Threats

The D Brief: More sanctions on Russia; US talks space nuke; Manta-ray sub drone; Australia’s ship plan; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Everyone’s V-22s are flying again—and may do so past 2060

As all services emerge from March’s grounding, the program’s manager lays out long-term plans.

  • Audrey Decker
Policy

Air Force declares major cost breach for new helicopter program

The service wants to halve its buy of the helicopter, which is driving up per-unit costs.

  • Audrey Decker
Defense Systems

Air Force picks the builder of its next Doomsday planes

Sierra Nevada gets a $13 billion contract to replace the E-4B Nighthawk by 2036.

  • Richard Pettibone, Forecast International
Threats

The D Brief: Russia gains ground; US bombs, spoofed; China’s new forces; Marines’ ‘fictional intelligence’; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Ideas

Defense One Radio, Ep. 151: The state of the Air Force

Our State of Defense series concludes with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Gen. Mike Minihan from Air Mobility Command.

  • Defense One Staff
Ideas

Farewell to China’s Strategic Support Force. Let’s meet its replacements

The PLA axes an organization once hailed as evidence of innovation.

  • Matt Bruzzese and Peter W. Singer
Threats

The D Brief: Aid heads to Ukraine; Army’s 100K goal; Niger pullout talks; Pentagon test recuses himself; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Business

Anduril, General Atomics win more USAF money to develop robot wingmen

But the giants they beat out are welcome to pitch self-developed drones for production contracts.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

China’s new stealth bomber ‘nowhere near as good’ as US’s, intel official says

U.S. could win a war with China today, but would suffer heavy losses, the official told reporters.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: House OKs aid; Likely stateside impact; US to withdraw from Niger; AI-powered dogfight; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Science & Tech

An AI took on a human pilot in a DARPA-sponsored dogfight

Last September's tests are informing the Air Force’s effort to build autonomous drones.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: Aid votes coming?; Ukraine war casualty counts; A plan to restart F-35 deliveries; Navy to miss recruiting goal; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

Ukraine doesn’t want A-10s, but another country might, Air Force secretary says

Could Poland or Romania be eyeing the USAF’s old Warthogs?

  • Audrey Decker
Policy

F-35 deliveries could resume in July, but the new jets won’t be combat-ready for a year or more

Program officials also say they’ll “reimagine” their upgrade plan, with new delays for some capabilities.

  • Audrey Decker
Threats

The D Brief: 16 die in Russian attack; SecDef, China talk; Missile duels’ price tag; Army recruiting, on track at last; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston
Policy

In a budgetary first, Air Force will launch two programs without asking Congress in advance

The service is using a power granted by lawmakers in the 2024 NDAA.

  • Audrey Decker
Business

The F-35 program is costing more and doing less, GAO says

Total sustainment costs are now expected to top $1.5 trillion, even as the jet’s mission-readiness declines.

  • Audrey Decker
Ideas

What we learn from Serbia's intriguing fighter-jet choice

Belgrade's plan to buy its first Western-designed combat aircraft reveals trends in its military, the region, and Russia.

  • Daniel Darling, Forecast International
Policy

Do states need a ‘Space Force militia’? Air Force says no

A recent legislative proposal reignited debate over a potential Space National Guard.

  • Audrey Decker
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