U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon faces a rising bill in its goal to increase the Lockheed Martin F-35’s availability, which has continued to fall far below targets, a new watchdog report says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force needs to create a comprehensive assessment and plan to improve the sustainment of its aerial refueling tanker, a new watchdog report says.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Brian Everstine
Army’s FARA cancellation freed $4.4B, but GAO reports $2.3B shifted to non-aviation projects like barracks upgrades and OSD priorities.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Air Force Special Operations Command is in the middle of an overhaul of its fleet.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
The GAO challenges SDA’s rapid satellite deployment, citing risks in missile tracking and ground readiness, while SDA defends its fast-track approach.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Brian Everstine
F-35 deliveries have continued to be delayed despite steps to incentivize timely handovers, a new government watchdog report says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Molly McMillin
The number of aviation meteorologists stationed at air traffic control centers around the U.S. has fallen considerably.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Irene Klotz
NASA's flagship initiative to expand human presence into deep space under the Artemis program continues multibillion-dollar cost overruns, the GAO says.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force will launch its first new missile warning satellite no earlier than March 2026.
Satellites

By Brian Everstine
The Bell MV-75 is significantly too heavy, putting some of its planned mission capabilities at moderate risk, a new report says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Long-standing personnel and parts shortages are sidelining aircraft as service leaders call for more funding.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Michael Sion
Faster, simpler acquisition processes and increased capital inflows would greatly enhance U.S. defense capabilities, especially in high-need areas.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
The agency has faced development challenges and delays.
Satellites

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Special Operations Command intends to buy 62 of the L3Harris and Air Tractor aircraft.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Eric Smith, speaking to reporters Jan. 15, said the F-35’s “maintenance is too expensive.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick, Robert Wall
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Sierra Nevada Corp. can move forward on the U.S. Army ’ s High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System contract.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
The deployment plan overhauls how personnel prepare to deploy, creating four six-month stages.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Sierra Nevada has conducted the first flight of its Rapcon-X aircraft, a Bombardier Global 6500 SNC is developing for an Army ISR prototyping program.
Emerging Technologies

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine
As a technicality threatens to disrupt the program, Army officials laid out long-term plans for fielding and upgrading the future HADES fleet.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Mark Carreau
The audit recommends that the agency conduct at least one schedule risk analysis prior to introduction of the new Mobile Launcher 2 (ML2).
Space Exploration

By Mark Carreau
NASA must document efforts to address the greater-than-planned mass of the first two modules for its lunar-orbiting human-tended Gateway, says GAO auditors.
Space

By Brian Everstine
AFSOC and L3Harris announced the deliveries in social media posts.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Robert Wall
The U.S. Navy aims to declare initial operational capability for the Next-Generation Jammer’s mid-band system before the end of September after multiple delays.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon will continue with the Northrop Grumman LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program, despite an 81% cost increase.
Missile Defense & Weapons