Chris Gordon
Chris Gordon is the Pentagon Editor at Air & Space Forces Magazine. He has broad journalism and communications experience, and developed a keen interest in defense policy and aerospace during a year on Capitol Hill where he worked with the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a reporter, he has covered everything from national security to hockey for a variety of publications, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Chris serves on the Board of Directors of Military Reporters & Editors, a non-profit organization for journalists covering the military, national security, and homeland defense. Chris can be contacted at CGordon@afa.org.
Recent stories by Chris Gordon
B-52s, F-15s, and A-10s Conduct Massive Anti-ISIS Airstrikes in Syria After Fall of Assad
The U.S. military conducted a punishing series of airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Dec. 8 following the sudden demise of the ruling Assad regime. U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers, F-15E Strike Eagles, and A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft conducted dozens of airstrikes against ...
‘The Baton Will Soon Be Passed’: Austin Touts B-21 Bomber as Part of Legacy
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III touted the Air Force’s B-21 Raider bomber and the military’s new command and control technologies in a major address at the Reagan National Defense Forum on the Biden administration’s legacy in national security.
Airman Development Command: Coming in 2025, Will Be ‘Foundational’ Change, Allvin Says
The Air Force has begun a sweeping overhaul of its education and training programs with the standup of new centers that will be part of the future Airman Development Command that is scheduled to come online next year, service officials said.
US Launches Self-Defense Airstrikes, A-10s Fly over Syria amid Escalating Civil War
The U.S. carried out airstrikes on Dec. 3 to defend U.S. forces in eastern Syria, the Pentagon said. The operation destroyed three truck-mounted rocket launchers, mortars, an armored personnel carrier, and a T-64 tank. The strikes were intended to defend American forces at their outpost and ...
Allvin: USAF Force Design Maps Out Plan to Scale Up—or Down
Air Force Chief of Staff David W. Allvin said the principal aim of his much-advertised but still secret force design is to refine the service’s thinking and give it options to maneuver in the face of evolving threats—or different budgets.
‘Blueprints’ for China’s New Fighter Similar to F-35, Air Force Chief Says
The Air Force's top officer said China's new stealth fighter has one distinctive feature: It appears to draw its inspiration from the U.S.’s F-35. “It’s still fairly new,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin said in a Nov. 19 interview with Air ...
B-52 Drops Bombs in Lithuania in Rare Live-Fire Exercise
A B-52 Stratofortress bomber dropped weapons on a range in Lithuania on Nov. 15 in an unusual live fire display,
New Report: How to Avoid a Nuclear War With China
The Air Force’s capability to carry out long-range strikes can play an important role in defending Taiwan against a Chinese attack but must be carefully managed to reduce the risk of triggering a nuclear conflict, according to a new study by the RAND Corporation.
‘The United States Needs More Air Force’: Allvin Makes the Case for More Funding
The Air Force’s top officer made a blunt case Nov. 13 for the service to get more funding so the nation can employ more effective airpower—and offered a preview of a coming force design to go with that funding. “I think the United States of ...
US Strikes Iranian-Backed Groups in Syria After Attacks on American Troops
The U.S. conducted strikes against Iranian-backed groups in Syria on Nov. 12 in response to a fresh spate of attacks on American personnel, the U.S. military announced. It was the second series of strikes in two days.
Fresh F-15E Fighters Arrive in Middle East to Replace Departing Jets
F-15Es from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, U.K., have deployed to the Middle East, replacing Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., that recently wrapped up a rotation in the region.
Behind the Scenes of a Minuteman ICBM Launch with Three Test Warheads
The U.S. launched a Minuteman III missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time on Nov. 5., in an important test of the weapon's ability to strike its targets with multiple warheads.
B-52s Deploying to Europe on Top of Bombers Already in Middle East
U.S. Air Force B-52s are headed to Europe for a Bomber Task Force rotation, Air & Space Forces Magazine confirmed Nov. 5. The deployment is separate from the six B-52s that deployed to the Middle East this weekend to deter Iran and its proxies.
B-52 Bombers Deploy to Middle East to Deter Iran, More F-15E Fighters to Come
U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers have arrived in the Middle East to deter Iran and its proxies, the U.S. military announced Nov. 3. It is the first time that B-52s have deployed to a base in the region since 2019.
Training For the Big Fight
To exercise these new operational concepts, the Air Force is expanding the number and scale of operational exercises, including limited-notice, large-scale exercises that push the limits of the force.