Jack Broughton
Recent stories by Jack Broughton
CCA Drones to Fly at Large-Scale Air Force Exercise in December
The Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft will take part in their first large-force engagement exercise in December, the head of the drones’ Experimental Operations Unit said Sept. 15.
Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to answer capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the ...
B-52 Engine, Radar Upgrades Hit New Milestones
The Air Force’s program to re-engine the B-52H Stratofortress has moved from its technology maturation and risk reduction phase to engineering and manufacturing development, marking a new milestone in the sweeping overhaul of the Cold War-era bomber, a top official said Sept. 15.
F-35 Readiness Surged in Epic Fury; Now Pentagon and Lockheed Eye Broader Gains
For years, sustainment challenges and spare parts shortages have hindered the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s readiness. But the Air Force’s experience flying F-35s heavily in operations against Iran have showed what the jet can be capable of, if maintainers get all the supplies and support ...
Air Force Plans Hundreds of Autonomous Fighter and ISR Drones by 2032
The Air Force plans to field at least 500 semi-autonomous fighter drones known as Collaborative Combat Aircraft by 2032, and another 500 cheap reconnaissance and strike drones known as Massed Modular Aircraft that same year, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said Sept. 14.
Lockheed Plans to Fly ‘Vectis’ CCA by End of 2027, Already Working on More Aircraft
Lockheed Martin’s proposed autonomous drone, called Vectis, is still on track to fly a prototype by the end of 2027, an official from the company’s Skunk Works division said Sept. 10, and the firm already started work on four more Vectis aircraft.
General Atomics Offers First Glimpse of Wildfire Drone, Eyed as MQ-9 Successor
General Atomics has unveiled the first renderings of its Wildfire drone, which it plans to pitch for the Air Force’s hunt for a new, low-cost Massed Modular Aircraft.
Global Strike ‘Campaign’ Aims to Speed Up B-1, B-52 Maintenance, Parts Supply
One year into a new campaign to boost readiness rates for the B-1B Lancer and B-52H Stratofortress bombers, Air Force Global Strike Command is claiming some early wins and planning to forge ahead with more improvements.
Air Force Speeding Up New Low-Cost Drone Program after Heavy MQ-9 Losses Against Iran
The Air Force is accelerating its plans to field an MQ-9A replacement in the wake of heavy Reaper losses in operations against Iran, top officials said Sept. 3, and they’re targeting a price point of just $10 million per aircraft.
What Each F-35 Variant Really Costs Right Now
The base cost of an F-35A, the Air Force variant of the Joint Strike Fighter, is going up 11.5 percent from $82.5 million to $92 million for the latest lots of the fifth-generation aircraft, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed.
Doubling of F-15EX Fleet Comes with Risks for USAF to Manage: New Pentagon Report
The Air Force’s decision to more than double its purchase of F-15EX Eagle II jets may bolster the service’s fighter fleet, but it also comes with risks and questions officials will have to manage in the years ahead, a new Pentagon report warns.
Air Force Pulls ICBM Testing Device After Finding Likely Carcinogen
The Air Force has pulled a piece of testing equipment for its Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles after discovering some appeared to be contaminated with a possible carcinogen.
F-35 Price Rising due to New Upgrades, Inflation, More
Inflation and rising costs for critical upgrades are swelling the price of the F-35 fighter, according to a newly released acquisition report on the fifth-generation jet.
What the Eye-Popping $131B F-15 Contract May Mean For the Air Force
The Air Force awarded a sweeping—and potentially massive—F-15 contract to Boeing this week, one that a top aviation expert said could provide a new approach to major program acquisitions and greater stability for the defense industry.
USAF Gives Raytheon, Boeing $766M in Contracts for B-52 Radar Upgrades
The Pentagon on Aug. 25 announced a pair of Air Force contracts to Raytheon and Boeing, totaling more than $766 million, for advance work on adding new radars to the B-52H Stratofortress.
