John A. Tirpak
John A. Tirpak is Editorial Director of Air & Space Forces Magazine, with more than 25 years at the publication and more than 34 years in defense journalism. He has written for Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aerospace Daily, and Jane’s, reporting from all 50 U.S. states and 25 countries. He has been recognized with awards for journalistic excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Aviation and Space Writer’s Association, the Association of Business Publications International, and was the recipient of the 2018 Gill Robb Wilson Award in Arts and Letters from the Air & Space Forces Association. He has lectured at the National War College and did postgraduate research at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum.
Recent stories by John A. Tirpak
DNI: Russia Gaining Ground in Ukraine with China’s Help
The war in Ukraine isn’t likely to end soon, because Russia is gaining ground, making more munitions, and getting more help from China, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told lawmakers May 2.
US Needs Better Coordination, Cheaper Ways to Counter Drones: Pentagon Officials
The nation needs a better-coordinated policy for dealing with unmanned aerial systems that threaten domestic bases, Air Force vice chief of staff Gen. James C. Slife told a panel of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He and Pentagon acquisition and sustainment chief William LaPlante co-chair ...
Kendall: Air Force Expects 100 CCAs Operating Within Five Years
The Air Force only expects to field about 100 Collaborative Combat Aircraft during the next five years, but that the tempo of the program will yield new contracts about every two years, Secretary Frank Kendall said.
Houthis Shoot Down Third MQ-9; Five Now Lost to Hostile Fire in Just Over a Year
An Air Force MQ-9 went down in Yemen on April 25, the Pentagon confirmed, after Houthi rebels in that country claimed they shot it down with a missile. The crash marks the fifth MQ-9 brought down in the Middle East by hostile fire in the ...
RTX Exits the Space Prime Business, Won’t Make SDA Satellites
RTX, parent of Raytheon, Collins and Pratt & Whitney, is getting out of the space prime business and focusing on its "strengths" as a maker of space sensors, buses, and components, company COO Chris Calio said during an earnings call.
Competitors Not Picked for CCA Look Forward to Increment 2
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.
Anduril and General Atomics to Develop New Collaborative Combat Aircraft for Air Force
Anduril and General Atomics will develop their Collaborative Combat Aircraft for the Air Force, beating out Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, the service announced on April 24. But any of the non-selected companies can compete to actually manufacture the eventual design, the Air Force ...
Classified Lockheed Program to Lose $1 Billion Before Becoming a ‘Franchise’
Lockheed Martin projects more than a billion dollars of losses on a classified program, but company officials said April 23 they are confident it will turn profitable by 2028 and become a "franchise" system in the U.S. military.
F-35 Tech Upgrade Slips to 2025; ‘Truncated’ Version in the Fall
The full-up Tech Refresh 3 for the F-35 won't be delivered until 2025, Lockheed Martin officials said April 23. A "truncated" version will be delivered this fall so users can start taking delivery of their jets, and then be able to exploit the full capabilities ...
President Says Poland ‘Ready’ to Join NATO Nuclear Sharing
Polish president Adrzej Duda said in a interview published April 22 his country is "ready" to become one of the "nuclear sharing" NATO partners that can deploy American tactical nuclear weapons from their fighter aircraft, but prime minister Donald Tusk said no such decision has ...
First AI Dogfights Focus on Safety, Building for CCA Applications
The first live-fly dogfights pitting artificial intelligence against human pilots took place last fall, and more tests are planned as the Air Force prepares to launch the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, DARPA and Air Force test officials reported.
Thomas C. Reed, Secretary of the Air Force Under Ford and Carter, Dies at 89
Thomas C. Reed, who served as the 11th Secretary of the Air Force and a national security advisor to President Ronald Reagan, died Feb. 11 at age 89.
Sticker Shock Drags Out USAF’s E-7 Negotiations with Boeing
While a deal on the E-7 Wedgetail airborne battle management jet may come soon, negotiations are stuck on the high price Boeing is asking for the development jets, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said recently.
Upset with Divestment, Congress Impatient for Fighter Recap Strategy
Lawmakers are growing impatient for an overdue fighter recapitalization study from the Air Force, and members say they'll demand more detailed justifications for future aircraft retirements.
F-35 Program Says GAO Report Title Misleading; Sustainment Costs Coming Down
The F-35 Joint Program Office challenged the Government Accountability Office's most recent report on the fighter, saying it suggests sustainment costs are rising when in fact they are decreasing.