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
JetZero to Build Blended Wing-Body Aircraft in North Carolina
JetZero announced it will build its Z4 blended-wing body aircraft in Greensboro, N.C., where it's investing $4.7 billion and expects to create more than 14,000 jobs. The aircraft--being developed in part with Air Force funds--is potentially a disruptor in the airline/air cargo and Air Force ...
Air Force Reveals First Image of LRSO Nuclear Cruise Missile
The Air Force has released its first artist's rendering of the AGM-181 Long-Range Stand-Off (LRSO) nuclear weapon, set to equip the B-52 circa 2030. The weapon is reminiscent of the AGM-129 Advanced Cruise Missile, which preceded it, and the AGM-158 JASSM; all three of which ...
What Might the Future Hold for the F-35?
As futuristic aviation programs gain priority, the F-35—the only in-production, fifth-generation American fighter—is facing new headwinds. Fresh debate over its challenges and its potential in the coming months will shape its future role in the force.
US Bombers Step Up Combat Operations as Demand Grows
U.S. bomber units are stepping up the pace of combat operations and overseas training as demand for their capabilities grows around the globe, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command said June 5.
F-35 Contracts Slip in Delay Unrelated to Radar Woes
Funding to build the next two batches of F-35 fighters, originally expected to be finalized by the end of June, won’t be awarded to Lockheed Martin until sometime this summer, the jet's Joint Program Office told Air & Space Forces Magazine.
Air Force Ready to Deploy More Nukes Once Arms Control Treaty Ends
The Air Force is ready to add more nuclear warheads to its bomber aircraft and underground missiles if ordered to do so when a key arms control treaty expires next year, its top nuclear officer said June 5.
Top NATO Official Says All Members May Hit Spending Target After 11 Years
"Most, if not all," NATO countries will soon achieve their longtime goal of spending 2 percent of their GDPs on defense, but that may not be enough, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said at the NATO ministerial in Brussels. He also said members will be assigned responsibilities ...
Experts Weigh in on Lessons Learned From Ukraine’s Drone Attack
As innovative as Ukraine's drone attack on Russia's bomber fleet was, it's not a template for how the U.S. should conduct air wars, two experts said.
Cut to DOD’s Test Enterprise Alarms Critics, Fearing Loss of ‘Honest Broker’
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's move to halve the office of the Director of Operational Test and Evaluation and slash away three-quarters of its funding could push a lot of expertise out of the Pentagon, diminishing the clout and value of the organization as a truth-teller ...
General Atomics Designing Long-Range Stealth ‘GHOST’ Recon Drone
The Air Force has awarded General Atomics a $99.3 million contract for a stealthy, ultra-long-range surveillance aircraft design to be ready by 2028. The plane, nicknamed "GHOST," would also have a strike mission.
MITRE: ‘We Still Have Work to Do’ to Attract New Defense Contractors
Small and medium businesses are still skeptical of defense work despite years of effort and a raft of legislation aimed at accelerating acquisition and breaking down barriers for new entrants—though that perception is slowly improving, according to a new industry survey.
Agreement Ensures Access to UK-US Base on Diego Garcia for Next Century
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.
Allvin to Congress: USAF Will Have More Control of New F-47 Fighter
The F-47 fighter will be run differently than previous fighter programs and share the same mission systems architecture as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin told the Senate Armed Services Committee. That means advances in one will fuel advances ...
More B-21s May Be Necessary If B-52J Upgrade Goes Awry, Allvin Says
The Air Force might want to buy more than the planned fleet of 100 B-21 bombers, particularly if the coming B-52J upgrade proves more challenging than anticipated, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
USAF Has Started Planning for Qatari 747 to Enter Presidential Service as Air Force One
The Air Force has started planning modifications to the 747-8 to be gifted to the U.S. by Qatar into a suitable presidential transport, promising that the jet would meet all the basic requirements of the mission, Air Force Secretary Dr. Troy E. Meink said May ...