U.S. Air Force (USAF)

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Multiple pilot errors, preceded by an unhealthy organizational culture within one of the few U.S. Air Force B-1B squadrons, caused a crash landing and complete loss of a bomber in January, according to a new report.

Defense officials are divided about the U.S. Air Force’s plan for Collaborative Combat Aircraft

The Pentagon is still limiting payments to Lockheed Martin amid upgrade struggles.

Boeing Defense and Space is trying to change its bidding approach by being more transparent and more strict about the programs it chases.

Frank Kendall has cast an ongoing, fundamental review of the need for a Next Generation Air Dominance Platform as a necessary step before awarding a contract of such magnitude.

The Pentagon is still withholding some payments to Lockheed Martin for F-35s, despite deliveries resuming with a limited number of new jets making their way to U.S. forces.

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall says the U.S. Air Force and Boeing have agreed to cost terms on production of E-7A Wedgetail prototypes.

Boeing says it expects to deliver the KC-46’s new remote vision system in April 2026, placing a new target date on the long-awaited upgrade.

A Northrop spokesman did not immediately respond to Alexander’s statements.

The uncertainty for the Next-Generation Air Dominance program opens new doors for the F-22 fleet, which was once threatened with replacement.

Hybrid-electric aircraft developer Electra.aero says its EL-2 Goldfinch technology demonstrator has completed off-runway test flights.

Gen. David Allvin says software advancements make it possible to have the independent systems work together in a way that does not affect security.

The SASC says it wants a progress report on the Pentagon’s efforts to field new capabilities to monitor air or ground targets in real time from space.

Acquisition and budget documents point to the quiet emergence of a third capability: signals intelligence.

As part of the review, the Pentagon rescinded the Sentinel program’s Milestone B approval from 2020.

Beta Technologies says it has completed two more evaluation deployments for the U.S. Air Force with its prototype Alia electric aircraft.

While aerospace and defense companies have lately enjoyed an embarrassment of riches in demand, that has exposed severe weaknesses in their ability to execute.

As fixed-price deals signed years ago continue to burden balance sheets, Boeing Defense and Space is focusing on smart growth opportunities.

Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, the F-35 program executive officer, on July 11 approved the so-called “truncation plan.”

AFSOC has been undertaking the plan, called the Adaptive Airborne Enterprise, to have one airman control multiple UAS.

The U.S. Air Force is targeting development of ERAM—a new class of air-launched precision munition for Ukraine.

Mounting losses have prompted greater caution among some defense companies as Pentagon officials stand by fixed-price acquisition strategies.

A Pentagon review finds an 81% cost increase, although officials determine the program must continue after being restructured.

The milestone came technically a year late due to production problems.