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
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.
Allvin: USAF Sticking to 100 B-21s as It Considers Something New
The Air Force hasn't asked for more than 100 B-21s because it won't get there for at least a decade and something better may be developed first, Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin told the Senate Armed Services Committee April 16.
B-1 Bombers Perch Closer to Middle East Conflict in Exercise with Turkish Fighters
Two B-1B bombers have deployed to the vicinity of Middle East conflicts, conducting exercises with the Turkish air force and operating from Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, the Air Force announced April 15.
Altus Evacuates Heavy Aircraft Ahead of Tornado Threat
Altus Air Force Base, Okla., the heavy mobility aircraft schoolhouse, evacuated many of it C-17s, KC-46s and KC-135s to other bases in the region April 15 ahead of possible tornadoes, damaging winds, and hail.
Air Force Wants $1.3 Billion to Finish Design for New Fighter Engine
The Air Force wants to spend $1.3 billion to finish designing two competitive engines to power the Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter, budget documents show. They say the designs are well along, and the timing of the request indicates production could begin by 2028.
Navy Shoots Four LRASMs in ‘Graduation Exercise,’ as Air Force Ramps Up Multiyear Buy
The Navy recently launched four AGM-158C-3 Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles at once, in what’s being billed as a “graduation exercise for the latest configuration” of the stealth LRASM. The event follows closely the Air Force beginning multiyear procurement of the joint-service missile.
F-15 Electronic Warfare System Completes Operational Testing, IOC Looms
The F-15’s new electronic warfare system—the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System—has completed operational testing and is ready for full-rate production, with deployment starting this year an operational capability set for 2025.