Aviation Week editors make sense of recommended reductions to the number of F-35 and F-15EX fighters the U.S. Air Force plan to buy in the coming years.

F-35 and F-15EX programs face near-term cuts as U.S. Air Force makes new push for Next-Generation Air Dominance.

The F-35 program is struggling to find enough funding to fully stand up and resource the jet’s depots because the Pentagon’s habit of underfunding the maintenance facilities while expecting cost reductions in contract negotiations is not playing out as expected, the program executive says.

Northrop Grumman is progressing on workforce absenteeism issues that plagued its F-35 program over the winter, and otherwise does not see particular problems elsewhere in its portfolio due to ongoing inflation, labor, pandemic or war-related issues, the large prime’s chief executive said April 28.

President Joe Biden on April 28 requested $33 billion from Congress for aid to Ukraine, a dramatic increase from ongoing spending to support Kyiv in its fight against Russia, and specifically highlights a need for anti-aircraft and advanced air defense systems.

The U.S. Air Force has ended more than 40 years of operating the F-15C/D Eagle in Europe with the departure of the type from RAF Lakenheath, England.

The Japan Air Self Defense Force has confirmed that it is currently conducting air-to-air refueling compatibility tests with the Royal Australian Air Force. 

Taiwan’s new hypersonic R&D office; North Korean nuke pledge; Capella Space raises cash for analysis; and Lockheed’s radar upgrades.