U.S. Air Force (USAF)

By Brian Everstine
For the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and the U.S. Air Force, devoting the time and money to build an effective bunker-buster bomb is challenging.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Participants in the annual Turkish-led Anatolian Eagle exercises trained as the exercise adapts to a new era of high-intensity warfighting.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
The Defense Department’s latest budget plan goes all in on space-based moving-target tracking.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
A pair of Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft flew a combat training mission controlled by pilots flying a single-seat F-16C and a two-seat Boeing F-15E.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
The Defense Department is debating how best to develop the space-based data connectivity backbone of its future force.
Satellites

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force’s new combat rescue helicopter will take over distinguished visitor airlift and transport in the Washington, D.C., area.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” barely passed the Senate on July 1.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
Startup Electra.aero is to study the benefits of hybrid-electric propulsion systems for U.S. Army operations.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
About $14 million of the overall funding from the U.S. Air Force for JetZero’s Z4 blended wing body demo is at risk of being cut in the fiscal 2026 budget request.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force’s plan to buy more refuelers after completion of the KC-46 program of record has evolved again.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
Air-launched hypersonic weapons in both glide and powered forms are back in favor.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
MightyFly has demonstrated autonomous flight, loading and unloading as well as load balancing during a demonstration of its Cento uncrewed logistics aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine, Robert Wall
Israel’s 12-day operation against Iran provided a master class in gaining control of an adversary’s airspace and, with U.S. help, what can be done afterwards.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force is considering the optimal way to build out a vast and critical data transport satellite architecture in low Earth orbit.
Satellites

By Steve Trimble
Proposed cuts to stealth fighters and attack helicopters could drop U.S. Defense Department aircraft procurement to modern lows in fiscal 2026.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The USAF will pay the bill to modify a Boeing 747-8 obtained from the Qatari government into a temporary presidential transport aircraft using diverted funds.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Continued, extensive cost growth was a main driving factor in canceling the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail for the U.S. Air Force despite previous efforts to lower costs.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
An accurate assessment of the performance of the Boeing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator in its combat debut in Iran could take several days to complete.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Vivienne Machi
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office is gearing up to launch an undisclosed number of spacecraft in the near future.
Satellites

By Steve Trimble
As U.S.-developed collaborative combat aircraft near flight trials, their designers are testing the waters for international sales.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The debut of the Dynetics/Boeing GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator in Iran now offers the ultimate operational test for a unique and still mysterious weapon.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The late budget rollout, coupled with a reliance on GOP-led reconciliation, has caused consternation in a typically bipartisan budget process.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. used almost all operational Northrop Grumman B-2 bombers and more than half of its GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators in striking Iran.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. joined Israel striking Iranian nuclear facilities, using Northrop Grumman B-2 bombers that employed the U.S. Air Force's largest conventional bomb.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris
The blended wing body demonstrator from JetZero is intended to provide the basis for development of a new military tanker-transport and a midmarket airliner.
Aircraft & Propulsion