U.S. Air Force (USAF)

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force announced April 24 that it selected General Atomics and Anduril to continue designs for the first phase of its CCA program.
Army Aviation Association of America

By Steve Trimble
A series of proposed upgrades, including manually foldable winglets, could slash the fuel consumption of the four-engine KC-135 tanker by 12-14%.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A reusable hypersonic Next-Generation Responsive Strike prototype could be commissioned by the end of the decade.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Anduril and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will continue to design the first increment of the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) for the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The prospect of scaling up the use of contracted refueling services could hinder Air Mobility Command’s ability to complete proficiency and combat training.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
A lack of funding is putting pressure on USAF plans to field an advanced new tanker in the 2030s and limiting upgrades for a follow-on purchase of KC-46As.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
Air Mobility Command plans to complete a year-long analysis in the hopes of resolving several fundamental questions about the U.S. Air Force’s next tanker.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Steve Trimble
Lockheed Martin has announced a $100 million reach forward loss on an early production lot of a classified missile program with a fixed-price contract.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The service has been relying on the X-62 Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA).
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Graham Warwick
Electric trainer tested; design tools for hydrogen aircraft; uncrewed amphibian; turbine hybrid; and cargo eVTOL.
Emerging Technologies

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 Angus Batey
A B-52 has been refuelled in mid-air by a commercial tanker for the first time, the U.S Air Force has announced.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

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