U.S. Air Force (USAF)

Service Secretary Frank Kendall in July 2024 paused the development of the Next Generation Air Dominance’s penetrating counter air fighter.

As AI-based weapon systems move into the mainstream, several programs seek to evolve autonomy software to orchestrating complex strike missions.

With the Joint Strike Fighter’s Technology Refresh 3 software expected to be cleared for combat this year, Pentagon officials are pressing for more progress.

LRASM is already integrated on the U.S. Air Force’s B-1B Lancer and the U.S. Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

Honoring innovators, achievements and leadership, the winners have made impressive contributions in five industry sectors.

Kendall took over as the service’s top civilian in 2021 and will leave office in the next few weeks.

Quantum entanglement is perhaps a fitting metaphor for the NGAD Platform.

Govini estimates that more than 20,000 individual parts used by the Pentagon are impacted by the export controls, affecting more than 1,000 weapons systems.

Donald Trump is reentering the White House as the U.S. faces an expanded threat environment in the space domain.

Kendall announced in July that the service had paused NGAD ahead of an imminent contract award.

The Joint Program Office (JPO) and Lockheed Martin reached a handshake agreement in November for F-35 production lots 18 and 19.

The move follows the completion of a critical design review that clears the way for final development, test, and production efforts to proceed.

Milestones loom in the coming months for future refueler and airlifter programs amid funding uncertainty.

Steve Parker says the manufacturer needs to focus on execution amid cost overruns and address the root causes of issues on production lines.

The Aviation Week Intelligence Network is tracking $193 billion in open opportunities for military aircraft over the next decade.

Quantum computing challenge winners; Electric aircraft familiarization; Large cargo eVTOL; Zero-emission test arena.

AFWERX does not have any specific requirements, a program of record, or impending contracts for hybrid eVTOLs.

Archer Aviation and Anduril Industries have signed a “strategic partnership” to develop “next-generation aircraft” for defense applications.

The increasing number of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) being spotted near U.S. military installations rep[ortedly pose no threat.

Kratos Defense and Security recently completed the first flight of its stealthy uncrewed combat air vehicle Thanatos, proving out the aircraft’s basic design.

The House Armed Services and Senate Armed Services committees are providing one of the U.S. Space Force’s procurement offices with a boost in resources.

U.S. operators paused most Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey operations after a material failure caused one of the tiltrotor aircraft to make a precautionary landing.

The U.S. Air Force and Navy should more closely collaborate on variants of their next-generation fighters instead of further splitting apart as development continues, an influential senator argues.

Scaled Composites brings back its “Old School” test platform seven years after its last flight.

Readers write about space station experiments, the Check 6 podcast, firefighting aircraft and U.S. air base defense. Plus Behind the Scenes with the Photo Contest judges and at the Wings Club.