Air Warfare

Maintenance costs will spike as militaries add advanced planes: Report

Advanced jets like the F-35 have stealth coatings, unique materials and cutting-edge technologies that take more work to maintain, driving up costs.

Allvin: Air Force owns more tech on F-47, dodging F-35 mistake

Air Force officials regret not getting data rights to the F-35, which has slowed repairs, and promised not to make the same mistake on the F-47.

Air Force test-launches unarmed Minuteman III missile

The Air Force conducts regular tests of its Minuteman III ICBMs, as it looks for ways to bring costs under control for the successor Sentinel missile.

Meink vows security as Qatar-gifted jet turned into Air Force One

Sen. Tammy Duckworth blasted the Qatari-gifted plane as a security risk and a waste of taxpayer money.

Both Air Force CCAs now in ground testing, expected to fly this summer

General Atomics said ground testing of its YFQ-42A began on May 7. The collaborative combat aircraft will fly alongside aircraft like F-35s and F-47s.

Desert Storm Apache crews awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses

The aviators received the awards 34 years after they kickstarted the allied air campaign of Operation Desert Storm.

Pentagon silent, aviation experts baffled by Trump’s fighter comments

“President Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don’t exist," said former SECAF Frank Kendall.

Denmark receives four more F-35s; half of fleet now home after delays

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen told business newspaper Borsen in March that he wanted to order more F-35 jets.

Opinion

What’s wrong with Trump accepting a 747 from Qatar? Everything.

The Qatari gift amounts to a flying palace rather than a flying White House meant for vital work, argues former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

Defense officials advocate for diverse target-tracking architecture

Defense officials say a moving target indicator capability that includes both air and space assets is needed until the department defines its architecture.

DC military-air traffic control hotline hasn’t worked for over 3 years

The FAA confirmed the agency didn’t know the hotline hadn’t been working since March 2022 until after the latest near miss at Reagan National Airport.

Air Force eyes longer range for F-47 as combat edge in Pacific theater

A greater fighter range would help the Air Force reach targets in contested airspace in the Pacific, where refueling tankers may not be an option.

Senate confirms Meink as next Air Force secretary

Former NRO deputy director Troy Meink will now run the Air and Space Forces as space becomes increasingly important to future wars.

Experts: Qatar-gifted Air Force One may be security, upgrade disaster

Upgrading a Qatar-donated 747 into a new Air Force One would take a large sum of money and years to complete, aviation experts said.

General Atomics touts UK breakthrough in drone airspace integration

The achievement has been a long time coming for the U.S. drone vendor after spending spending $500 million and working for 11 years.

Upgrades ahead across the special operations helicopter fleet

Better targeting, lighter airframes and more firepower are on the docket.