Air Force

Air Force shutters quality of life working groups as Trump takes over the Pentagon

The groups had remained active, and even expanded, during Trump’s first term.

  • Audrey Decker

Pilot shortage: new report calls for more Air Force fighters and larger Reserve

The Mitchell Institute report comes after Air Force Chief Gen. Allvin publicly called for a beefier Air Force.

  • Audrey Decker

It's time for a new Key West agreement

Airpower, air defense, Marines’ role—all need revisiting, three-quarters of a century after the seminal roles-and-missions pact.

  • R.D. Hooker, Jr.

Boeing’s defense unit to eat $1.7 billion in fourth quarter

Fixed-price contracts continue to torment the aerospace giant.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: More troops to border; USAF’s ‘deportation flights’; DEI purge begins; After pardons, a new J6 inquest; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson

Trump taps NRO official as Air Force secretary

The move emphasizes the next administration's pro-space agenda.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Gaza ceasefire?; House intel chair, fired; INDOPACOM’s gen-AI test; Navy’s ‘embarrassing’ laser effort; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

Air Force delays T-7 production but expects accelerated initial operational capability

The service said today that it would “incentivize” Boeing to address “emergent issues” for the trainer program.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Hegseth on the Hill; NATO’s newest mission; Next carriers named; C-130J firefighting video; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

Outgoing Air Force secretary floats options for 6th-gen jet program

Frank Kendall offers a vision for his department’s future—though NGAD’s fate will be up to the Trump team.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Allies reel over annexation talk; Ukraine donors set production goals; Navy’s plans/funding mismatch; Iran’s painful admission; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson, Patrick Tucker and Bradley Peniston

New threats pushing Air Force and Army to rethink approach to base defense

A recent report outlines how the U.S. is falling behind China in building resilient air bases.

  • Audrey Decker
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2024 in review: Air Force

China shakeup, bombers, jammers, ICBM—it was a busy year.

  • Defense One Staff

Costs of the CR: Marines will miss full strength, and more

A continuing resolution is better than a shutdown, but it’s still a stopgap that hurts.

  • Patrick Tucker

US Ospreys to resume flight after gearbox inspections

New flight restrictions added after part failed in last year’s deadly crash.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Troops’ pay in jeopardy; CENTCOM’s Syria surge; Army to cut 5% of generals; USAF may trim F-35 buy; And a bit more.

  • Bradley Peniston and Ben Watson

Air Force may curtail F-35 plan if newer tech pans out, SECAF says

Outgoing secretary Frank Kendall also clapped back at recent comments by Elon Musk about manned vs. unmanned systems.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Europe’s wartime crossroads; F-35’s training gap; Army’s to-do list; Space Force seeks boot camp; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson
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Future of the Army

The D Brief: Russia races for gains; House passes NDAA; Taiwan talks to Trump team; USAF preps for transition; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston

How the Air Force is preparing for the new administration

“I don't have angst. Quite frankly, I am ready to understand and adapt the force,” service chief says.

  • Audrey Decker

The D Brief: Immigration hits record; Costs, consequences of deportation plan; Aviators’ battered brains; Army: too top-heavy?; And a bit more.

  • Ben Watson and Bradley Peniston