John Stillion


Recent stories by John Stillion

Advancing in Space, China Poses Growing Threat, USSF Leaders Warn

The People’s Republic of China's rapid military advances in space mean the People's Liberation Army no longer merely threatens American assets in orbit, but now has the space-based sensing and targeting capabilities to better enable its joint forces to threat the U.S. on Earth, Space ...

New Report: U.S. Should Stand Up a 10,000-Man Cyber Force

A new report calls on Congress to create a stand-alone military Cyber Force to Lead the Pentagon’s cyber capabilities, and an influential lawmaker endorsed the idea this week. Report authors retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery and Dr. Erica Lonergan from Columbia University's School of International and ...

Air Force Generals Nominated to Lead US Forces in Japan and Alaska

U.S. forces in Japan and Alaska are slated to get new leaders, as the Pentagon announced March 25 that President Joe Biden has nominated two Air Force major generals for their third stars and new assignments. Maj. Gen. Stephen F. Jost has been tapped to take command ...

Bombers Around the World: B-1s Land in Spain, B-52s at Diego Garcia

U.S. Air Force bombers deployed across the globe this past weekend, as two B-52 Stratofortresses landed at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean on March 22 and two B-1 Lancers landed at Morón Air Base, Spain, on March 24. The pair of ...

Congress to USAF: Not So Fast on Your Reorg Plans

The Department of the Air Force’s plans to “reoptimize for great power competition” have gotten a skeptical reception in Congress, as lawmakers are asking for more information before any changes go into effect and asking for an audit of the decision-making process. 

VCSO: Commercial Space Strategy Coming ‘Within the Next Month’

The Space Force’s strategy for leveraging commercial space is coming “within the next month” and will include details on the service’s program for tapping into those capabilities during a conflict, Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said March 20. 

SOCOM Cuts Armed Overwatch Buy from 75 to 62 Aircraft

Budget documents indicate U.S. Special Operations Command is cutting back on its plans for Armed Overwatch, the rugged, lightweight, fixed-wing aircraft to support counterterrorism efforts in permissive airspace. According to SOCOM’s 2025 budget request released earlier this month, the combatant command is trimming its planned ...

USAF Slashes Plans for MH-139 Helicopter Fleet Size, Locations

The Air Force is dramatically scaling back its plans for the MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, cutting its projected fleet from 80 to 42 aircraft and reducing the number of bases that will host the new chopper. For now, that means some units will continue to operate ...

Air Force Plans $400 Million Upgrade to Airfield on Tiny Pacific Island of Yap

As the Air Force embraces the concept of Agile Combat Employment, the service and the wider U.S. military have paid increasing attention to small islands throughout the Indo-Pacific—places like Tinian, Palau, and Saipan, all fewer than 200 square miles, have hosted troops and received millions ...

KC-46’s New Remote Vision System Likely Delayed Until 2026

The KC-46's improved Remote Vision System, dubbed RVS 2.0, is “likely” to be delayed into 2026, the Air Force’s top acquisition executive said March 12. Air Force assistant secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics Andrew P. Hunter also said the service is poised for progress ...

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