Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities. The post F-22 Pilots Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Actions in CENTCOM, Including Midnight Hammer appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force will officially kick off a major overhaul of maintenance career field next year with a pilot program, but the plan for the revamp is still evolving—while officials once intended to condense 50 aircraft maintenance specialties down to just seven, now they are targeting 14 Air Force Specialty Codes, according to Lt. Gen. Kenyon K. Bell. The post Air Force Adjusting Plan for Maintenance Career Overhaul from Just 7 AFSCs to 14 appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

More than 50 years after the U.S. military launched its first Defense Support Program satellite, the Space Force has officially decommissioned the missile warning constellation as it prepares to start fielding its next-generation architecture. The post Space Force Sunsets 1970s-Era Missile Warning Satellite Constellation appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Three T-7A Red Hawk trainer jets flew together at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on Sept. 16—one physical aircraft in the air and two virtual ones controlled from simulators on the ground, all sharing one common operating picture. The post Airborne T-7 Links Up with Simulators in Air Force First appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

United States air forces are engaged in combat operations today, and not all the aircraft are modern stealthy platforms like the B-2, F-22, or F-35. The venerable Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon remains the backbone of the U.S. Air Force... The post Why the US Air Force Needs to Invest in Electronic Warfare appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The long-standing method for communicating data down from space via radio frequencies has the potential to create deadly data bottlenecks that could slow and stymie future operations, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. The report makes the case for combining RF with optical communications technology, or laser comms, for a “hybrid” system. The post Drowning in Data: New Report Says Space Force Needs Lasers Comms to Beat the Bottleneck appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

In a “State of the Force” address Sept. 30, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced plans for a new four-star command to lead the military-wide push to field autonomous systems, one of several initiatives meant to further his sweeping transformation of the Pentagon. The post Hegseth Unveils New Autonomous Warfare Command in ‘State of the Force’ Address appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit have selected seven companies to move forward on a program meant to produce a low-cost, semi-autonomous drone to succeed the MQ-9A Reaper, multiple sources confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine. The post Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The White House nominated Lt. Gen. David Miller to lead U.S. Space Command, replacing Gen. Stephen Whiting, who is expected to retire by January 2027. The post White House Taps Miller to Lead US Space Command appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract for 22 F-15EX Eagle II fighters on Sept. 29, narrowly meeting a deadline to use funds from last summer’s reconciliation bill or face cuts. The post Air Force Inks Deal for 22 More Boeing F-15EX Fighters appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth plans to announce Sept. 30 that the Pentagon will slash the number of general and flag officers by 20 percent The post Hegseth to Slash 20 Percent of Generals and Flag Officers, Deepening Cuts to Top Ranks appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Navy has awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion to build its new carrier-based sixth-generation fighter, the F/A-XX. Boeing is also building the Air Force’s sixth-gen F-47. The post F-47 Maker Boeing Tapped for Navy’s F/A-XX Sixth-Gen Fighter appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Pentagon on Sept. 28 announced a contract potentially worth $20.7 billion for RTX to build Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles used by Navy and Air Force aircraft and for ground-based interceptors. The post Pentagon Hands Out $20.7B Contract for AMRAAM Missiles to RTX appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Space Force Maj. Alyson Gleason and Capt. Stephen Richard just gave their highly technical service a tougher image by becoming the first Guardians to endure 18 punishing days of training to graduate from the Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama. The post Two Guardians Just Became the First Space Force Grads of Army Jungle School appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

For the past four years, the idea of autonomous drone warfare like Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been discussed as a future concept, rather than near-term reality. But now that promised vision appears imminent, with the Air Force promising at least 1,000 such drones by 2032. The post CCAs and Autonomy Gain Momentum as Focus of Future Force appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force’s emerging Collaborative Combat Aircraft program would suffer delays if Congress fails to pass a budget before the end of this calendar year, a top service official said Sept. 28. The post Air Force, Industry Fear Continuing Resolution Could Hinder CCA Production appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Active-Duty Airmen and Guardians have until mid-October to update their personnel records with their religious preference using the Pentagon’s new consolidated list of Religious Affiliation Codes, according to a recent Department of the Air Force announcement. The post Airmen, Guardians Told to Select Religion Code from New Consolidated List appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Space Force is starting a new competition to bolster its aging network of antennas that track and manage Pentagon and other U.S. government satellites—and this time, acquisition officials are open to leasing commercial systems or even paying for commercial antennas as a service. The post Space Force Interested in Commercial Antennas to Control Satellites appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Six U.S. Air Force F-35A fighters and 200-plus Airmen deployed to India on Sept. 26 for their first appearance in a large-scale exercise on Indian soil. The post For First Time, US F-35s Will Join Exercise in India appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A recent $21 million contract award to three software companies could give the Air Force’s airlift and tanker units real-time software updates in degraded environments, including aircraft fuel, logistics, and other mobility fleet data. The post Software Deals Move Mobility Fleet Toward Common Operating Picture with Real-Time Data appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

An air base in England used by American bombers to strike Iran was the target of a suspected bomb plot, U.K. officials said Sept. 27. The post UK Thwarts Suspected Terrorist Plot Against Base Used by US Bombers for Strikes on Iran appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

U.S. Northern Command plans to sign an agreement with its European and Pacific counterparts to enhance coordination and close security seams in the Arctic, a strategically vital region that spans all three commands. The agreement comes at an important moment in NORTHCOM's evolution, as its mission grows more complex. The post To Secure Arctic, NORTHCOM Builds Closer Ties to Pacific, European Commands appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Anduril-built Barracuda cruise missile recently received certification as the Air Force’s first large-scale production munition compliant with open systems architecture. The post Air Force Certifies Anduril Barracuda Cruise Missile for Open System Updates appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force has invested $87.4 million to upgrade the F-16 Fighting Falcon's electronic warfare capabilities, bolstering the fighter's self-protection against increasingly advanced threats. Bringing the total program value to $1.92 billion, the move is expected to jump-start fielding by funding low-rate initial production of the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS. The post Air Force Injects $87M into IVEWS F-16 Electronic Warfare Upgrades appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

New Air Force, Pentagon, and White House initiatives aim to chip away at an issue that has long frustrated leaders and families across the military: spouse employment. For years now, the percentage of unemployed military spouses has held steady at around 20 percent, experts say. The post Air Force, Pentagon Work to Boost Military Spouse Employment appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

One of the Air Force and Navy’s most common air-to-air missiles is falling short of a key readiness metric, and the services are ramping up stocks of a vital air-to-ground missile, according to recent Pentagon reports. The post Newest AIM-9X Missiles Not Meeting Operational Availability Goal appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.—a longtime hub for A-10 Thunderbolt II tactical training, operational testing and maintenance—ended nearly a half-century of flying the venerable Warthog on Sept. 22. The post Last Warthog Departs Nellis as Base’s A-10 Era Comes to a Close appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington D.C. has been filled with signs of American airpower: U.S. Air Force B-1 and B-2 bombers and F-22 fighters have all performed flyovers Sept. 23-24. The post Air Force Bombers and Fighters Fly Over Chinese Leader’s DC Visit appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force’s HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter made its final flight earlier this month. The 129th Rescue Wing retired its last HH-60G with a final flight and ceremony on Sept. 10 at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif. The Pave Hawk is being replaced by an updated model, HH-60W Jolly Green II. The post So Long, Pave Hawk: Air Force’s HH-60G Combat Rescue Helicopter Completes Final Flight appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Air Force is slashing all civilian positions at its premier research institute for Chinese military aviation, prompting concern among experts who say it will dilute the service’s focus on the Pentagon’s most significant long-term adversary. The post Air Force to Cut Civilian Jobs from China-Focused Research Center appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A recent two-week experiment tested how Airmen and Guardians can team with machines and artificial intelligence to enhance command and control in complex scenarios—with researchers measuring everything from the heart rate of participants to the quality of their decision-making. The post Air Force Experiment Looks at How Humans and AI Can Team Up for Command and Control appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and Anduril Industries both say they’re ready to produce Collaborative Combat Aircraft at a rapid clip and even expand that production, as they wait for a fiscal 2027 budget to fund that work. The post CCA Builders Start Revving Production Rates, as They Await 2027 Funding appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

As the Space Force eyes a possible fivefold increase in the number of satellites it operates on orbit, defense officials are looking for ways to shore up the industrial base to support that growth, which is expected over the next three to five years. The post Space Force Weighs Options to Boost Supply Chain Amid Production Surge appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A new think tank report calls for a buildup of U.S. drones and munitions needed for a potential fight against the Chinese military over Taiwan, thought other experts argue the report is missing some nuance in the munitions equation. The post Experts: Affordable Munitions Could Help USAF in Taiwan Conflict, but More Is Needed appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A misaligned vane in an F-16 engine that field-level maintainers cannot see to inspect caused one of the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbird jets to crash last December, a new report concludes. The same problem led another F-16 to crash 20 months earlier. The post Investigators Blame F-16 Thunderbird Crash on Turned Fan Blade Deep in Engine appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Space Force may invest in a maneuverable space vehicle that can be available for an on-demand launch in response to “emerging threats,” according to a new industry notice. The post Space Force Seeks Maneuverable Spacecraft for On-Demand Launch appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Around 8,000 Airmen and Guardians currently have medical waivers exempting them from shaving—thousands less than just a few years ago but still about half of all the waivers across the U.S. military. The revelation comes shortly after the Department of the Air Force started directing commanders to consider separating those who have had medical shaving profiles for too long. The post 8,000 Airmen and Guardians Still Have Medical Shaving Waivers After Policy Changes appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed on a local mission in Germany on Sept. 22. The pilot ejected safely and is receiving medical care, Air Force officials said. The fighter was assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base. The jet went down on base property in the Eifel region of western Germany. The post F-16 Crashes in Germany; Pilot Successfully Ejects appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A single-pallet-sized tactical operations center is slated to begin shipping to 70 Air Force units by the end of the year following a recent announcement by the company that made it and the Air Force entity responsible for its development. The post Air Force to Get First Next-Gen Tactical C2 Centers By Year’s End appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing received its first F-35A Joint Strike Fighter on Sept. 13, becoming the latest unit to get its hands on the new fifth-generation jet. The post Massachusetts Guard Gets First F-35 to Replace Departed F-15s appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Space Development Agency is opening a competition to expand its ground architecture to support a growing fleet of missile warning, tracking, and defense satellites. The post SDA Seeks to Expand Ground Architecture for Future Missile Tracking Satellites appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The rollout of new hardware to replace an old, troubled maintenance and logistics system for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is complete, a Lockheed Martin spokesperson told reporters Sept. 14, and software upgrades are next. The post Software for New F-35 Logistics System Starts Going Live appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

A remarkable cockpit photograph released by Ukraine last week captures far more than the destruction of a Russian Geran jet-powered attack drone. It illustrates both how far the Ukrainian Air Force has come—and the gap between the force it has today and the one it would need to become a major European air power in the future. The post What F-16 Gun Kills Tell Us About the Future of Ukraine’s Air Force appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Smithsonian’s announcement that an F-117A Nighthawk, tail number 85-0818, is headed to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum, or NASM, is welcome news. The acquisition of this Nighthawk fills a long-standing historical gap—indeed, need—in the collections of what is generally considered the world’s premier air and space museum. The post The F-117: Now Washington Can See Stealth in the Light of History appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight. The post Air Force Set Up a Depot in UK During Epic Fury for Faster Battle Repairs appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The 55th Wing officially retired the EC-130H Compass Call aircraft in a ceremony Sept. 18 at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., while the 355th Wing there retired its final A-10 Warthog, another major transition for the base. The post Air Force Retires EC-130H, Embraces EA-37B, as Davis-Monthan Transitions appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

More than 130 Airmen and Guardians have returned to service after leaving the military rather than receive the COVID-19 vaccine. And more could follow, an Air Force official said. The post Now Back in Uniform: At Least 134 Airmen, Guardians Who Refused COVID Vaccine appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

The Space Force and the Defense Innovation Unit have chosen two firms to demonstrate the ability of small satellites built with low-cost, commercial technology to track both friendly and adversary satellites in geosynchronous orbit. The post Pentagon Picks 2 Companies for Reconnaissance Satellite Demo appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

As the threat of Iranian-made drones grew, the Air Force rushed last year to equip F-15E Strike Eagles in the Middle East with a cheap, cost-effective way of defeating them. The service fielded the new capability in roughly a week. The post How the Air Force Rigged F-15s in the Middle East with Drone-Busting Rockets in a Week appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital. The post F-16 Crashes During Training Exercise in Michigan; Pilot Ejects appeared first on Air & Space Forces Magazine.