Guard, Reserve Concerned About Fighters By Todd South AURORA, Colo. Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leaders warn that the Air Force must modernize their fighter fleets along with the Active force, or they risk losing combat-tested talent and...
CCA’s AI Pilots Step into the Spotlight By Greg Hadley  AURORA, Colo. Just one year ago, Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) took center stage as then-Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin designated the two competing jet prototypes as the first...
The world is changing—fast. And you don’t need to have exclusive access to bespoke intelligence capabilities to see those changes yourself. Open-source intelligence sources can now inform public debate on national security issues like never before. Commercial satellite imagery accessible with a credit card offers ...

Verbatim

April 2, 2026
Space Ghost “Operations to project power are very successful when you control the high ground. In wars of the past, the high ground was the air. In wars of the future—in wars of today—the high ground is space. You must...
Aurora, Colo.   The Air & Space Forces Association presented Lt. Gen. Gregory Gagnon with the Gen. Jerome F. O’Malley Space Visionary Award at the 2026 Warfare Symposium on Feb. 25. The award honors vision, risk-taking, and innovation that advance...

Faces of the Force

April 2, 2026
Tell us who you think we should highlight here. Write to letters@afa.org Master Sgt. James Hodge (right), 66th Air Base Group first sergeant, Hanscom AFB, Mass., was awarded the AFSA Pitsenbarger Award for performing two heroic acts. In March, he...

Polaris Awards

April 2, 2026
Established in 2022, the Polaris Awards honor individuals and teams who embody the highest standards of the Guardian Values—Character, Commitment, Connection, and Courage. Each year officer, enlisted, and civilian Guardians across the Space Force are nominated. Chosen from more than 15,000...

WORLD: Heritage

Feb. 6, 2026
Gene Smith, Former POW and AFA Chair, Dies at 91 By Tobias Naegele  Lt. Col. Richard “Gene” Smith, who overcame five and a half years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Hanoi Hilton from 1967 until 1973, died...

WORLD: Air

Feb. 6, 2026
Compromise Defense Bill Adds Funds for Fighters, E-7 By Greg Hadley Congress is looking to add $900 million to save the E-7 airborne early warning and control aircraft from cancellation and $500 million aircraft from cancellation and $500 million to address...

WORLD: Space

Feb. 6, 2026
Space Force Looks Beyond Earth’s Orbits By Courtney Albon The Space Force’s small size has limited its capacity to consider what role it will play in future operations on and around the moon. That needs to change, according to Vice...

WORLD: Washington

Feb. 6, 2026
Trump Promises a $1.5 Trillion Defense Budget What a 50% Spending Boost Might Mean for the Air Force and Space Force. By Courtney Albon President Donald Trump was so impressed with the military’s successful Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela Jan. 3...