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U.S. Air Force(Page 6)

Latest in U.S. Air Force

Boeing says it has delivered the second pair of F-15EX Eagle II fighters to the U.S. Air Force after a year of delays.
Air

Second Pair Of F-15EX Eagle II Fighters Just Delivered To USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 21, 2023

F-15EX To Be Based At Kadena Air Base In Japan: Report
Air

F-15EX To Be Based At Kadena Air Base In Japan: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 18, 2023

The U.S. can learn lessons from Israel operates its F-35I fleet.
Air

Israel’s F-35I Combat Experience Is Providing Lessons For Future Pacific Fight

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 13, 2023

A picture has emerged offering a rare glimpse of ongoing work to field new B61-12 nuclear bombs in Europe.
Air

First Picture Of B61-12 Nuclear Bomb Trainer On An F-16 In Europe Surfaces

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 13, 2023

X-32 National Museum Of The United States Air Force
Air

X-32’s Makeover: Before And After

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 11, 2023

A new draft of the annual U.S. defense policy bill for the 2024 Fiscal Year, which looks set to pass in Congress and become law, would require the Air Force and the Navy to provide new details about the expected costs and capabilities of their future Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones.
Air

Loyal Wingman Drone Cost, Capability Concerns Emerge In Defense Bill

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Dec 8, 2023

Boeing Exits Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Competition (Updated)
Air

Boeing Exits Air Force’s ‘Doomsday Plane’ Competition (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Dec 5, 2023

The F-35 Joint Program Office is oversee a project to create a single operational "Franken-bird" from two seriously damaged F-35A Joint Strike Fighters.
Air

F-35 “Franken-Bird” Being Made From Two Badly Damaged Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Dec 1, 2023

No, This Is Not A Secret UFO Crash Retrieval
Air

No, This Is Not A Secret UFO Crash Retrieval

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 30, 2023

CCAs flying with notional NGAD manned aircraft.
Air

Signs Point To Less Range, Higher Performance For CCA Drones

By Tyler Rogoway, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 28, 2023

The B61-12 nuclear bomb is now officially in the U.S. stockpile and approved for employment from the B-2A Spirit stealth bomber.
Air

B-2 Spirit Now Operational With New B61-12 Nuclear Bombs

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 28, 2023

B-21 raider T-shirt
Air

Celebrate B-21 Raider’s First Flight With This Ghostly T-Shirt

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 27, 2023

The US Air Force's future EC-37B electronic warfare jets are now EA-37Bs, which is meant to highlight their ability to not only find and attack various types of targets, but destroy them.
Air

New ‘Attack’ EA-37B Moniker For USAF Electronic Warfare Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2023

AC-130J attacked a target in iraq after attacks on US bases there.
Air

AC-130 Ghostrider Gunship Strikes Iranian-Backed Militia In Iraq

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 21, 2023

Lockheed manned tailless fighter design
News & Features

Skunk Works Teases Tailless NGAD Fighter Design In New Ad

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 20, 2023

The U.S. Air Force is exploring the possibility of augmenting, rather than replacing its C-32A Air Force Two jets.
Air

New Plan To Augment C-32A ‘Air Force Two’ Fleet, Not Replace It

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2023

Aurora Flight Sciences is developing a fan-in-wing blended wing body aircraft concept as part of a U.S. military program exploring ideas for a fast-flying vertical takeoff and landing cargo aircraft.
News & Features

VTOL Lift Fan Tactical Transport Design Emerges Under DARPA Program

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 16, 2023

A commercial KDC‐10 tanker aircraft refuels a U.S. Air Force F‐16 Fighting Falcon from the 51st Fighter Wing, enroute Commando Sling 23 at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, November 6, 2023.
Air

Private Aerial Refueling Tankers Are Now Gassing Up USAF Fighters

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Nov 15, 2023

Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall has offered new details about his service's plans for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Air

CCA Loyal Wingmen Drones To Cost Quarter To Third Of An F-35

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 14, 2023

B-21 first flight
Air

B-21 Raider’s First Flight: What We Learned

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Nov 10, 2023

The schedule for long-planned flight testing of an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship with a laser directed energy weapon has slipped again to 2024.
Air

AC-130 Laser Weapon Test Slip Raises Questions About Its Future

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 10, 2023

B-21 has flown for the first time
Air

B-21 Raider Has Flown For The First Time (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Nov 10, 2023

New pictures show A-10s that recently deployed to the Middle East with interesting ordnance loads.
Air

A-10s Brandish Intriguing Mix Of Weapons In Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 9, 2023

The US Air Force is deciding whether or not to begin removing the famed 105mm howitzers from its AC-130J gunships, possibly starting in 2026.
Air

AC-130J Ghostriders Could Lose Their Big 105mm Guns

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

U-2 retirement moves forward with secretary of defense waiver sent to congress.
Air

U-2 Retirement Moves Forward With Defense Secretary Decision

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 7, 2023

A new report claims that Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works has delivered a new secret intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft to the US Air Force.
Air

Secret Skunk Works Spy Drone Delivered To Air Force: Report

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 3, 2023

Kratos has offered the first look at a rendering of its stealthy Thanatos drone design.
Air

Thanatos Advanced Stealth Drone Design Breaks Cover

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 3, 2023

A routine test of launch of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile was "terminated" after it experienced an "anomaly."
Nuclear

Minuteman III Ballistic Missile Ordered To Destroy Itself During Test Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 2, 2023

A heavily redacted copy of the final report on a controversial flyoff between the A-10 Warthog and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has finally been released.
Air

A-10 Vs F-35 Close Air Support Flyoff Report Finally Emerges

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 1, 2023

B-1B Bone
Air

B-1B Bombers Just Made Historic Visit To Turkey

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 31, 2023

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 tail number 58-0109 with the nickname “Phantom 109” assigned to the Iowa Air National Guard is in front of the main hangar in Sioux City, Iowa on October 16, 2021. Crew Chiefs recently added nose art to the aircraft depicting a phantom riding along on the aircraft boom.
Air

“The Phantom” Is The Air Force’s Haunted KC-135 Tanker… Almost

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 31, 2023

The Pentagon has announced its new intention to pursue a higher-yield version of the B61-12 nuclear bomb.
Nuclear

Plans For More Destructive B61 Nuclear Bomb Unveiled

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 27, 2023

The US has struck Iran-linked sites in Syria in retaliation for a spate of attacks aimed at U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria in recent weeks.
News & Features

U.S. Strikes Back At Iranian-Linked Bases In Syria (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 27, 2023

An Su-27UB Flanker-C sits in the hangar of the Cold War Gallery, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force
Air

Su-27 Absolutely Dwarfs All Jets Around It At Its New Home

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Oct 26, 2023

A People’s Republic of China J-11 pilot executed an unsafe intercept of a U.S. Air Force B-52 aircraft, which was lawfully conducting routine operations over the South China Sea in international airspace.
News & Features

Chinese Flanker’s “Unsafe” Intercept Seen From B-52’s Sniper Pod

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 26, 2023

Capt. Bob Peel, left, and Lt. Col. Tony Adamo, right, F-16 instructor pilots from the 162nd Fighter Wing, fly over the Grand Canyon while supporting Operation Noble Eagle’s air sovereignty alert mission.
News & Features

Ukraine Situation Report: Ukrainian Pilots Have Begun F-16 Training In U.S.

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 25, 2023

The US Air Force has confirmed that its first pre-production B-21 Raider stealth bomber is undergoing taxi testing ahead of its first flight.
Air

B-21 Raider Has Begun Taxi Tests

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 25, 2023

A US Air Force B-52 bomber was seen flying in East Asia recently sporting white-colored wing tips and we now know the reason why.
Air

Here’s Why Some B-52s Have White Wing Tips

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 24, 2023

Lockheed Martin says it no longer plans to compete for a contract to replace a portion of the Air Force's KC-135 tanker fleet.
Air

Lockheed Bails On KC-135 Tanker Replacement Competition

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 23, 2023

A B-52 is set to land in South Korea sometime this week.
Air

B-52 To Make Very Rare Landing In South Korea This Week

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 17, 2023

Countermeasures released by an F-22 Raptor
Air

This May Be The Best F-22 Raptor Demo Shot Ever

By Tyler Rogoway, Oliver Parken

Posted on Oct 10, 2023

MQ-20 Drone recovery
Air

MQ-20 Avenger Tests Recovery Line For Grabbing Smaller Drones Mid-Flight

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 10, 2023

“Multiple” New Versions Of The XQ-58 Valkyrie In The Works
Air

“Multiple” New Versions Of The XQ-58 Valkyrie In The Works

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 6, 2023

KC-10 departs PSAB
Air

KC-10 Extender Has Flown Its Last Combat Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 5, 2023

F-16 Syria Turkey
Air

U.S. F-16 Shoots Down Turkish Drone Over Syria (Updated)

By Howard Altman

Posted on Oct 5, 2023

Flight testing of the Air Force's future nuclear-tipped AGM-181A Long Range Stand Off cruise missile is well under way.
Air

Flight Testing Of Air Force’s New Nuclear-Armed Cruise Missile Well Underway

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 3, 2023

F35 flare release
Air

Moment Flare Released From F-35 Captured In Remarkable Photo

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 3, 2023

Future Air Combat Drone Performance Focus Areas Emerge
Air

Future Air Combat Drone Performance Focus Areas Emerge

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 2, 2023

The U.S. Air Force has provided the first real look at a future hypersonic air-breathing cruise missile, a type weapon it hopes to start fielding in 2027.
Air

Our First Glimpse Of The Air Force’s Hypersonic Cruise Missile

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 30, 2023

A group of airmen at Aviano Air Base in Italy are pitching an idea for a folding boarding ladder that F-16 pilots can stow in the map case in the jet's cockpit.
Air

Airmen Design F-16 Boarding Ladder That Fits Inside Cockpit

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 27, 2023

The National Museum of the U.S. AIr Force's latest acquisition, an Su-27UB Flanker-C, has a curious history.
Air

Su-27 That Mysteriously Vanished After Private Sale Resurfaces

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 27, 2023

JSTARS E-8 retirement
Air

E-8 JSTARS Has Flown Its Last Operational Mission

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 26, 2023

William Tell
Air

William Tell Air Combat Competition Crowns Its Winners

By Jamie Hunter, James Deboer

Posted on Sep 19, 2023

NORAD EADS
Air

North American Airspace Defense Getting Cloud-Based Backbone Next Month

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Sep 15, 2023

Chinese J-20 aircraft on the runway
Land

China’s J-20 Isn’t A “Dominating Aircraft,” USAF General Says

By Oliver Parken

Posted on Sep 13, 2023

CCA F-22
Air

Collaborative Air Combat Drones Will Head To Pacific En Masse

By Hope Hodge Seck

Posted on Sep 13, 2023

For the very beginning, the B-21 Raider stealth bomber program has been about much more than only the bomber itself.
Air

B-21 ‘Family Of Systems’ Details Emerge, Engine Test Runs Start

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 12, 2023

B-21 Raider Side View
Air

B-21 Raider Seen Like Never Before In New Images

By Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 12, 2023

The US Air Force's Air Mobility Command is still pushing ahead with an idea to turn its KC-135 aerial refueling tankers into drone motherships.
Air

KC-135 Tankers Being Eyed For Drone Launcher Role

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 11, 2023

Anduril's acquisition of Blue Force Technologies and its Fury drone is a latest development is an important story that could have broad ramifications for the US defense industry.
News & Features

The Rise Of Fury

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 11, 2023

William Tell Air Force
Air

William Tell Has Fighter Pilots Competing For Trophies Once Again

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Sep 11, 2023

LongShot Air-To-Air Combat Drone Bid Won By General Atomics
Air

LongShot Air-To-Air Combat Drone Bid Won By General Atomics

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 8, 2023

The Air Force says it is still considering employing its future Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones alongside B-21 bombers, and that the uncrewed aircraft might also serve as tankers and airlifters.
Air

B-21 Raider Could Use Collaborative Drones Meant For Fighters

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Sep 6, 2023

U-2 Spy plane
Air

The U-2 Dragon Lady As You Have Never Seen It Before

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Sep 6, 2023