Stephen Losey

Two of the Air Force’s semi-autonomous drones flew air combat maneuvers coordinated by an “AI pilot,” or mission autonomy software, in a test Oct. 26, a first for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

The F-35 Joint Program Office is struggling to keep track of billions of dollars worth of spare parts for the fifth-generation fighter, government auditors said in a new report—and it still can’t find $85 million in parts that have been lost for years.

The Air Force’s trio of A-29 Super Tucano light attack aircraft are now considered officially retired and are being mothballed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., after briefly being used at the Air Force Test Pilot School.

Shield AI has finished building its first full-scale prototype X-BAT, a vertical takeoff-and-landing autonomous drone, and is now moving it into a new development and testing phase.

General Atomics, the maker of one of the Air Force’s first Collaborative Combat Aircraft, has ambitious plans for its family of semi-autonomous drones beyond the FQ-42, including a flying-wing aircraft capable of carrying out both reconnaissance and strike missions. Meanwhile, the Air Force Research Laboratory ...

The Air Force in October carried out a homeland defense mission, with jets including F-16 Fighting Falcons, in Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands to show a base there could safeguard the northern regions.

USAF Offers Another New Fighter Plan  A new Air Force report details revised plans for growing the F-35A fleet, both in total and as a share of the fighter force. And landmark new 10-year framework agreement between the Pentagon and prime...

CCAs and Autonomy Gain Momentum  F or the past four years, the idea of autonomous drone warfare like Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been discussed as a future concept, rather than near-term reality.  But now that promised vision appears imminent, with...

Squadrons of F-22 Raptors and F-15C Eagles have arrived at Kadena Air Base, Japan, for temporary deployments as the critical Pacific base awaits its permanent F-15EX fighters.

Fresh off Boeing’s victory in the competition to build the Navy’s sixth-generation F/A-XX fighter, CEO Kelly Ortberg on Oct. 27 expressed confidence that the darkest days of the company’s beleaguered defense sector are in the past. A year ago, Boeing expected its Defense, Space, and ...

The Air Force is taking the first steps to build a $1 billion campus including hangars, laboratories, maintenance and training facilities, and more to test the F-47 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.—and the service plans to finish construction by 2031 as it moves quickly ...

The Air Force’s future strategy for fighting wars could include arming bombers with air-to-air strike capabilities, the service said in a new report to Congress.

The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin on Oct. 22 announced a framework agreement to buy F-35 Joint Strike Fighters for the next 10 years. But the deal, touted by the Pentagon as “landmark” and a first of its kind, depends on Congress granting the military authority ...

At least two KC-135 Stratotankers that were seriously damaged during Operation Epic Fury are still undergoing extensive maintenance depot repairs, the head of Air Force Materiel Command said Oct. 21.

Roughly two of every five fighters in the Air Force fleet could be F-35As by 2035, according to a new fighter force structure report the service submitted to Congress on Oct. 16. Lt. Gen. David Tabor, deputy chief of staff for plans and programs, revealed ...