U.S. Unleashes Havoc Hypersonic Missile

Unlike its adversaries’ long-range hypersonic missile arsenals, the U.S. has unveiled a lean, medium-range hypersonic missile that is capable of mass production and can be launched from a plane or even from space.

The Ursa Major HAVOC missile system is powered by the company’s Draper engine - a safe, storable tactical liquid rocket engine. Costing a fraction of the cost of airbreathing scramjet alternatives, the Draper engine can also be programmed to throttle and restart throughout all flight phases, unlike glide vehicles or solid rocket motors, which cannot be controlled once ignited. The modular design allows integration with various solid rocket motor boosters, enabling air- or ground-launch capability, extended range options, or even launch from outside the atmosphere.

The U.S. new HAVOC missile is much leaner than anything in Chinese and Russian hypersonic arsenals, which are typically designed to be capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Although U.S. hypersonic missile could also be made nuclear-capable, as a policy this is not usually the case.

U.S. Military Aircraft Leave Second UK Base Over Iran Threat

The U.S. has evacuated military aircraft from a second British air base after a threat from Iran weeks after the Pentagon pulled all its bombers from another RAF base over a suspected Iran-linked plot.

Between Nov 9 and 10, the U.S. has moved at least 11 KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft and 2 Ospreys from RAF Mildenhall to Germany, Spain, and Scotland, according to news media reports.

Security at Mildenhall and nearby RAF Lakenheath was raised to FPCON Charlie, the second-highest level in the Pentagon’s force protection system, indicating a terrorist action is likely.

It is the second British base the U.S. has cleared of aircraft in recent weeks. On Oct 4, about a dozen of its B-1 bombers left RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. The withdrawal followed the arrest on Sep 27 of five men near the base, where police found petrol in vans but no explosives. Prime Minister Andy Burnham later told parliament the plot was highly likely coordinated in Iran and almost certainly directed by its Revolutionary Guard. Iran denies involvement.

In July, the Guard named Fairford, which the U.S. has used to launch strikes on Iran, among bases it considers legitimate targets.

Pete Hegseth Survives Impeachment Push, For Now

An effort to impeach U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has failed in Congress, but Democrats, who won control of both chambers, can revive the push when the new Congress convenes on January 3.

The House voted 211-204 to refer the resolution to committee, which prevents the articles from advancing to the Senate.

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky introduced the resolution, with eight articles of impeachment. He and other lawmakers accuse Hegseth of defying Congress by continuing the war in Iran despite legislative efforts to shut it down.

Three of the articles accuse Hegseth of violating congressional war powers in Iran. The others allege misconduct involving civilian casualties, strikes on suspected drug boats, retaliation against Senator Mark Kelly, the capture of Nicolás Maduro and military operations in Yemen.

Hegseth has dismissed the effort as a “farce” and a “stunt”, and President Donald Trump has said he intends to keep him in the job.

Massie has said the resolution is a “much gentler version” of what Democrats will do once they control Congress. The measure could now serve as the basis for a new impeachment push in January.