At least 20 new airplane programs—including a handful that are variants—are in some stage of planning or development. If sustained, this airplane-building campaign will lower the average age of the fleet, increase its size, and enhance its ability to be upgraded rapidly.
F-16
Top U.S. defense officials dismissed the notion that the U.S. would provide aircraft—manned or unmanned—anytime soon to Ukraine in Congressional hearings March 28 and 29. While Kyiv has repeatedly asked for F-16 fighters and MQ-9 drones, the Biden administration has refrained from providing them and ...
As the Air Force’s broader focus shifts to the Pacific and Europe, the U.S. military will rely on aging close air support aircraft to meet the needs of its forces in the Middle East. A-10 Thunderbolt IIs will deploy to the region in April, a ...
Ukraine has lost roughly 60 aircraft so far since Russia's renewed invasion of the country in February 2022, while the Russians have lost 70, according to the top U.S. Air Force commander for Europe. After Russia's larger air force failed to establish air superiority in the ...
The United States has invested more than $45 billion so far in military aid to Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders. Allies have chipped in billions more. Yet among all the advanced weapons provided for the conflict, NATO members have drawn the line at ...
A senior Department of Defense official provided the clearest explanation yet for why the U.S. has declined Ukraine's requests to restock their air force with American-made fighters: It would take too long and cost too much. Providing F-16s could take three to six years for ...
President Joe Biden has made his position clear time and time again: Ukraine will not be receiving multi-role fighter aircraft from the U.S. any time soon. But that has not settled the debate in Congress or within military circles.
DOT&E Director Nickolas H. Guertin said the test enterprise must be reimagined, so weapons are no longer tested in isolation.
After days of worry that mysterious objects shot down while flying over North America over the past week might be Chinese spycraft or even alien airships, the U.S. intelligence community indicated Feb. 14 that they may be “totally benign” commercial or research balloons.
U.S. warplanes intercepted four Russian aircraft operating near Alaska, the Department of Defense announced Feb. 14. But the U.S. stressed the Russian mission was not unsafe or provocative and the aircraft did not pose a threat.
The Air Force is pursuing Collaborative Combat Aircraft—uncrewed aircraft that will fly as “wingmen” to crewed fighters—but must ensure they don’t get so overloaded with capability that they become unaffordable, Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. said. The upcoming fiscal 2024 budget will ...
Ukraine has more urgent needs than F-16s given the limited way aircraft are being used in its fight against Russia's invasion, Senate Armed Services chair Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) told defense reporters. He was dismissive of the idea of deep defense cuts this year, said ...