Air Force outlines acquisition changes supporting Hegseth mandate
The new portfolio acquisition executives will oversee vital Air Force programs, such as advanced planes and nuclear command and control.
Unmanned
US Marine Corps taps Northrop, Kratos to build Valkyrie drone wingmen
The U.S. Marine Corps' Valkyries will run using Northrop's autonomous Prism software, and use a sensor and technology package tailored to fit in a drone.
Italy names Sicily air base as first F-35 pilot school outside US
The F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) and constructor Lockheed Martin will oversee the readying of the training center at Trapani-Birgi Air Base.
US Air Force awards Boeing $2B contract to begin B-52 engine upgrades
The upgrades to the B-52's engines and numerous other systems are so dramatic the Air Force plans to redesignate the Cold War-era bomber the B-52J.
Videos suggest stealthy Air Force drone flew recon for Maduro capture
Videos purportedly show the RQ-170 Sentinel returning to Puerto Rico after the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
US Air Force eyes autonomous Northrop Grumman drone for CCA program
Northrop Grumman significantly revamped its original CCA pitch to the Air Force, resulting in the Talon drone.
Lockheed still paid $1.7 billion despite poor readiness rate of F-35s
An audit found that the defense department paid the aerospace company $1.7 billion by July in spite of poor performance.
US taps Boeing to build F-15s for Israel under $8.6 billion contract
The Pentagon announcement came at the end of U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Florida.
Swedish air chief talks next-gen warplane, Gripen’s anti-drone role
The year 2026 promises to be a time of decisions, as the Swedish air force strives to keep its options open when it comes to a new fighter design.
Sweden hastens Gripen deep-strike punch with Taurus missiles
Sweden's air chief now expects Taurus integration "considerably earlier than previously planned," he said in an interview with Defense News.
Radar, other upgrades planned for experimental US Air Force AI fighter
Raytheon was awarded a contract from the Air Force to put its air-cooled, compact PhantomStrike fire control radar into the X-62 as part of its upgrades.
Air Mobility Command head nominated to be next US Air Force vice chief
If approved, the Air Force vice chief and JAG nominees would fill roles that have been vacant since President Trump fired their predecessors in February.
B-52 with key radar upgrade flies to Edwards for testing
The new AESA radar is a major part of the U.S. Air Force's plan to thoroughly revamp the venerable B-52, and extend its life into at least the 2050s.
GAO: Services aren’t sharing information on longtime Osprey problems
Government auditors said known problems with the Osprey have gone unresolved for years and in some cases at least a decade.
Trump-Erdogan ties are propelling F-35 talks with once-banned partner
During Donald Trump’s first term, the U.S. removed NATO ally Turkey from the fighter program after Turkey purchased an air defense system from Russia.
US Air Force instructor pilots have first T-7 in training milestone
Now that Air Education and Training Command has its first T-7, the 99th Flying Training Squadron's instructor pilots will start getting familiar with it.
Bangladesh signs up for Eurofighters in first pick of Western warplane
Earlier this year, a group from the Bangladesh Air Force visited Leonardo’s facility in Turin, Italy, to test-fly the Eurofighter.
