. 2035 is a long way off from a budgetary perspective. It also stretches across multiple election cycles, including the one that will decide the next presidential administration, all of which could lead to major changes in defense spending priorities. Congress can and routinely does demand that the U.S. military alter major procurement plans. Just in the past two years or so, legislators have intervened to force the Air Force to move ahead with the acquisition of new E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning and control planes and to save the U.S. Navy F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter program.

In the meantime, the Air Force clearly faces many continued questions about how to balance the need to modernize its fighter fleets while ensuring it retains enough tactical airpower to meet current and future operational demands. Even so, the service says it sees no need to rush to make a decision about whether to choose the “lazy” route of just buying new F-16s.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

The post Any Decision To Buy New-Build F-16s Not An “Urgent” Priority: USAF appeared first on TWZ.

One of the KC-10A Extender aerial refueling tankers the U.S. Air Force retired some two years ago has left the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. This aircraft is one of a set of KC-10As sold to private aerial refueling contractor Omega Air. At least one other potential operator, a still mysterious end user somewhere in North Africa, could also be in line to pick up several ex-Air Force Extenders.

Maxim Loshak, who goes by the handle @az_aviator on X and Instagram, caught the KC-10A leaving Davis-Monthan earlier today. The aircraft currently carries U.S. civil registration number N82247, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records confirm that Omega Air is the new owner. Online flight tracking data also shows the aircraft subsequently flew to San Antonio International Airport, which is Omega’s main base of operations.

The KC-10A in question previously carried the Air Force registration number 86-0034 and had been in the boneyard since May 12, 2023, per the service’s records. The Air Force acquired a total of 60 Extender tankers between 1979 and 1987, and lost one in an accident in 1987. The very last of the remaining 59 KC-10As was retired in September 2024. The Extender was derived from the three-engine DC-10 airliner and was designed to refuel aircraft using either the boom or the probe-and-drogue method.

As seen in the picture at the top of this story, N82247 notably lacks the KC-10A’s trademark boom under the rear fuselage. This is actually not entirely unexpected. The Air Force had put 10 Extenders up for auction last year in a non-flyable state. Each of the planes was missing a single engine, taken from under one of their wings, for reasons that are still not entirely clear. These particular aircraft were also among the first KC-10As to be retired, and their booms had been stripped to be used as spares for other examples that had remained in service until the type’s final retirement in 2024.

In addition to sourcing the requisite engines, “in order to make them flyable, the winning bidder will need to work with Boeing to obtain a fly-away kit to seal up the area where the boom systems was,” an Air Force spokesperson told us last year while the 10 KC-10As were still up for auction.

Omega Air could fit new booms to this KC-10A, as well as other ex-USAF Extenders it is in the process of acquiring. The company could also leave some of them configured as probe-and-drogue-only tankers. Omega already flies two ex-Dutch KDC-10 tankers, which are broadly similar to the KC-10, as well as another DC-10 converted into a probe-and-drogue-only tanker. The company has several Boeing 707-based tankers, as well.

There is a possibility that some of the KC-10As that Omega is acquiring could be operated in non-tanker roles. Carrying cargo was also a major role for Extender while in Air Force service. Still, this seems unlikely given that aerial refueling is Omega’s primary business. Some of the ex-Air Force Extenders might also be used as sources of spare parts. TWZ has reached out for more information about Omega’s overall plans for its new acquisitions.

Regardless, even in a boomless configuration, ex-USAF KC-10As will be a significant addition to Omega Air’s fleet. Demand for private aerial refueling services, in general, has been ramping up in the United States and elsewhere globally in recent years.

For the U.S. military, private contractors offer a valuable way to reduce demand for and strain on organic tanker fleets to meet non-combat-related aerial refueling needs. This, in turn, helps free up government-owned tankers for combat missions and other higher-priority taskings. Those tankers may also simply not need to fly as much with private companies helping to shift the burden. The ability of the Air Force’s existing tanker fleets, in particular, to meet even peacetime demands has been a growing point of concern for years now. This has been further exacerbated by persistent technical and other issues with replacement KC-46 tankers.

With all this in mind, the Air Force’s decision to retire the KC-10A fleet entirely was and still is controversial. Though the Extenders were certainly aging, they were also highly flexible tankers able to carry greater loads of fuel than the KC-46s that supplanted them.

Omega Air clearly still sees value in the KC-10A. As mentioned, at least one other operator in North Africa is at least interested in potentially acquiring Extenders. Others may yet emerge.

If nothing else, after just over two years, an ex-USAF KC-10A has returned to the skies for a second career in the private sector.

Special thanks again to Maxim Loshak for sharing his picture of N82247 with us.

Contact the author: joe@twz.com

The post Retired KC-10 Extender Tanker Has Risen From Boneyard To Fly Again appeared first on TWZ.

Ukraine continues to struggle with throttling of the speeds at which weapons using the vital satellite communications services provided by the SpaceX Starlink system can operate, and one weapons manufacturer tells us it is rethinking whether to rely on it in the future. As we have previously reported, heavy use of Starlink on both sides of the conflict in Ukraine, including as a means of guiding one-way attackers in the air and at sea, has underscored potential risks of exclusive reliance on Elon Musk’s orbital communications networks in critical tactical tasks.

At issue are complaints by Ukrainian officials that “in various sectors of the front, the equipment ceases to function at speeds of 130–161 kilometers per hour.”

A limit on how fast Starlink terminals on vehicles can travel before the feed is cut off in certain areas impacts a slew of weapons and campaigns, especially strikes on Russian logistics behind enemy lines and in the sea of Asov, as well as the control of defensive interceptor drones critical for taking down Russian long-range one-way attack drones, like the notorious Shahed-136.

The following video shows one such Shahed interception.

The limiting of Starlink/Starshield occurred amid deteriorating relations between the Trump administration and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The latest chill between Washington and Kyiv was sparked by the American leader’s claims that Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure have reduced the supply of diesel fuel to the U.S. and other nations more than the conflict in the Middle East. Trump was upset Ukraine kept hitting these targets despite his demanding they stop.

Exacerbating this issue, Trump on Oct. 9 announced via his Truth Social platform that he had made a deal to purchase diesel from Russia, pivoting away from a years-old Western policy that placed massive economic pressure on Moscow.

Who gave the order to limit the speeds at which Ukrainian weapons using the Starlink/Starshield system operate is unclear.

“The order to limit a satellite system used by Ukraine ​for battlefield communications and drone operations came from inside the White House,” Reuters reported last week, citing two U.S. officials and a Western official briefed on the matter. “The officials said ‌leaders at the Defense Department received a message that the SpaceX Starshield service for the Ukrainian military needed to be slowed.”

“No such request was ever made by the president,” a U.S. official told us on Monday.

“There has been no change to Department of War policy regarding intelligence sharing or any capabilities we are enabling Europeans to provide to Ukraine,” a senior Pentagon official responded to our questions about whether the Pentagon imposed the limits and, if so, why.

When we pushed for a more specific response to the Starlink/Starshield concerns, the Pentagon declined comment. However, Tuesday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon did not order any changes and that Ukraine violated Starlink’s terms of services.

We reached out to SpaceX as well, but the company did not immediately respond. Last week, SpaceX’s founder and CEO, Elon Musk, said that “any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately” Trump. Musk had previously refused Ukrainian requests to use Starlink against targets inside Russia.

The prohibition against using Starlink inside Russia has drastically limited Ukraine’s ability to strike dynamic targets like mobile ballistic missile launchers and hunt for drone launch sites. However, Ukraine has not had to rely on Starlink in its campaign against oil infrastructure or other fixed targets deep inside Russia which upset Trump in the first place.

Tuesday morning, Zelensky spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and again brought up Starlink/Starshield in addition to other major concerns.

“…the situation with Starlink/Starshield… needs to be restored,” Zelensky urged.

Rubio denied that any assistance was being withheld from Ukraine. Noting that Starlink “is a private company,” the secretary told reporters that Trump is “frustrated…because he doesn’t like to be blamed for things that aren’t true, including accusations that somehow he had ordered intelligence sharing to be cut off. And that’s not true; he’s said that repeatedly.”

This most recent flap isn’t the first time SpaceX and Musk have faced particularly significant criticism over limiting some Ukrainian use of the network. Actions SpaceX took earlier this year to block unregistered Starlink terminals also had major consequences for Russian forces, which were sent scrambling to find alternatives to fill the massive resulting communications gap.

Given the tenuous nature of Ukraine’s ability to use Starlink/Starshield, the Wild Hornets company is reevaluating whether to use the SpaceX system in future endeavors even though, so far, it has experienced few problems with it. Wild Hornets is a major Ukrainian combat drone maker. Among other weapons, it makes the Sting interceptors, designed to defend against Russian Shahed kamikaze drones.

The Starlink/Starshield issue isn’t affecting current operations, a Wild Hornets spokesman told us Tuesday morning. “Our own communications system provides the basic connection to our interceptors,” he said. “Plus, our technology for remote control of the interceptors can use various sources of internet connectivity. True, the military often uses Starlink for this, but in our case, the terminal doesn’t need to be moved at high speeds (it simply provides a connection between the command center and the ground station to which the interceptor is connected—it’s somewhat similar to cell towers).”

Concerns about the reduction in speeds at which Starlink terminals can operate has Wild Hornets thinking about ditching a future project, the spokesman told us.

“But we understand that there are other types of interceptors,” added the spokesman. “For example, some drones carry a terminal on board and need to fly at high speed with it. In such cases, Starlink’s limitations make their operation impossible. From this point of view, it also makes us rethink some of the projects we’re currently working on. For example, launching interceptors from aerial platforms.”

“We’re keeping an eye on the situation,” the spokesman continued. “For our current operations (connections with ground stations), we can use any source of stable internet connectivity. Therefore, various solutions are possible in different locations. However, for these needs, everything is operating normally with Starlink at the moment. As for our plans with new projects, we don’t have a clear decision yet, but we will be testing alternatives.”

The spokesman declined to provide further details about what “alternatives” could look like.

There are a number of ways the lack of Starlink for extended-range drone operations could be mitigated to a degree, but the persistent, reliable, high-bandwidth and compact capability SpaceX provides has no direct alternative at this time. The use of drones that work as line-of-sight relays, which can be daisy chained together electronically with other airborne relays, with a connection spanning dozens or even hundreds of miles to a ground entry point is possible. You can read about this concept here. The use of swarms of balloons to create an active network over a battlespace and using Starlink on those slower moving platforms to relay line-of-sight connections to multiple drones below is another possibility. You can read more about this concept here. But we must stress again, nothing can fully replace Starlink/Starshield and its seamless beyond line-of-sight communications architecture at this time.

“I believe, in any case, depending on a single solution is very risky,” the Wild Hornets spokesman proffered. “Especially if you don’t have full control over it. Especially when it comes to something as critical on the battlefield as communications. That’s exactly why our ecosystem is built around our own communications technology and basically is open to various solutions when it comes to internet connectivity.”

As far as military units are concerned, the commander of the Georgian Legion told us that his forces have been affected by issues with Starlink/Starshield even though the main concerns have been about the speeds at which weapons can travel and still have connectivity. The Georgian Legion is fighting in the heavily contested Kramatorsk region of eastern Ukraine.

“We use Starlink a lot because, in this war, reliable communication is essential,” Mamuka Mamulashvili told us. “It helps us stay connected when everything around us is changing. Of course, we’ve learned not to rely on just one system. There are alternatives, like mobile internet, fiber-optic connections, radio and other satellite systems such as OneWeb. But honestly, none of them can fully replace Starlink in Ukraine right now.”

“The problems were not limited to the speed restriction of approximately 160 km/h,” the Georgian Legion commander pointed out. “Starlink connectivity itself was also intermittent, repeatedly switching on and off. This caused communication disruptions across various drone systems, not just those operating at speeds exceeding 160 km/h. As a result, the impact was broader than the restriction on high-speed interceptor drones. Intermittent connectivity created problems for drone control and communications across multiple systems, affecting their reliability and the ability to carry out missions as intended.”

“We had serious communication problems,” Mamulashvili explained. “At one point, our drone operators were struggling to maintain a reliable connection with the drone systems, which disrupted coordination and made it difficult to carry out missions as planned. When you lose the connection between the operator and the drone, you can lose control of the situation in seconds. We managed to adapt, but it definitely affected our work.”

“We have to adapt and find solutions, as we always do,” the commander said. “This war teaches you one thing every day. You can’t depend on a single technology or expect someone else to solve all your problems. You have to be ready for anything and keep moving forward.”

Russian sources, meanwhile, are gloating over the speed limits placed on weapons using Starlink/Starshield, particularly how it is affecting Ukraine’s mid-range drone attacks that have crippled Russian logistics. As we explained in a previous report, Ukrainian units have relied on the SpaceX system to help extend the range of their drones to reach as far as 150 miles into Russian-occupied territory. The SpaceX system is not used to hit targets inside Russia proper.

The following video shows some of these mid-range attacks.

“Disabling or slowing down Starlink has significantly reduced the enemy’s ability to launch medium-range drone strikes along the ‘Novorossiya’ highway,” influential Russian milblogger Vladimir Romanov reported. The highway, also known as the R-280, is a key link between cities in occupied southern Ukraine and the occupied Crimean peninsula. The road has been a frequent target of Ukraine’s mid-range strike campaign.

“The success of these strikes depends on the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ access to American satellite communication,” Romanov noted. “For the past six months, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been attacking civilian transport – trucks, cars, and buses – exclusively through the use of ‘Starshield.’ This means that, for the past six months, American military satellite infrastructure has been used to carry out terrorist acts against Russian civilians, and so on. In other words, the United States is still directly involved in the war with Russia!”

As for how widespread worries among Ukrainian weapons manufacturers are, the Wild Hornets spokesman suggested that his company is not alone. He said he has spoken with other companies relying much more heavily on Starlink/Starshield who have expressed concerns. He pointed to growing interest in the European Eutelsat satellite constellation as an example of companies seeking options, but noted that “of course, creating something like Starlink won’t be easy.”

We’ve reached out to the Ukrainian Brave1 defense technology incubator and the National Association of Ukrainian Defense Industries (NAUDI) for additional insights into how this issue is affecting Ukraine’s defense manufacturing base.

It will be interesting to see if other Ukrainian weapons companies also consider scrapping plans to rely on Starlink in the future and what architectures will emerge at least as a backstop to it.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

The post Major Ukrainian Arms Maker Rethinking Future Reliance On Starlink appeared first on TWZ.

Memorial Day is almost over, but retailers like Wayfair and Amazon still have deals. Shop last-minute discounts on grills, tech, tools, clothing, backyard upgrades and more. Standout offers include a power-lift recliner for 78% off at Wayfair, a DeWalt drill set for half off and a memory foam mattress discounted by $2,282 (that's over 70% off).

READ MORE: Memorial Day last call: Save 40% or more on bedding, vacuums and tools on Amazon

Trending last-chance Memorial Day deals

Cozsinoor bed pillows, set of 2 (now $29.99, was $98.50): Lowest price ever
Shark robot vacuum (now $299.99, was $549.99): Get 45% off
Sealy Cool 12-inch memory foam mattress (now $365.99, was $1,199): Almost 70% off
Apple AirPods Pro 3 (now $199, was $249): Lowest price since February 2026
Royal Gourmet crop barrel charcoal grill (now $137.72, was $242.99): Save nearly 45%

Newly added deals

We've rounded up the latest last-minute deals worth shopping.

Noise-canceling wireless earbuds: $16.99 (83% off)
Craftsman cordless hand vacuum: $59 (41% off) 
Hanes women's jersey shorts: $16 (27% off)
Fire extinguisher, 3-pack: $23.64 (21% off)
3-in-1 handheld mini fan: $13.76 (10% off)

DeWalt cordless drill and battery set: $89.10 (50% off)

Original price: $179

Get DeWalt's high-powered drill, a battery and a charger all for less than $90 while it's half off. The compact drill has a comfort grip handle that prevents accidental slips, while the bright LED light with a 20-second release delay helps you see in corners and dark areas. 

Hanes men's zip-up hoodie: $12.50 (55% off)

Original price: $28

Add this lightweight Hanes hoodie to your wardrobe for those cool summer nights. The cotton fabric comes from American farms and gives you a soft option that's more than half off. 

Queen bed pillows, 2-pack: $29.99 (70% off)

Original price: $98.50

For just $30, enjoy two soft, supportive pillows wrapped in a sateen polyester. The fill stays firm without sagging, yet still has enough give to reduce neck stiffness.

Men's 3-button polo shirt: $9.98 (60% off)

Original price: $24.98

When you want something polished but not too formal, this classic men's polo is a solid option. The three-button style comes in 20 colors and works for everything from tee time to work gatherings. Get it now while it's on sale for an impressive 60% off.

Thermacell mosquito repeller: $38.49 (30% off)

Original price: $54.99

Mosquito season hits hard around Memorial Day, but the Thermacell E-Series throws up a 20-foot bubble of protection without DEET, smoke or scent. The repeller runs up to nine hours per charge and ships with a 12-hour refill in the box.

Apple 11-inch iPad: $299 (14% off)

Original price: $349

Apple's 11-inch iPad runs on the powerful A16 chip and starts at 128GB of storage, doubling what the previous generation offered. The 11-inch Liquid Retina display and Apple Pencil support make it simple to browse, take notes and stream your favorite programs.

Best Memorial Day deals overall

These are some of the best deals we've found in the last few hours of Memorial Day.

Adjustable mesh lounge chairs: $89.99 (31% off)

Original price: $129.99

Buying two lounge chairs at once usually exceeds $100, which makes this outdoor set something to think about. Each chair locks into a reclined position and folds down flat for storage. The included trays give you a place to hold your drink and phone. 

Hey Dude stretch canvas women's shoes: $29.74 (54% off)

Original price: $64.99

Grab a pair of Hey Dude canvas shoes for more than half off and step into a lightweight pair with a memory foam insole. There's no need to lace them up every time, making them a solid pick for all your summer activities. 

Dyson V8 cordless vacuum: $349.95 (35% off)

Original price: $539.99

Save time, energy and money with Dyson's V8 vacuum. The cordless design and 40-minute runtime help you breeze through your weekend cleaning. Use the three attachments to clean tight crevices and hard-to-reach places.

Men's UPF 50+ sun protection shirt: $14.99 (50% off)

Original price: $29.99

Stay cool and help protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays with this long-sleeve sun protection shirt. The fabric also wicks moisture away, keeping you dry whether you're out for a hike or just mowing the lawn.

Under Armour men's Charged Assert 10 shoes: $47.99 (36% off)

Original price: $75

Under Armour's Charged Assert shoes have a mesh upper that keeps them breathable, making them a comfortable pick for daily runs or walks. Thick rubber soles don't wear down as quickly and cushion your ankle for extra support.

Grill deals

Get ready for your next cookout with these last-chance grill sales.

Sophia & William gas and charcoal grill: $539.99 (37% off)
Traeger Pro 34 pellet grill and smoker: $499 (32% off)
Coleman RoadTrip 285 portable propane grill: $309.99 (27% off)
Ninja Woodfire Pro XL grill and smoker: $399.99 (20% off)

Traeger Pro 22 pellet grill and smoker: $389 (29% off)

Original price: $549.95

Snag the budget-friendly Traeger Grills Pro 22, which uses wood pellets to grill, smoke, roast and bake with wood-fired flavor. Built-in meat probes let you monitor internal temperatures without lifting the lid, helping maintain consistent heat.

Charbroil Performance Series gas grill: $319.99 (29% off)

Original price: $449.99

The Charbroil Performance grill — now under $350 — can cook up to 12 burgers and 16 chicken tenders on its 435-square-inch surface. A dedicated sear burner helps add flavorful char to steaks, while porcelain-coated grates retain heat for more even cooking.

Charbroil Performance Series 4-burner gas grill: $286.99 (28% off)

Original price: $399.99

This 4-burner grill has more than enough room to whip up food for the entire barbecue gathering, including 25 burgers at once. The FlavorMax system keeps heat steady and flare-ups down, along with an open cart design that makes propane tank swaps easier.

Charbroil Performance Series 4-Burner liquid propane gas grill: $199 (29% off)

Original price: $279

This is one of the best-selling gas grills at Lowe's (10,000+ sold last week) and covers everything a casual griller actually needs without paying for stainless trim or upgraded carts. It comes with four burners, including a burner with hotter heat for a steakhouse-quality sear, all for under $200. 

Outdoor deals

Cookout season is here — prepare with these deals on backyard furniture and grilling gear.

Bristle-free grill brush: $16.99 (51% off)
Rectangular patio dining set: $879.96 (45% off)
LifeStraw water filter: $15.49 (22% off)
Philips Solar pathway lights, 6-pack: $32.99 (18% off)

Folding Adirondack chairs, set of 4: $411.96 (62% off)

Original price: $1,076

Add extra seating to your patio for less with this four-piece Adirondack chair set, now $664 off. The weather-resistant chairs fold in half for easy storage, and a matching side table (on sale separately) gives you the perfect spot for a summer drink. Need less seating? Grab the two-piece set instead while it's 62% off.

Modular wicker patio conversation set: $333.99 (71% off)

Original price: $1,142.82

This five-piece conversation set includes a three-person outdoor sofa, a movable ottoman, a glass-top coffee table and two decorative pillows. The wicker construction is designed to hold up in summer weather, making it a durable option for outdoor use.

READ MORE: Wayfair's Memorial Day sale ends tonight: Up to 82% off grills, mattresses and more

Outdoor patio wicker furniture set: $134.99 (21% off)

Original price: $169.99

This outdoor patio set comes with two wicker-designed single chairs, a double chair and a table that helps you lounge comfortably poolside. The waterproof resin construction is rust- and fade-resistant, making it an easy addition to your backyard patio. 

Weber griddle essential set: $49.99 (29% off)

Original price: $69.99

Stock your outdoor griddle for the season with this 5-piece Weber set, which bundles a heavy-duty spatula, flexible spatula, two squeeze bottles for oil or sauces and a scraper that removes grime and grease with ease. Throw the stainless steel pieces in the dishwasher for hassle-free cleaning.

Tiki torches, 12-pack: $66.23 (31% off)

Original price: $95.99

Twelve tiki torches is enough to line a full backyard perimeter without digging deep into your wallet. Now $30 off, the set includes a wide-mouth easy-pour canister and burns up to five hours per fill. The weather-resistant treatment will help them last through the summer.

Home deals

Shop the best recliner, sheet and vacuum deals.

Beckham Hotel Collection pillows: $59.99 (25% off)
Mattress topper: $37.90 (46% off)
Bissell pet hair eraser upright vacuum: $149.99 (25% off)
Bedsure queen sheet set: $59.99 (22% off)
Utopia Bedding down alternative bed pillows, set of 2: $23.40 (21% off)

Power-lift recliner: $389.99 (78% off)

Original price: $1,800

This power-lift recliner helps you stand without the extra effort, and it has massage and heating features that encourage relaxation after a long day. It's more than $1,400 off, giving you a serious deal that won't last long.

READ MORE: Add to cart: What the FOX News Deals team bought this Memorial Day

eufy C10 self-emptying robot vacuum: $219.99 (54% off)

Original price: $479.99

Get a $260 discount on the eufy robot vacuum and say goodbye to cleaning by hand. The robot takes care of your floors using smart grid technology and empties itself for up to eight weeks, trapping pet hair, dirt and debris in the docking station.

READ MORE: HexClad Memorial Day sale: Gordon Ramsay's go-to cookware is up to 39% off

Dreo smart tower fan: $143.99 (10% off)

Original price: $159.99

With summer nearly here, now's the time to get a tower fan. It's meant for outdoor use, with a water-resistant build and UV-protection. The air reaches up to 42 feet away, giving you an affordable cooling option for your patio or deck.

Cold Hardy Avocado Tree: $94.47 (50% off)

Original price: $187.95

Looking to liven up your home with some fresh plants? This Cold Hardy Avocado Tree handles temperatures down to 20°F and grows in containers or in the ground, making it ideal for cooler zones where standard Hass trees wouldn't survive. 

Fast Growing Trees is also handing shoppers 25% off sitewide with code EXTRA25 across its full lineup of fruit trees and shrubs. 

Kitchen deals

Find storage and countertop must-haves for less.

Glass storage containers, 24-pieces: $35.99 (64% off)
Ninja SLUSHi frozen drink maker: $259.99 (26% off)
Silicone baking sheets: $8.99 (10% off)

Knife sharpener: $9.99 (38% off)

Original price: $15.99

Keep knives razor sharp with this four-slot sharpener that also sharpens kitchen scissors. The non-slip base and soft-grip handle help keep it steady while you work, and it even comes with a protective glove.

Nespresso Vertuo Next coffee maker: $167 (30% off)

Original price: $239.95

At 5.5 inches wide, the Vertuo Next fits well into tight counter spaces, and the Premium bundle throws in the Aeroccino3 frother that usually costs extra. Five brew sizes cover everything from a single espresso to an 18-oz carafe, while the machine reads each capsule's barcode to adjust the brewing settings.

Cuisinart 6-quart air fryer: $99.99 (33% off)

Original price: $149.95

This Cuisinart air fryer comes with five presets: roast, bake, broil, air fry and keep warm, making mealtime easier. Its 6-quart capacity is big enough for a whole chicken or wings for four, yet small enough that it doesn't eat up too much counter space.

Mattress deals

Sleep easier with these supportive mattresses — now up to 74% off.

Sealy Cool medium memory foam mattress: $365.99 (69% off)
Nectar Classic Memory Foam mattress: $649 (60% off)
Avocado green mattress: $1,359 (15% off)
Sleep Innovations green tea memory foam mattress: $386.99 (10% off)

Beautyrest ComforPedic firm memory foam mattress: $799.99 (74% off)

Original price: $3,081.99

Save over $2,280 on this supportive ComforPedic memory foam mattress. The firm construction can relieve pressure on the joints and eliminates motion transfer between both partners and pets.

READ MORE: Last-chance Memorial Day mattress deals: Save up to 66% on Nectar, Helix and more

Saatva classic mattress: $1,854 (15% off)

Original price: $2,179

Right now, you can save over $300 on Saatva's classic mattress, designed to balance softness and support. The 3-inch Euro pillow top offers a plush, hotel-style feel, while the lumbar support zone is designed to help promote proper spinal alignment.

Nolah Natural mattress: $1,364 (35% off)

Original price: $2,099

The Nolah Natural mattress is made with organic latex and hypoallergenic materials, including an organic cotton cover that's breathable, soft and machine-washable. Get it now while it's over $700 off.

Tech deals

Find discounts on Apple, Jackery, Insignia and more.

Jackery solar generator 2000 Plus kit: $2,599 (61% off)
Insignia 55-inch TV: $199.99 (43% off)
Theragun Mini (Gen 3): $131.99 (40% off)

Apple AirPods Pro 4: $109.95 (15% off)

Original price: $129

Apple's AirPods rarely drop close to $100, making Memorial Day a good time to buy. The sound in this model is designed to feel more immersive, with improved voice isolation for clearer calls and audio. AirPods with built-in noise cancellation are also on sale right now.

MacBook Air 13-inch: $899.99 (18% off) 

Original price: $1,099

Apple doesn't discount its MacBook Air 13-inch often, which is why this $200-off deal is an excellent pickup. It doubles the standard memory to 16GB and comes with Apple's M5 chip and 12MP Center Stage camera — all in one lightweight package.

Apple Watch Series 11: $299 (25% off)

Original price: $399

For $100 off, the Apple Watch Series 11 acts as a personal health assistant on your wrist. It lets you take ECG at any time and monitors your heart rate, alerting you if it's too high or low. Workout features like the personalized Workout Buddy and three months of Apple Fitness+ for free encourage you to stay active. 

READ MORE: This week's best Apple deals — Up to 78% off AirPods, MacBooks and more

Ring battery doorbell: $59.99 (40% off)

Original price: $99.99

Ring's newest doorbell model gives you 66% more viewing coverage than previous generations. It sends real-time alerts when it detects motion in your yard or a package gets delivered. A built-in battery recharges via a USB-C cord.

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones: $248 (38% off)

Original price: $398

Sony's flagship WH-1000XM5 over-ear headphones rarely hit $150 off, so now's your chance to snag a pair. Eight microphones power advanced noise cancellation for flights and long drives, and the 30-hour battery can handle a full holiday weekend on one charge.

Multi-plug wall outlet surge protector: $9.99 (17% off)

Original price: $11.99

This multi-plug outlet runs up to 10 devices at once with six AC outlets, two USB-A ports and two USB-C spots. The built-in surge protector prevents any sudden power spikes from damaging your electronics. 

Tool deals

Start your DIY projects with these tool deals from Craftsman, DeWalt and more.

Craftsman battery set: $79 (47% off)
Craftsman drill and driver set: $99 (41% off)
DeWalt circular saw: $129 (19% off)

DeWalt power tool set: $449 (34% off)

Original price: $679

Memorial Day is the best to upgrade your tool setup, and this DeWalt five-tool combo kit makes it easy. The set includes a drill and compact driver, circular saw, reciprocating saw and multi-tool, along with a carrying case. All tools are battery-powered for added convenience at home or on the job site.

READ MORE: This week's best tool deals: DeWalt, Craftsman, Kobalt and more starting at $20

Mini electric chainsaw: $29.97 (40% off)

Original price: $49.99

This lightweight mini electric chainsaw uses an 880-watt motor to cut through branches with ease, while a built-in security lock helps prevent accidental activation — all for just $30.

Clothing and accessories deals

This weekend, grab deals on cooling pajamas, supportive sneakers and more.

Levi's women's 501 shorts: $38.97 (40% off)
New Balance men's cross trainers: $54.97 (31% off)
Women's one-piece swimsuit: $34.99 (18% off)

Women's pajama set: $14.99 (58% off)

Original price: $35.99

Relax in style with this breathable pajama set, which includes a button-down shirt and slightly oversized shorts. A blend of spandex and soft rayon creates a lightweight fabric with stretch for added comfort.

Skechers men's hands-free slip-in shoes: $77.79 (15% off)

Original price: $92

Get these Skechers for $15 off on Amazon. The slip-on design makes them hands-free, while a cushioned insole provides added support for everyday use. A thicker heel is designed to hold up well with regular wear.

READ MORE: Memorial Day final hours: Under-$25 Amazon deals on Stanley, Hanes, Neutrogena and more

Levi's men's 405 shorts: $34.65 (37% off)

Original price: $54.95

Save $20 on these classic Levi's shorts, available in a range of washes. The regular fit through the thigh offers room to move without feeling too loose.

Women's floral boho dress: $32.98 (21% off)

Original price: $41.99

A floral maxi dress looks flattering on summer days, and the long length helps prevent dreaded sunburns. With dozens of floral options, you can customize this dress to match your style, whether you prefer bright tropical prints or softer, more neutral options. 

Ruffle sundress: $28.99 (36% off)

Original price: $44.99

This knee-length dress has a slight ruffle along the bottom that adds a fun touch without feeling overly dressing, making it a great option for any summer outing. Choose from dozens of colors and a few floral patterns. 

Beauty and grooming deals

Look and feel your best with these deals.

Neutrogena ultra sheer dry-touch sunscreen (SPF 70): $5.51 (59% off)
Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer: $349 (22% off)
EltaMD UV Clear Face sunscreen SPF: $36 (20% off)

LilyAna Naturals retinol face cream: $22.30 (26% off)

Original price: $29.99

Retinol creams routinely cost $50 or more, which is why this LilyAna serum has racked up 39,000+ reviews and a 4.4-star average at $22. The formula pairs retinol with hyaluronic acid, vitamin E and shea butter to cut down on the dryness retinol is known for.

InoPro teeth whitening strips: $29.99 (23% off)

Original price: $38.99

Since some drugstore strips cause sensitivity, the InoPro strips skips that by using arbutin and coconut oil to lift stains. Each kit covers 14 treatments (28 strips total), which is enough for a full whitening cycle ahead of summer events. 

Medicube Zero Pore Pad 2.0 toner pads: $18.90 (39% off)

Original price: $31

Each pad of these Medicube toner pads has two sides, which replaces the toner and exfoliant step in your skincare routine in one swipe. The formula uses 4.5% AHA lactic acid and 0.45% BHA salicylic acid to clear pores and excess oil, so it works well for anyone dealing with skin congestion.

Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD lash serum: $37.60 (45% off)

Original price: $68

GrandeLASH-MD is one of the most consistently reviewed lash serums on Amazon, with results typically showing in 4-6 weeks of nightly application along the upper lash line. The peptide and vitamin formula targets length and fullness, and the 2mL bottle lasts about three months.

Travel deals

Get ready for your next trip with discounted luggage and travel accessories. 

Neck pillow: $15.59 (29% off)
Anti-theft messenger bag: $63.99 (27% off)
Travel cubes: $27.99 (15% off)

Samsonite 2-piece luggage set: $281.99 (41% off)

Original price: $479.99

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• Alaska Air Group announced new premium economy seating on Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines flights.
• The large recliners will have leg and calf rests, 38 inches of pitch, and upgraded dining.
• It also announced upgraded business-class and lie-flat seats on some Boeing 737 Max 10s.

Alaska Air Group is the latest US air carrier to shore up its premium seating offerings — part of an industry-wide boom to cater to passengers who will pay more for premium perks.

In September, Alaska Air Group, which operates Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, unveiled a new premium economy cabin called "Premium Reserve" and upgraded business-class suites. The new cabins are planned for long-haul international flights and select domestic routes.

Since acquiring Hawaiian for nearly $2 billion in 2024, Alaska has been pursuing its "Alaska Accelerate" plan to expand its premium offerings and international presence from its Seattle hub, including two new routes to Japan and Tahiti starting in 2027.

With its upgrades and expansion, Alaska increasingly looks like a major global carrier rather than the largely domestic airline it was once known as.

"We believe premium is more than a seat," Ben Minicucci, CEO of Alaska Air Group, said in a statement. "It's how guests feel from the moment they book their trip to the moment they arrive at the airport, to when they're in the air with us."

A new premium cabin and lie-flat seats on 737 Max 10s

Available to book on both airlines starting next summer, Alaska and Hawaiian's new premium economy will feature wide reclining seats with leg and calf rests and a pitch — or the distance from one seat to the seat in front of it — of 38 inches.

It will also include a 16-inch, Bluetooth-capable screen, outlets and USB-C charging ports, and upgraded in-flight dining menus.

Alaska already offers a premium-economy-like cabin called Premium Class, but the cabin type will be a first for Hawaiian.

Premium Reserve will be available on Alaska's 787 and select 737 Max 10 aircraft, as well as Hawaiian's A330 fleet, with flights beginning in 2028. Alaska doesn't yet have the Max 10, which was nearing the finish line for certification after years of delays tied to safety and quality concerns. But CNBC reported on Monday that regulators have again delayed certification due to a newly discovered software issue.

Beyond premium economy, lie-flat business class — called "Aurora Suites" on Alaska and "Leihōkū Suites" on Hawaiian to retain each airline's distinct branding — has gotten a refresh.

Hawaiian's Leihōkū Suite, its 787 business-class product, serves select routes to Asia, Oceania, and North America. It will be added to the A330 and feature "hotel-quality bedding and enhanced onboard amenities."

Alaska's Aurora Suites will be deployed on all 787 Dreamliners and include upgraded upholstery and materials. Both suites will have sliding doors, Bluetooth, big in-flight screens, and access to airport lounges.

Aurora will also be installed on 737 Max 10 planes flying select transcontinental routes, joining the increasing number of airline narrowbody planes with lie-flat premium seats.

These premium cabins won't be cheap. A round-trip business-class flight from Seattle to Tokyo in mid-March is about $6,500 on Alaska; the same seat to London is about $5,300. Basic economy is about one-fifth of each of those business-class fares.

Hawaiian Airlines' fleet of A330s will also offer new nonstop flights from Seattle to Osaka, Japan, and Papeete, Tahiti, beginning in May and June 2027, respectively. Introductory round-trip Main Cabin fares will start at $1,199 to Osaka and $999 to Papeete; the planes will have Hawaiian's existing business-class product until the fleet's new interiors begin rolling out in 2028.

Alaska is facing fierce competition. It's up against legacy US carriers with already massive widebody fleets, extensive international networks, and well-established premium products.

The airline knows it's playing catch-up.

"I think where you're seeing strength with the legacy carriers is in the premium space and in the international space," Minicucci said in an April 2026 earnings call. "And if you look at our strategy under Alaska Accelerate, that's exactly where we're leaning into."

Courting passengers who pay a premium

In post-COVID air travel, US airlines are moving away from packing as many people as possible into economy to increase revenue. Instead, they are pivoting toward customers who will spend more on premium travel experiences, such as airline lounges and higher-tier in-flight amenities.

A McKinsey analysis published in June found that on transatlantic wide-body flights, business-class cabins are earning almost as much as economy cabins, even though they carry far fewer passengers.

That premium demand has remained despite rising oil prices and soaring airfares amid the war in Iran, partly buoyed by continued spending from more affluent travelers.

"The folks who are more oriented towards purchasing into our premium cabins have been super resilient," Minicucci said in a 2025 earnings call.

United Airlines' director of onboard products and partnerships, Peter Wolkowski, told Business Insider during the UK's Farnborough Airshow in July that premium economy is its fastest-growing cabin on the company's 787 fleet.

In 2025, Delta's premium revenue increased 7% year-over-year, while its main cabin revenue decreased. On an earnings call in October 2025, then-Delta president Glen Hauenstein predicted that premium revenue was expected to exceed Main Cabin revenue by 2027.

"When you think about what's different and what's changed over the last 10 or 15 years, the premium products used to be loss leaders, and now they're the highest-margin products," he said.

Ryanair rafforza la propria presenza in Italia con una nuova base per l’estate 2027 e un ampliamento dei collegamenti già a partire dalla stagione invernale 2026. La compagnia aerea low cost punta ad aumentare il numero di passeggeri, ampliare le destinazioni raggiungibili e sostenere il turismo attraverso un incremento della capacità operativa e nuovi investimenti sul territorio.

La nuova base Ryanair per l’estate 2027

L’apertura della nuova base Ryanair riguarda l’aeroporto di Rimini, dove la compagnia ha fatto sapere che posizionerà due aeromobili il prossimo anno, grazie a un investimento dichiarato di 200 milioni di dollari. Il progetto è stato presentato il 15 ottobre 2026, durante il Ttg Travel experience di Rimini, e punta a raddoppiare l’offerta di posti rispetto all’estate 2025 con:

• 17 rotte, di cui cinque nuove;
• oltre 600.000 posti disponibili;
• 114 voli settimanali complessivi.

L’ampliamento delle possibilità di collegamento con destinazioni internazionali, secondo le stime, sosterrà oltre 500 posti di lavoro locali e contribuirà ad attrarre nuovi visitatori in Emilia Romagna, soprattutto quelli internazionali durante la stagione del turismo balneare.

Questa espansione è stata inoltre giustificata come una conseguenza diretta dell’abolizione dell’addizionale comunale sui diritti d’imbarco decisa dalla regione. Ryanair sostiene infatti che la riduzione dei costi applicati al trasporto aereo abbia contribuito a creare condizioni più favorevoli per ampliare l’offerta e destinare nuovi aeromobili agli aeroporti interessati. Per le compagnie aeree rappresenta infatti una componente dei costi legati al trasporto e può incidere sulle valutazioni economiche relative all’apertura di nuove rotte o all’assegnazione di aeromobili a uno scalo.

Dove aumentano i voli Ryanair: gli aeroporti italiani interessati

L’intervento di Ryanair a Rimini si affianca al potenziamento delle operazioni in Lombardia. Il 1° ottobre 2026, infatti, la compagnia ha presentato il programma invernale per Milano, spiegando che il suo obiettivo è quello di raggiungere 21 milioni di passeggeri annui tra gli aeroporti di Bergamo e Malpensa.

Per l’inverno 2026, l’offerta complessiva arriverà a 8,7 milioni di posti, con un incremento dell’11%. Il programma comprende:

• 125 rotte, dieci delle quali nuove (sei in partenza da Malpensa e quattro da Bergamo);
• l’aumento della flotta basata nell’area milanese, che salirà a 33 aeromobili, grazie a un investimento complessivo di 3,3 miliardi di dollari;
• due nuovi aerei assegnati a Bergamo, con un investimento aggiuntivo di 200 milioni di dollari.
• l’aggiunta di oltre 640.000 posti a Malpensa, incrementando del 27% la capacità dell’aeroporto rispetto alla programmazione precedente.

Secondo le stime diffuse dal vettore, l’operazione complessiva contribuirà a sostenere oltre 16.200 posti di lavoro locali, con effetti sull’attrattività turistica della regione.

Quali sono le nuove rotte

Le cinque nuove destinazioni annunciate per l’estate 2027 da e per Rimini sono:

• Dublino, in Irlanda;
• Memmingen, in Germania;
• Stoccolma, in Svezia;
• Tirana, in Albania;
• Varsavia, in Polonia.

La scelta delle destinazioni è significativa anche dal punto di vista commerciale. I collegamenti con queste mete europee possono intercettare differenti segmenti di domanda, dai viaggi turistici per piacere alle visite a parenti e amici, fino agli spostamenti per ragioni professionali.

Per quanto riguarda i nuovi collegamenti tra Bergamo e Malpensa, invece, le destinazioni indicate nel programma invernale 2026 di Ryanair comprendono:

• Liverpool;
• Paphos;
• Rabat;
• Reggio Calabria;
• Agadir;
• Crotone;
• Edimburgo;
• Danzica;
• Funchal;
• Tirana.

Sei rotte saranno operate da Malpensa e quattro da Bergamo.

Germany appears to have dropped plans to directly procure the larger, Block 3 version of Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), leaving doubts over Berlin’s ambitions to field uncrewed combat aircraft alongside its crewed fighters before the end of the decade.

Boeing confirmed to Breaking Defense that Germany’s Ministry of Defense had informed the company it would not proceed with a direct acquisition of the drone, which had previously been lined up. The decision, first reported by Politico, represents a setback for Boeing’s effort to position the Ghost Bat as a candidate for Berlin’s planned CCA capability, something that had seen it announce a partnership with Rheinmetall, the largest arms manufacturer in Germany, earlier this year.

“With Boeing Defense Australia as a partner, we are laying the groundwork to optimally tailor the MQ-28 to the Bundeswehr’s requirements,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG, in March of this year. “As a system integrator, we ensure that integration, operation, and further development come from a single source while simultaneously strengthening industrial value creation in the form of an industrial hub in Germany and Europe. We see revenue potential for Rheinmetall in the range of three-digit millions of euros.”

The move does not necessarily mean the MQ-28 is out of contention for Germany’s wider program. Instead, Berlin appears set to move toward a different acquisition approach, with competing designs potentially having an opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities before a selection is made.

A Boeing spokesperson told Breaking Defense the company “stands ready to support” its German customer on the next steps, while referring questions about the decision to the German Ministry of Defense.

The ministry declined to discuss the specific procurement with the same outlet, citing regulations governing public contracting and the need for such matters to be addressed by parliament.

“[As a] matter of principle — and regardless of the specific case in question — we cannot provide information regarding potential procurement projects,” a ministry spokesperson told Breaking Defense.

Germany has set an ambitious goal of fielding CCAs by 2029. These uncrewed aircraft are intended to operate alongside crewed fighters such as the Eurofighter, extending their reach, adding sensors and weapons, and giving air forces additional options for conducting high-risk missions.

However, the reported change in Berlin’s acquisition plans raises questions about whether that deadline remains achievable.

According to Politico, Germany is now looking toward the early 2030s for the capability to arrive, with flight testing expected to begin in 2027. That would suggest the original target was based around the introduction of the MQ-28, which has already undergone extensive testing, rather than a newer design. The reshuffle could now give prospective suppliers additional time to demonstrate their designs.

The reported new timeline suggests that Germany’s CCA effort could be entering a more competitive and potentially longer development phase.

There is also a question about the degree of operational capability that will initially be fielded by the given date. Getting a CCA into meaningful frontline service is a very significant task, calling for integration with crewed fighters, communications systems, mission-planning networks, weapons, and sensors. Then there is also testing, certification, training, and the establishment of supporting infrastructure. For Germany in particular, getting a military drone, let alone an armed one, cleared to operate routinely in commercial airspace has long been an issue.

If Germany acquired the Ghost Bat directly, it would have offered a route to a CCA capability without having to begin an entirely new aircraft development effort.

However, the MQ-28 was always one of a larger field of candidate aircraft.

A week ago, Airbus and Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced the first flight of their U740 Valkyrie uncrewed combat aircraft, a Europeanized version of the XQ-58A Valkyrie. Airbus is simultaneously working on its larger U760 Ravenstorm, intended for service in the early 2030s, and the company has previously pitched a stealthy CCA-like concept known as Wingman.

Other entrants include Anduril, General Atomics partnered with Germany’s INTEC, as well as Lockheed Martin. Meanwhile, Helsing and Hensoldt are pursuing the homegrown CA-1 Europa, very much an MQ-28 lookalike.

Germany may not be looking for a single drone to do everything, a point we have discussed in the past:

“One option might be a split high-low approach that could pair more capable, longer-range systems for deep-strike missions with cheaper, attritable collaborative combat aircraft that can fly alongside crewed fighters. At this point, it should also be noted that CCAs could also give older fourth-generation fighters a new lease on life, boosting their lethality and survivability by extending their sensor reach, adding weapons capacity, and allowing uncrewed aircraft to take on more dangerous tasks.”

At the same time, Germany continues to define its requirements for a capability described in media reports as a Jagdbomberdrohne, or fighter-bomber drone. Berlin has yet to publicly clarify its intended concept of CCA operations, including whether the Luftwaffe envisions an uncrewed wingman operating alongside crewed fighters, a platform capable of carrying out long-range strike missions independently, or a system designed to perform both roles.

There are signs that the strike mission is being prioritized, at least initially, with a reduced emphasis on air-to-air missions. This is essentially the reverse of the U.S. Air Force’s CCA effort.

Since Germany is set to receive the F-35 stealth fighter, there is also an argument that Berlin could place more orders for the crewed jet. This could have the dual role of filling the gap left by the collapse of the pan-European Future Combat Air System (FCAS), specifically its sixth-generation crewed fighter, and the delayed introduction of the first operational CCAs. Germany is also looking forward to receiving more Eurofighters.

Germany’s evolving CCA plans form part of a broader effort by Western air forces to develop uncrewed aircraft capable of working alongside advanced fighters. These systems are intended to expand the number of available platforms, distribute sensors and weapons across a larger force, and potentially take on missions that would otherwise expose pilots and expensive crewed aircraft to greater risk.

Boeing’s Ghost Bat could still have an opportunity to compete, depending on the structure of the eventual acquisition process and the requirements Berlin establishes.

However, with testing reportedly planned from 2027 and operational fielding potentially slipping into the early 2030s, the original 2029 ambition for an operational German CCA appears increasingly uncertain.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

The post Germany Drops Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat Rapid Procurement Plan appeared first on TWZ.

L’era dei voli low cost potrebbe essere finita. Nel 2027 le tariffe aeree in Europa potrebbero registrare rincari record fino al 20%, mettendo a segno uno degli aumenti più marcati della loro storia recente.

A lanciare l’allarme è Michael O’Leary, ceo di Ryanair, secondo cui le tensioni geopolitiche in Medio Oriente e il conseguente caro-petrolio rischiano di travolgere i margini operativi di tutto il comparto.

Le dichiarazioni del ceo di Ryanair

Nel corso di una conferenza stampa tenutasi a Bruxelles nella giornata di oggi, il numero uno del primo vettore low cost europeo ha tracciato uno scenario di forte rincaro per i prossimi dodici mesi:

vedremo, a mio avviso, il più grande aumento delle tariffe aeree mai registrato in Europa

ha dichiarato O’Leary, sottolineando come neanche un incremento così marcato dei prezzi dei biglietti e degli eventuali supplementi carburante possa bastare a compensare la violenta impennata dei costi energetici.

Perché le compagnie aeree low cost rischiano perdite

Il fattore di maggiore vulnerabilità per le compagnie risiede nella gestione delle coperture finanziarie contro le oscillazioni del carburante. Ryanair e tutti gli altri vettori europei che finora hanno permesso a una generazione intera di volare a prezzi contenuti si trovano ad affrontare questo periodo ampiamente scoperti rispetto al rincaro del greggio.

O’Leary ha spiegato che Ryanair è coperta soltanto per il 15% del fabbisogno del prossimo anno. Questo significa che l‘85% del carburante necessario per garantire il servizio resta esposto alle oscillazioni del mercato.

A complicare il quadro c’è anche il cambio delle abitudini dei viaggiatori, che tendono a posticipare sempre di più l’acquisto dei biglietti, rendendo complessa e imprevedibile la pianificazione operativa dei voli.

La combinazione tra caro-carburante e pressione fiscale porterà il vettore a ridurre la propria presenza in Francia e Belgio in risposta all’aumento delle imposte locali, mentre sul fronte industriale si attende per gennaio la consegna del primo Boeing 737 Max 10 (con altri 16 aeromobili previsti entro aprile) per cercare di efficientare i consumi.

Il tramonto del low cost

I titoli del settore riflettono già la gravità della crisi: Ryanair ha ceduto fino al 2,1% in borsa, con una flessione del 25% da inizio anno che rischia di rendere il 2026 l’anno peggiore per il titolo dal 2018.

Secondo O’Leary, questa morsa tra caro-petrolio, fisco e vincoli operativi ridisegnerà il mercato, spingendo fuori le compagnie più fragili.

Il settore mostra già i primi segnali di riassestamento. Vettori come Air Baltic e la spagnola Volotea sono impegnati in complessi processi di ristrutturazione aziendale. Lufthansa ha superato Air France-Klm nell’acquisizione di una quota della portoghese Tap, mentre il fondo Apollo Global Management valuta il rilevamento di EasyJet.

Conflict in Middle East is pushing jet fuel costs higher and many carriers are not hedged against such increases, Michael O’Leary says

Ryanair’s chief executive has predicted a record increase in European air fares next year, as airlines grapple with fuel bills pushed higher by the Middle East conflict.

Many carriers are not hedged against rising jet fuel costs, Michael O’Leary said, which he predicted would lead to airline bankruptcies and takeovers. He forecast these pressures would result in the price of plane tickets rising by as much as 20%.

Conflict in Middle East is pushing jet fuel costs higher and many carriers are not hedged against such increases, Michael O’Leary says

Ryanair’s chief executive has predicted a record increase in European air fares next year, as airlines grapple with fuel bills pushed higher by the Middle East conflict.

Many carriers are not hedged against rising jet fuel costs, Michael O’Leary said, which he predicted would lead to airline bankruptcies and takeovers. He forecast these pressures would result in the price of plane tickets rising by as much as 20%.

Idee chiare e nessun giro di parole. Per Sofia Goggi – sciatrice che sta recuperando dagli ultimi problemi fisici – sposarsi e avere figli non sono passaggi obbligati per sentirsi realizzati nella vita. “È una mentalità bigotta. La realizzazione delle persone passa per quello che vogliono ottenere nella propria esistenza. Ci sono donne che vogliono diventare mamme, che giocano con la famiglia delle Barbie fin da bambine, con il vestito da sposa, e ci sono magari donne che hanno un altro tipo di realizzazione in testa. Quello che è giusto per me non è detto che sia giusto anche per gli altri“. Nel suo caso, la carriera sugli sci ha sempre avuto un ruolo centrale, lasciando poco spazio alle pressioni esterne e alle aspettative legate alla vita privata. “No, perché ero invasata con lo sci. E penso che mi abbia anche aiutata a non mettermi nei casini, visto il mio animo un po’ frizzante”, ha spiegato Goggia nel corso di un’intervista a Vanity Fair.

Oggi Goggia si trova in una fase diversa della sua vita, con la consapevolezza di avere meno anni di carriera davanti rispetto a quelli già vissuti. “Penso di essere in una fase dove ho molti meno anni di carriera davanti rispetto a quelli che ho alle spalle. Penso di non essere più una ragazzina ma di essere diventata più donna, e penso di essere a un punto della mia vita dove guardo con fierezza quello che ho fatto fino ad ora e dove so di poter vivere con leggerezza ancora qualche anno sugli sci, fisico permettendo. Penso, poi, di avere la serenità necessaria per affrontare qualsiasi cosa mi accadrà”. Una serenità che considera una conquista, anche se non sempre è facile mantenerla. “Sì, è una bella conquista. A volte lo sono, a volte meno, però è normale. Tirando le fila, diciamo che è così”.

La sua storia sportiva è iniziata quando era ancora una bambina. A soli nove anni, infatti, aveva già scritto in un tema scolastico quello che sarebbe diventato il suo grande obiettivo. “A nove anni avevo fatto un tema a scuola scrivendo: voglio vincere le Olimpiadi di discesa libera. A venticinque anni, l’ho fatto“. Per raggiungere quel traguardo, Goggia ha vissuto un’adolescenza diversa da quella di molti coetanei, fatta di allenamenti, gare e sacrifici. “Non ho vissuto la mia adolescenza nel senso classico in virtù della scelta che ho fatto: non ho mai vissuto quella fase in cui crei un tessuto sociale, vivi una vita più normale. Ero, però, contenta di leggere un libro la sera e di andare a letto presto perché la domenica mi dovevo alzare per andare a fare la gara”.

Una crescita precoce, che l’ha portata a essere molto seria fin da giovanissima. “A volte mi dico che ero più seria quando avevo quattordici anni di quanto non sia adesso, a trent’anni passati: però l’ho vissuta con serenità, perché è sempre stata la mia passione e ho avuto il privilegio di trasformarla nel mio lavoro. Forse però sì, ci sono delle cose che non ho vissuto, come probabilmente non avrei vissuto questa vita sugli sci se avessi inseguito quelle altre cose”.

Nel corso degli anni, l’indipendenza è diventata un aspetto fondamentale del suo carattere. Goggia ha sempre cercato di cavarsela da sola, senza pesare sugli altri, anche se con il tempo ha imparato a essere più flessibile. “Ultimamente, con l’età, sono diventata più malleabile. Sono sempre stata molto indipendente: da quando sono diventata maggiorenne non ho più chiesto un centesimo ai miei genitori. Ho sempre tenuto molto alla mia indipendenza per non gravare sugli altri”.

L'articolo “Una donna non si realizza solo se fa dei figli, è una mentalità bigotta. C’è chi ha un altro tipo di realizzazione in testa”: parla Sofia Goggia proviene da Il Fatto Quotidiano.

As he prepares for a potential future conflict on the continent, the commanding general of Multi-Domain Command Europe told TWZ that he envisions dispersing hundreds of high-altitude balloons at a time. The balloons, Brig. Gen. Steven Carpenter explained, would be used for a wide range of purposes, from serving as communications platforms to launching weapons. For years now, TWZ has been closely tracking the expanding use of high-altitude balloons and other lighter-than-air systems globally for intelligence gathering, networking, as platforms for launching drones, and in support of other missions.

Basically, in the European scenario, hundreds or possibly thousands of balloons would be sent east. They would provide attritable real-time reconnaissance, strike, and decoy capabilities, while also acting as a force multiplier for other assets by providing a resilient active network over the battlefield — one that could help fill in the gaps if the space-based layer gets degraded.

“We would like to proliferate the stratosphere with high-altitude balloons, but I mean 200, 300 at a time,” Carpenter told us during last week’s Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) conference in Washington, D.C., which TWZ attended. The Army would utilize high-altitude balloons “not only as decoys, a lot of decoys, but also communications retrans[mission platforms], electronic sensing, as well as electronic attack, and then obviously air-launched effects to be able to drop them down and use kinetic means as well.”

Air-launched effects (ALEs) is a collective term the U.S. military now commonly uses to discuss air-launched drones configured for a wide array of missions. The ALE umbrella encompasses designs that can be used for surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic warfare tasks, or signal relay, and can act as decoys. It also includes loitering munitions often referred to as kamikaze drones, capable of carrying kinetic attacks.

In general, modern high-altitude balloons offer persistent deployment that can last for days, weeks or even months at a time. After navigating to an assigned operating area, some modern balloon systems can hold their position, in spite of prevailing winds, by modulating their altitudes to keep on station.

In addition, high-altitude balloons operate at heights providing excellent fields of view for radars, cameras, and other sensors in all directions and across very broad areas. From a perch of 60,000 feet or more, they also offer a way to peer into certain denied areas while still soaring in international airspace and keeping farther away from potential threats. During a conflict, the balloons could be deployed deep into enemy airspace as they are attritable.

Though some balloon systems can hold their general positions in many circumstances, Carpenter told us that seasonal weather changes will still play a role in deployment.

“The flight paths are different. We study that,” he noted. “We understand during what seasons where the best places are to launch those high-altitude systems, and then again to hold enemy cities and capabilities at risk at any time, so that we can defeat them at the time and place of our choosing.”

We asked Carpenter for more details about how he sees balloons being used by troops in Europe.

“I think everybody knows there’ll be a point where satellite communications are going to be degraded, if not eliminated,” he stated. “One of the things that we’re focusing on is in the stratosphere, so above 60,000 feet up to 80,000 feet, which is next to impossible to target unless you’re using one of your exquisite systems, fifth-gen fighters, SA-21 Bravo [S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile system], etc. to shoot that stuff down.”

Many of the balloons would be equipped with Link 16, a NATO-standard tactical datalink communication system central to U.S. and allied military operations, the general said. Link 16 allows coalition forces to seamlessly transmit and exchange real-time situational awareness data. You can read more about how Link 16 works, and its increasing dependence of space, in our story here.

As for using balloons as ALE delivery platforms, Carpenter told us there are “different technologies, different altitudes that we’d have to deliver those from” at “different ranges, different levels of yield or lethality. But for us, it’s really just a single arrow in a quiver full of arrows, utilizing space capabilities, cyber capabilities, or surface-to-surface capabilities. In this case, you’re talking just another air-to-surface capability with your air-launched effects off balloons.”

Carpenter said that when it comes to balloon-launched ALEs, he is looking at “everything from shorter range, lower yield, maybe targeting an adversary ballistic missile radar, to longer range, higher yield capabilities that you might use to maybe take out a ballistic missile system.”

In such cases, the balloons would carry drones deep into enemy territory, where they would be launched opportunistically to strike the targets Carpenter suggested. The size of the target, and how well it is protected, would determine what kinds of drones the balloons would launch, as well as their proximity to the target.

Should a fight break out in Europe tonight, Carpenter said he is confident he can rely on the technology.

“Our operating concept is proven,” he stated, noting that “we’ve already tested those capabilities against most modern adversary systems that exist. We’ve already validated our operating concept in terms of getting to mass and scale that we would need in large-scale conflict.”

As we have previously reported, while high-altitude balloons have been used for decades, the modern concept of these systems was recently employed operationally by the U.S. in a combat theater.

The Army had planned to demonstrate the ability of balloons to operate in swarms with a high degree of autonomy in the Pacific region last year before those assets were redirected to the Middle East. When exactly that deployment occurred and how long it lasted are unclear.

“We were asked to pivot and do some experimentation in combination with operations, and we pivoted and supported operations in CENTCOM [U.S. Central Command],” Andrew Evans, Director of Strategy and Transformation with the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, or G-2, told Breaking Defense, according to a story the outlet published last week. “They were effective for the mission that they were assigned,” he added. However, Evans was not able to disclose the exact location and operational scenarios in which they were used.

Other countries, including U.S. allies and partners, are increasingly fielding balloon-based and other lighter-than-air systems, too. Ukrainian forces notably have been using balloons to conduct kinetic attacks and launch drones against Russian assets. On the other side of that conflict, the Russians have used balloons as decoys to confuse and misdirect air defenses.

The following video shows Ukrainian forces using balloons to launch kamikaze drones.

To achieve the effects he laid out, Carpenter told us that he will still need to surge capacity to Europe.

“The Army will make decisions on which vendors they’re going to go with,” he pointed out. “But the ability to field that at scale is just simply based on the resources provided. I’m talking about money to go ahead and bring them into theater.”

Pushed to provide details of how quickly he could have the desired number of balloons, Carpenter told us that “if the United States or NATO and its allies were on a wartime footing, it would be extremely rapid, but we would need to get them into theater before crisis turned to conflict. So we’d have to keep a close eye from an IC [intelligence community] perspective on indicators and warnings to make sure we have the right systems on the ground at point of need.”

The Army’s overall vision for balloons is not new; the service has been openly discussing it for at least six years now. However, the use of high-altitude balloons in this context is now being operationalized. Meanwhile, China has very actively shown off its ability to gather intelligence and conduct other missions using balloons and other lighter-than-air craft on a broad operational level across the Pacific. TWZ had been reporting on this reality for years before it was thrust fully into the public consciousness after a Chinese spy balloon passed over parts of the United States and Canada back in 2023.

The concept Carpenter laid out for how balloons will be used in a future European conflict is another example of the renaissance in lighter-than-air military technology and how the Pentagon is increasingly seeking to weaponize it on a grand scale.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

The post Army’s Plan To Launch Hundreds Of Balloons Into Enemy Territory If A Future Conflict Breaks Out appeared first on TWZ.

Thanks to Google Earth, we can finally put this one to bed. Since the B-21’s unveiling, people have made wild claims about its wingspan, specifically how tiny it is. This was never the case, as we have reported continuously since we first set eyes on it. Many AI-generated and enthusiast-made B-21 fact sheets have gone viral on social media showing wingspans under 130 feet, which only helped propel the nonsense. Now we can definitively say, give or take a few feet, the B-21 spans 152 feet and is 61 feet long. This puts it at about 12% smaller in terms of wingspan than the B-2, and about the same — 12% smaller — when it comes to length.

The image in question, taken of Edwards AFB and dated June 20, 2026, was recently uploaded to Google Earth. While we have seen satellite images of the B-21 going about its business before, this one was published in the public domain and had enough resolution, when paired with Google Earth’s excellent measurement tools, to get conclusive measurements.

Since we first saw the B-21 at Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, during its unveiling, which TWZ attended, we put the top-end size at 155 feet wingspan-wise. That analysis has only narrowed over the years. I have had many emails, social media threads, and other engagements with folks claiming the aircraft was in the sub-130-foot wingspan range. Now we can finally put those battles behind us.

So what does the size tell us? Nothing we don’t already know. The B-21 was always going to be smaller than the B-2. Our analysis from many years ago has stayed the same — the aircraft would be designed with a premium on range and affordability, as well as very low observability, over massive payload. This resulted in the aircraft you see today. It is smaller, but with design priorities that have shifted from its predecessor’s, and 12% smaller in pure dimensions makes total sense considering what Northrop Grumman was trying to achieve. Above all else, it points to the B-21 having an extreme unrefueled range, with improved aerodynamics for high-altitude cruise, more gas for its size, and two efficient engines instead of four.

As for its length, the B-21 is nearly the same length as an F-15 fighter, which sounds bizarre for a large bomber. However, flying wings are visual transformers, looking like compact UFOs side-on and massive head-on or from the planform view.

As far as what else we can discern from the Google Earth image? Not much. We get a bit of a better view of the B-21’s exhaust configuration, but nothing is really revelatory there. The exhausts are deeply buried with large planar exhaust exit ‘ramps’ and have a large chevron trailing edge over the exhaust aperture itself. We have seen some pretty detailed images of this general arrangement from the rear that have been posted on social media. We do see the exhaust pathway as black in color, a feature that was edited out in the official top-down photo of the B-21 seen above, which was released in April, and this is something we mentioned at the time.

Regardless, at least we can say with total confidence that the B-21 is smaller than its progenitor, but not by all that much — about 12% to be more exact.

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com

The post We Finally Know The B-21 Raider’s True Wingspan appeared first on TWZ.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces say they have carried out the world’s first frontline evacuation of a wounded soldier by aerial drone. The soldier, from the 30th Mechanized Brigade, is said to have been recovered successfully and is undergoing treatment and rehabilitation.

“This is a historic event, at least for our unit for sure,” said “Napalm,” a squad commander and programmer with the 92nd Assault Brigade’s uncrewed ground vehicle (UGV) company. The precise date and location of the operation have not been disclosed, and the claim of a global first has not been independently verified. However, a video of the event has been published by the 92nd, which you can watch below:

At this point, it should be noted that the footage has not been independently verified and could depict a staged demonstration rather than an actual combat evacuation. It should, at least, be treated with a degree of caution.

According to accompanying reports, the infantryman was wounded while holding his position. Mines and intense Russian drone activity prevented a conventional ground evacuation, prompting the 92nd’s specialists to attempt an aerial extraction. The video shows the soldier clipping himself to the underside of the drone via a harness before being flown to safety. The extemporized nature of the platform is underscored by the fact that, while in the air, the soldier dangles below its rigid landing legs.

The aircraft was a heavy hexacopter manufactured by Ukrainian company Gurzuf Defense, which provided it free of charge. A UAV operator from the 30th Mechanized Brigade piloted the drone. Throughout the recovery, the soldier remained in contact with the drone operator.

The operation involved the 92nd, 30th and 14th Mechanized Brigades, the 10th Army Corps and Gurzuf Defense.

Ukraine increasingly uses uncrewed ground vehicles to deliver supplies and evacuate casualties from exposed positions. According to Euromaidan Press, Ukrainian UGVs conducted approximately 112,000 logistics and evacuation missions between January and August 2026.

However, ground robots can struggle with mines, mud, and cratered terrain, while remaining vulnerable to drones and artillery. These obstacles make it especially difficult to conduct UGV operations in the battlefield’s “kill zone,” which can extend six to nine miles or more from the front line. You can read an in-depth account of Ukrainian UGV efforts in this previous story.

A video showing a Ukrainian UGV in action in the Donetsk region:

Aerial platforms are able to reach casualties in places where ground vehicles cannot safely travel, and can get there far quicker, without having to stick to specific routes.

The 92nd has not disclosed the evacuation distance or flight duration of the mission. If, as reported, the drone used was an Audag-6 model, this is stated to be capable of carrying a 200-pound payload over a distance of up to 15 miles.

Meanwhile, the recovery points to a growing trend in the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Only days before the story of the evacuation broke, it emerged that Ukraine is also now testing the StarGate, a purpose-built aerial medical evacuation drone — also of the heavy hexacopter type — developed by the SkyFall company. This is a rather more tailored solution to the problem, with a covered, medical-grade stretcher slung below the drone. It has a reported payload capacity of around 330 pounds, uses AI-assisted navigation, and can also deploy nets against hostile drones attempting to intercept it.

The 92nd’s operation used a heavy-lift hexacopter adapted for an ad hoc casualty transport, rather than a more bespoke design. This means the soldier had to be adequately trained on how to strap in, and also had to be in a condition that they could actually perform this procedure. This would also be the case even if other soldiers were able to assist them in strapping in.

While these kinds of solutions may be new to the battlefield in Ukraine, using uncrewed aerial systems for personnel recovery and medical evacuation is far from new.

Back in 2016, the Army completed a demonstration of the Lockheed Martin K-Max helicopter in a casualty evacuation role. The K-Max can operate with and without a pilot and was used as a drone by the Marine Corps to deliver cargo in Afghanistan.

“Unmanned and autonomous platforms have the potential to completely rewrite the medical doctrine,” Army Col. Daniel Kral, head of the Army’s Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC), explained during a conference at Fort Detrick in Maryland in 2017.

In 2019, TWZ reported on U.S. Army efforts to explore how uncrewed craft might speed up the casualty evacuation process. This work included evaluation of the Dragonfly Pictures, Inc. (DPI) DP-14 Hawk, a small, tandem-rotor drone with a 400-pound cargo capacity.

The emergence of autonomous air vehicles, or uncrewed ‘flying taxis,’ with short or vertical take-off and landing capabilities in the urban air mobility sector has also generated military interest. The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory, for example, has conducted studies into how craft such as these could be adapted for combat search and rescue, with the idea that they would be airdropped to recover a fighter pilot shot down while operating over hostile territory.

Closer to the Ukrainian hexacopter concept is the Flowcopter FC-100, a heavy-lift quadcopter drone that the U.S. Army tested in a medical evacuation capacity in Poland during the large-scale Saber Strike exercise earlier this year. Carrying a 220-pound payload, the drone has a range of more than 60 miles.

All of these concepts aim to address the inherent vulnerability of larger personnel recovery platforms in more contested environments.

In their favor, they offer the potential to rescue troops from more precarious situations, with the smaller drones touching down in relatively tight areas in mountainous, forested, or jungle environments. Autonomous navigation systems can guide the drones through smoke, dust, or bad weather, too.

On the other hand, these small craft have no space for a medic, pararescuemen, or other additional personnel. Bearing in mind their limited range and lower speeds, they also need to be in the right location to respond to emergencies as and when they occur.

For the Ukrainian Armed Forces, aerial medical evacuation drones are being rapidly developed and now fielded to help address another problem: the vulnerability of UGVs in areas of the battlefield that have long become far too hazardous for crewed medevac platforms to operate.

By now, both sides in the Ukraine war are relying heavily upon small, autonomous uncrewed aircraft to perform a wide variety of resupply, surveillance, communications, and strike roles on and around the front lines. With that in mind, the adaptation of these kinds of vehicles for casualty evacuation and personnel recovery missions is the next logical step.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com

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