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
Air Force Funds New External Pylons for B-1, Eyeing Loadout Gains and Hypersonic Testing
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.
Carlyle ‘Smitty’ Harris, Vietnam POW Who Originated ‘Tap Code,’ Dies
Retired Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, known for introducing the "tap code" by which American POWs in North Vietnam could surreptitiously communicate with one another, died July 6. Harris was brutalized by the North Vietnamese over almost eight years of captivity.
Air Force: Test B-21s Could Fly Combat Missions, Northrop Can Expand Production at Plant 42
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. The service also stated that test aircraft will be so similar to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if necessary.
Air Force Senior Statesmen Make the Case for E-7, F-35, and Air Superiority
Air Force senior statesmen explained the reasons they jointly sent a letter to Congress urging restoration of the E-7 Wedgetail and more F-35s to the fiscal 2026 defense budget.
DARPA Picks Bell Textron for New Runway-less Drone X-Plane
Bell Textron has won DARPA's contest for a no-runway, high-speed drone that will prove out technologies useful for special operations forces and possibly the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept. Bell's design converts a tiltrotor to a jet-powered aircraft able to fly at up to ...
B-21 Production Is Speeding Up, But How Much and For How Long Is Still Unclear
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
Air Force Munitions Gets Big Boost from Reconciliation
Thanks to reconciliation, the fiscal 2026 Air Force budget would get a surge of munitions procurement, but it's not yet clear if the production increase will be sustained. The Air Force revealed the secret AIM-260 air-to-air missile's funding for the first time.
How the 2026 Budget Shapes the Future Air Force Fighter Fleet: What’s In, What’s Out
The Air Force's fiscal 2026 combat aircraft budget request goes big on the new F-47 and B-21, but only buys 45 new fighters, less than half its traditional goal. The service said it can only buy what industry can make, and the desired 72 fighters ...
DARPA’s No. 2 Sees Quantum Sensing as Threat to Stealth
The stealth technology that gave the U.S. its airpower edge over the last 30 years is being overcome by new sensors that will make it hard for anything to hide, putting a premium again on speed and maneuverability, the deputy director of DARPA told AFA's ...
Northrop Exec: Industry Can Create Surge Capacity—If It’s in Contracts
If government is willing to pay, industry can fairly easily ramp up production of key items, including aircraft, the head of Northrop Grumman's aeronautics unit said.
F-15EX and Its Electronic Warfare Suite Both Face Supply Chain Issues: Watchdog
Supply chain issues are causing headaches for the Air Force’s new F-15EX fighter and its accompanying electronic warfare suite, the Government Accountability Office said in a recent report—even as Congress plans to pump an extra $3 billion into the program.
The Weapons of Operation Midnight Hammer: MOPs, Tomahawks, and More
The U.S. strike on Iran's nuclear development facilities saw the first use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, a weapon specifically designed for such a mission more than 20 years ago. The Air Force B-2s were the only platform with the stealth and carrying capacity ...
Marine Tapped to Lead F-35 Joint Program Office
President Donald Trump has nominated Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Masiello to head the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Masiello is currently the head of the Defense Contract Management Agency and previously led the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor program.
B-52 Engine Replacement Slowed by Inlet Issues
The Air Force thinks it can make up the delays accruing on the B-52 re-engining and radar modernization programs, the Government Accountability Office said.
One Hypersonic Missile’s Delay May Explain Comeback of Another
The Air Force’s Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile is behind schedule and may significantly overrun its expected cost, which could partially explain why the service is reviving the hypersonic AGM-183 Air-Launched Rapid-Response Weapon.