U.S. Air Force (USAF)

By Brian Everstine
Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites on Dec. 3 unveiled Project Talon, the company’s latest design of an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
U.S. Air Force B-2 bomber returned to operational status four years after it was grounded in 2021, following a gear collapse upon landing.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
SpaceX has been cleared to develop Cape Canaveral SFS’ Space Launch Complex-37 for Starship-Super Heavy launch and landing operations.
Operations & Safety

By Garrett Reim
Inexpensive, mass-produced cruise missiles could ensure that the U.S. and allies have enough firepower to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
A new medal citation for an F-16 pilot brings new details about the extent to which U.S. aircraft conducted suppression of enemy air defense strikes in Yemen.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force says its ability to outpace threats in orbit hinges on whether it can revamp how it organizes, buys and fields capabilities.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force on Nov. 25 awarded Boeing a $2.47 billion contract for 15 KC-46A tankers, extending production into the later years of the program.
Supply Chain

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force has awarded the first batch of prototype contracts for the space-based interceptors (SBI) element of the Golden Dome, but details are scarce.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Navy has picked up some of the U.S. Air Force’s T-38 repair work as the service faces a large backlog of Talon IIs requiring work.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps legacy Hornets will get the safety system in 2026; development is starting for F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz, Vivienne Machi
The Eastern Range marked its 100th launch of year on Nov. 20, an unprecedented milestone.
Operations & Safety

By Brian Everstine
The first aircraft could be produced as early as fiscal 2038.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
NATO seeks alternative airborne early warning platforms after the U.S. withdrawal from the E-7 Support Partnership collapsed the alliance’s E-7 acquisition.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
This week, Florida's Eastern Range hosts its 100th orbital launch of the year, with another 20-30 remaining on the 2025 flight manifest.
Operations & Safety

By Brian Everstine
President Donald Trump has formally nominated a senior U.S. Air Force official to oversee critical modernization programs.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force for the past year has faced an internal debate that ultimately upended the service’s top leadership.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Lockheed Martin announced Nov. 17 that it had conducted the first flight test of a new distributed infrared threat-warning system.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Graham Warwick
Joby Aviation plans to bring hybrid-electric propulsion to its commercial air taxis.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Steve Trimble
A trend toward cheaper missiles and faster acquisitions is coming together to deliver a new approach to counter-air weapons.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
Appropriators approved spending for one U.S. Air Force program, the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail. The Pentagon in its fiscal 2026 budget request called for ending the effort.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
ISR capabilities may be the deciding factor in a future decision over whether to increase the size of the Northrop Grumman B-21 fleet beyond 100 aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The time for the XQ-58 Valkyrie has almost come.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The B-21’s cockpit technology raises new questions about how to staff the flight deck in an era of increasing levels of automation.
Aircraft & Propulsion

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

By Brian Everstine
The service has outlined a goal to add hundreds of fighters, but it stops short of addressing funding and capacity limits.
Budget, Policy & Operations