Franklin Hibel
Recent stories by Franklin Hibel
Kadena Sends ‘Message You Can’t Ignore’ with Huge Elephant Walk
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile ...
New KC-46 Remote Vision System Slips Another 18 Months, to Summer 2027
The Air Force and Boeing are now projecting that they will field the Remote Vision System 2.0 on the KC-46 tanker by summer 2027. The new date is nearly two years longer than previously anticipated, and four years later than originally expected.
Air Force Set to ‘Significantly’ Change Launch Facilities for Sentinel ICBM
The design of the launch facilities for the Air Force’s new Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile are likely to undergo major revision, posing yet another challenge for the much-delayed and over-budget program to modernize the land-based component of America’s nuclear triad, officials said.
Trump Says US Halting Military Campaign Against Houthis
The U.S. will halt its stepped-up campaign of airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen, President Donald Trump announced May 6, citing promises from the rebel group that it will stop attacking commercial shipping lanes.
Hegseth Orders 20% Cut in 4-Star Generals and Admirals, Seeks Overhaul of Commands
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is directing the Pentagon to slash the number of senior generals and admirals, he announced May 5—at least 20 percent of four-star positions would be eliminated under the move. Hegseth also said he is directing a sweeping review of U.S. ...
US Air Force Taps Boneyard Jets to Keep Ukraine’s F-16s Flying
The U.S. has approved a $310.5 million Foreign Military Sale to provide Ukraine with maintenance and training for its F-16 fighter jets, the State Department announced May 2. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force has been sending retired F-16s to Ukraine to be used for spare ...
RAF Unveils Its Own Plan for New Drones to Fly Alongside Fighters
The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force has unveiled a new electronic warfare drone designed to fly with fighter jets into contested airspace, including alongside its fleet of F-35s. RAF says it plans to develop models that draw on the U.S. Air Force’s approach of mating unmanned ...
US Has Struck Over 1,000 Houthi Targets in Renewed Campaign
U.S. forces have struck more than 1,000 Houthi targets in Yemen since March 15, U.S. officials said, as the Trump administration’s military campaign against the militants reached the 45-day mark. Dubbed Operation Rough Rider, the campaign has drawn on U.S. Navy and Air Force warplanes ...
Trump: Selfridge Getting F-15EX Fighters to Replace A-10s
Michigan’s Selfridge Air National Guard Base will become the home of 21 F-15EX Eagle II multirole fighters, a move that will enable the base to retain a fighter mission after the looming retirement of its A-10 attack planes.
USAF Doubles Down on More F-16 Fighters near North Korea
The U.S. Air Force will ramp up its fighter presence near North Korea by sending more than two dozen additional F-16s and 1,000 Airmen from Kunsan Air Base to Osan Air Base, South Korea.
Air Force Tests Out New Air-to-Air Training in Europe Focused on Drones
U.S. Air Forces in Europe is using one of its premier F-16 squadrons to develop and practice new tactics and weapons to counter drones. The exercise stems from the service’s experience in the Middle East, fighting off Iranian and Houthi attacks.
Commander of Space Force’s Greenland Base Fired over Comments About Vance Visit
The commander of the U.S. military base in Greenland has been fired after sending an email to base personnel distancing herself from Vice President J.D. Vance’s comments about the Danish territory that President Donald Trump wants to annex.
Air Force Has Flown More Than 50 Missions to Gather Intel at the Southern Border
The Air Force has conducted more than 50 surveillance missions around the U.S. southern border with crewed and uncrewed aircraft, as the Pentagon seeks to gather intelligence on foreign cartels, drug and human trafficking, and illegal migration.
NATO to Focus on ‘Realistic Combat Scenarios’ in Ramstein Flag 2025
NATO will start a major exercise at the end of the month to practice the ability of allied air forces to operate in a contested environment, officials said March 24.
Trump Announces F-47, the Air Force’s New Sixth-Gen Fighter Built by Boeing
President Donald Trump has decided to proceed with the Air Force’s sixth-generation fighter jet after reviewing the program and its project costs—and Boeing will build it.