An experiment for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office resulted in the firing of three different missile types from one open-architecture National Advanced Surface to Air Missile System. The “layered” test showed how the existing NASAMS system could defend air ...

Raptor Rebellion

Aug. 30, 2022 | By John A. Tirpak
The Air Force wants to retire its F-22, the world’s greatest fighter jet, within the decade. Congress doesn’t agree.

World: Modernization

Aug. 12, 2022
Skunk Works sees value in MUM-T; Firms bid on JADC2 contract; F-22s head to Poland; Mackay Trophy to AC-130J Crews; USAF's next Aircrew helmet; Randall Walden to advise William LaPlante; Issues with Martin-Baker's ejection seat.
The Air Force successfully tested its redesigned Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Form, Fit, Function Refresh (F3R), firing the AIM-120D3 missile from an F-15E Strike Eagle at a target over the Gulf of Mexico near the Florida coast. The first of five live-fire tests, it ...

World: Modernization

July 1, 2022
Recent wargaming results; ARRW at hypersonic speed; Advanced F-22 capabilities revealed.
Even as it ramps up production of the Lockheed Martin AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, the Air Force is doing preliminary work on a successor, Air Force armament directorate boss Brig. Gen. Heath A. Collins told reporters this week. Collins also provided an update on ...
The Air Force is seeking industry input on a new class of air-to-air missiles, which would be faster and longer-ranged than the AIM-120 and AIM-9X that currently equip its fighter fleet. It's not clear, though, how the new weapons would join a portfolio where there ...
A touted $30 billion realignment of the Air Force's budget, with some wholesale retirements of major systems, did not materialize in the spending documents released Feb. 10. Instead, the Air Force is reducing its operational fleet to pay for technology upgrades emphasizing connectivity, agile logistics, ...