U.S. Air Force (USAF)

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
As the U.S. Air Force continues the planned retirement of its A-10 attack jet fleet, the service secretary says one country has reached out with some interest to obtain the aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Naval Air Systems Command announced March 8 that it had issued a flight clearance for the fleet after all operators grounded their V-22s following a November 2023 crash.
Budget, Policy & Operations

The Air Force will receive a classified directed energy system last among the three armed services participating in the High Energy Laser Scaling Initiative.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
Continued delays and cost increases to the U.S. Air Force’s planned procurement of the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail are raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
When the Air Force rolled out its 2025 budget request, Secretary Kendall warned due to spending constraints, the service is not moving as quickly as needed.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
U.S. aircraft and ships took down scores of drones and missiles, including several before they were launched in Yemen, as part of the broad defense of Israel.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
Startup VerdeGo Aero has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to advance development of a turbine-based hybrid-electric powerplant.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Army has deployed its new ground-launched cruise missile capability for the first time, setting up the mid-range capability (MRC) in the Philippines for an exercise.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
Portugal’s air force chief says his service has begun exploring a transition from F-16s to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
About three years before its first scheduled fielding, the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft fleet has a new group of F-16-based testbed aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The initiative allows services to spend up to $100 million for early development activities up to the preliminary design review stage.
Space Symposium

By Brian Everstine
USAF is planning a round of upgrades to the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk trainer starting as early as 2025 to improve pilot safety and the aircraft’s range.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
The company to show how technology onboard spacecraft could be used for Joint All-Domain Command-and-Control applications.
Space Symposium

By Steve Trimble
The Navy’s CCA target amounts to roughly half the Air Force’s target unit cost.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
Choices by Air Force and Navy leaders highlight an age-old tension: preserve present-day capacity, or trade readiness today for capability tomorrow?
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris
Exosonic is promoting its recently flown EX-3M Trident subscale uncrewed aircraft system as it seeks additional funding to develop a full-scale version.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force wants to modify 326 of its Boeing C/KC-135 aircraft to have commercial access to both secure and nonsecure satellite communications.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Sean Broderick, Michael Bruno, Steve Trimble, Irene Klotz, Guy Norris
Boeing’s new leadership in Commercial Airplanes and at the top are likely just the beginning of major changes at the manufacturing giant.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
Northrop Grumman announced an agreement to apply EpiSci’s Tactical AI software in the architecture for “advanced autonomous solutions.”
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force recently completed initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of a major new electronic warfare suite for the F-15E and F-15EX.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force will soon begin modifying an F-16 to evaluate autonomy software and artificial intelligence.
Defense and Space

By Joe Anselmo, Guy Norris
In a wide-ranging interview, Culp talks about the new company’s future and says he has no interest in taking his turnaround skills to Boeing.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Brian Everstine
After years of scattered attempts to keep pilots in service failed to change the trend, the Air Force is renewing outreach to its aircrews.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
Its plan differs from some prior programs, such as the venerable MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper.
Aircraft & Propulsion