John Stillion
Recent stories by John Stillion
How the Air Force Might ‘Judo Throw’ China’s Plan to Disrupt Its C2 Networks
In the face of Chinese war plans to disrupt U.S. command-and-control networks in the event of a conflict, the Air Force needs to focus less on its “connect everything” efforts and prepare its combat aviators to fight without a constant connection to higher-ups, according to ...
Hegseth Cuts JCIDS in Move to Speed Weapons Development
The Pentagon is dismantling its oft-criticized Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System, pushing authority back to the military services in hopes of streamlining the setting of requirements and speeding up development of new weapons systems.
New B-52 Radar, Second B-21 Both Entering Flight Testing ‘Soon’
Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara, deputy chief of staff for strategic deterrence and nuclear integration, said the B-52's new radar will soon enter flight testing and is “turning a corner” after a cost overrun triggered a notification to Congress and program review earlier this year. ...
First CCA Takes Flight: General Atomics Drone Is First to Fly
The Air Force announced the first flight of General Atomics’ YFQ-42A on Aug. 27, a major milestone in the service’s effort to build semi-autonomous drones that can fly alongside manned fighter jets.
New F-35 Engine Contract Puts Fighter’s Price Tag Over $100M
The Pentagon and contractor Pratt & Whitney reached a $2.88 billion deal for new F-35 engines, the Defense Department announced Aug. 22. The deal covers 141 F135 engines included in Lot 18 of the F-35 program, putting the average price of each engine around $20.4 ...
KC-46 Boom Blamed for 3 Refueling Mishaps
A trio of refueling accidents since October 2022 were caused by fighter jets' inability to disconnect after taking on fuel from the KC-46 refueler's boom, Air Mobility Command revealed Aug. 25. The Air Force said it is working with the tanker's maker, Boeing, on a ...
WATCH: Space Force Launch to Send X-37B Back into Orbit
The Space Force’s X-37 is ready to return to orbit. The secretive spaceplane is set to blast off atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., at around 11:50 p.m. local time on Aug. 21.
Stealth or Something Else? USAF Wants Ideas for Next-Gen Tanker Airframe
The Air Force is conducting another round of market research for its proposed next-generation tanker, specifically asking industry for ideas on the airframe—a wide-open question with major implications for the future fleet.
Space Force Unveils New Dress and Appearance Policy as It Preps for Fresh Uniforms
Five and a half years in, the Space Force officially has its own dress and appearance policy. But a big revamp is likely coming soon.
Air Force Chief Allvin Announces Surprise Retirement
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin will retire this fall, bringing his tenure to an unexpectedly early end. In an Aug. 18 release, the service announced Allvin will retire “on or around” Nov. 1—almost exactly two years after he assumed the CSAF job ...
Outside Perspectives Shape Space Force’s Top Wargame
The Space Force’s premier wargame is expanding to include more enlisted, international, and commercial perspectives. The latest iteration of the Schriever Wargame started Aug. 10 at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., and runs through Aug. 21.
New Startup Unveils Autonomous Cargo Drones for Distributed Ops in the Pacific
A new startup has a contract with the Air Force’s innovation arm and a prototype to test its new concept: a network of “flying pickup truck” drones to solve the problem of logistics in the Pacific.
Trump and USAF Flourish Greet Putin in Alaska
B-2 bombers and F-35 fighters flew overhead as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, for a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Aug. 15.
Why Space Force Part-Timers Are Nothing Like Guard and Reserve
The Space Force revealed new details about its plan for part-time Guardians—and they aren't like anything the military has seen before. Part-time service will be episodic, lasting for a tour or two, Space Force officials say, a complete shift from the classic one-weekend-a-month, two-weeks-a-year Guard ...
PHOTOS: Air Force Football Unveils New F-16 Alternate Uniform
The Air Force Academy's football Falcons will celebrate the F-16 Fighting Falcon with a new airpower uniform unveiled Aug. 13. The new special edition uniforms are the latest in what has become an annual special outfit for rivalry games, dubbed the “Air Power Legacy Series.”
