Air Warfare

DARPA wants a heavy cargo plane that can land at sea

The Pentagon has grown increasingly concerned about the potential for a conflict with China, which would require improved maritime capabilities.

33 hours ago

British air chief eyes return to five-strong Wedgetail buy

UK officials are revisiting a raft of cuts instituted under a comprehensive 2021 review of British defense and diplomacy needs.

2 days ago

MilTech

General Atomics’ air-launched ‘Eaglet’ gets its wings

Gray Eagle manufacturer General Atomics in conjunction with the U.S. Army launched its Eaglet Air-Launched Effects from a Gray Eagle for the first time.

Airmen with the 379th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to conduct a pre-flight check on a KC-135 Stratotanker at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, June 8, 2017.

AI-powered surveillance sought for US Central Command

Components of the future surveillance network will likely include cameras and other hardware, automated alerts, geospatial tracking and virtual twins.

4 days ago

The 157th Air Refueling Wing held the Air National Guard's first KC-46A Pegasus "elephant walk" on Sept. 8, 2021 at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. The aircraft taxied down the runway and into their parking spaces in preparation for an air show. (Staff Sgt. Victoria Nelson/Air Force)

US Air Force awards Boeing $2.3B contract for 15 more KC-46s

The award brings the number of KC-46s under contract with the U.S. Air Force to 128.

4 days ago

Elbit to open service center for DIRCM on NATO transport aircraft

The contract provides for support and logistics to the DIRCM system, installed on NATO’s Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft fleet.

8 days ago

Northrop eyes low-rate production contract for B-21 this year

Northrop is wary of inflation and said more companies are pushing back on fixed-price contracts.

8 days ago

Canada moves to rebuild search and rescue helicopter fleet

Canada is moving forward with a modernization program for its CH-149 Cormorant helicopters to allow them to keep flying until at least 2042.

9 days ago

Unwise divestments are crippling US Marine Corps aviation

The reductions are not the result of insufficient funding or mandated cuts in personnel; the wounds have been self-inflicted.

9 days ago

Air defense upgrades, not F-16s, are a winning strategy for Ukraine

The U.S. and its allies and partners should act immediately to increase the production of current air-denial weapons and the development of future systems.

9 days ago

Lockheed: F-35 deliveries can’t resume until mishap investigation done

Lockheed Martin also previewed its plans for updating existing fighters with the hardware and software upgrades known as Technology Refresh 3.

10 days ago

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., prepares to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 161st Air Refueling Wing during a local sortie, Sept. 16, 2022. (Staff Sgt. James A. Richardson Jr./Air Force)

DoD delays key F-35 tests, lowering chance of 2023 production decision

“They spent years trying to develop a simulator to test [the F-35], and they still can’t deliver that," POGO's Dan Grazier said.

10 days ago

DARPA takes big step forward on X-plane that maneuvers with air bursts

"We’re not actually pushing the vehicle with air, we’re using it to tailor how the air is flowing over the wing,” the former CRANE program manager said.

2 weeks ago

Defense Innovation Unit eyes partnerships for drone-vetting effort

DIU's Blue UAS has become the government standard for certifying drones that meet federal cybersecurity and supply chain requirements.

2 weeks ago

Turkey F-16 sale in congressional limbo amid Lockheed backlog

Congress hasn't approved an F-16 sale to Turkey. Even if it does, Ankara will likely have to contend with a lengthy production queue for the in-demand jet.

2 weeks ago

F-22 Raptors assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing arrive at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, in England, Oct. 5, 2018.

F-22 cut from US Air Force data-sharing prototype

Officials told the GAO the decision to exclude the F-22 stems from the fighter's "reduced role in the future force structure," among other factors.

2 weeks ago

UAE joins South Korea’s military transport aircraft program

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have signed two memorandums of understanding to improve bilateral defense ties.

2 weeks ago

NATO spy planes heading to Romania to monitor Russian activity

Along with a small drone fleet in Italy, the planes are among the few military assets that NATO owns as an alliance.

3 weeks ago

The Pentagon is seen from Air Force One as it flies over Washington, March 2, 2022.

Pentagon receives additional UFO reports, no sign of aliens

The U.S. has now collected 510 reports of unidentified flying objects, many of which are flying in sensitive military airspace.

3 weeks ago

Colombian Air Force to buy more T-6C training aircraft

The negotiations are part of an effort to acquire up to 24 trainers.

3 weeks ago

Defense News offers premier news and analysis of global air warfare programs and technologies to keep military and industry decision-makers informed.

The Pentagon has grown increasingly concerned about the potential for a conflict with China, which would require improved maritime capabilities.

UK officials are revisiting a raft of cuts instituted under a comprehensive 2021 review of British defense and diplomacy needs.

Gray Eagle manufacturer General Atomics in conjunction with the U.S. Army launched its Eaglet Air-Launched Effects from a Gray Eagle for the first time.

Components of the future surveillance network will likely include cameras and other hardware, automated alerts, geospatial tracking and virtual twins.

The award brings the number of KC-46s under contract with the U.S. Air Force to 128.

The contract provides for support and logistics to the DIRCM system, installed on NATO’s Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft fleet.

Northrop is wary of inflation and said more companies are pushing back on fixed-price contracts.

Canada is moving forward with a modernization program for its CH-149 Cormorant helicopters to allow them to keep flying until at least 2042.

The reductions are not the result of insufficient funding or mandated cuts in personnel; the wounds have been self-inflicted.

The U.S. and its allies and partners should act immediately to increase the production of current air-denial weapons and the development of future systems.

Lockheed Martin also previewed its plans for updating existing fighters with the hardware and software upgrades known as Technology Refresh 3.

“They spent years trying to develop a simulator to test [the F-35], and they still can’t deliver that," POGO's Dan Grazier said.

"We’re not actually pushing the vehicle with air, we’re using it to tailor how the air is flowing over the wing,” the former CRANE program manager said.

DIU's Blue UAS has become the government standard for certifying drones that meet federal cybersecurity and supply chain requirements.

Congress hasn't approved an F-16 sale to Turkey. Even if it does, Ankara will likely have to contend with a lengthy production queue for the in-demand jet.

Officials told the GAO the decision to exclude the F-22 stems from the fighter's "reduced role in the future force structure," among other factors.

South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have signed two memorandums of understanding to improve bilateral defense ties.

Along with a small drone fleet in Italy, the planes are among the few military assets that NATO owns as an alliance.

The U.S. has now collected 510 reports of unidentified flying objects, many of which are flying in sensitive military airspace.

The negotiations are part of an effort to acquire up to 24 trainers.