Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III rebuffed criticism that the F-35 program has proved too costly and unreliable to serve as the viable backbone of America’s and allies' future fighter fleet on April 30. “I would not categorize the F-35 as a paperweight,” Austin ...
While none of the major aircraft contractors were selected to develop the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, all three say they are seeking further autonomous aircraft work for the Navy, foreign partners, or in the classified arena, and maybe future versions of the CCA itself.
The full-up Tech Refresh 3 for the F-35 won't be delivered until 2025, Lockheed Martin officials said April 23. A "truncated" version will be delivered this fall so users can start taking delivery of their jets, and then be able to exploit the full capabilities ...
The final version of the fiscal 2024 appropriations bill includes three additional F-35As for the Air Force, along with a hefty amount for additional engine spares, even though the extra jets didn't appear on USAF’s Unfunded Priorities List.
Retired Lt. Gen. Burt Field has been appointed President & Chief Executive Officer of the Air & Space Forces Association. A 1979 graduate of the Air Force Academy, Field was an F-16 pilot and Weapons School graduate—and former Commandant—who served 35 years in uniform.
The Air Force may have just flown the last test of the AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon, its only hypersonic missile that may be ready for production. The Air Force zeroed the program in fiscal 2025, but won't say if the project is over.
A delivery hold on F-35 fighters is hurting the Air Force, denying it the operational advantages it needs while causing it to spend money on extending older fighters, Secretary Frank Kendall said.
The Space Development Agency plans to finish two major demonstrations of its low-Earth orbit satellites—and get started on a rapid series of launches—before the end of 2024, its director said March 6. The series of milestones outlined by SDA boss Derek M. Tournear represent the ...
Rumored cuts to the F-35 from the fiscal 2025 defense budget—six from Air Force plans—would not be offset by recent Foreign Military Sales, and will disrupt ongoing Lot 19 negotiations, Pentagon and industry sources said.
The production rate for the F-35 will likely remain stable for at least five years, Lockheed Martin aeronautics executive vice president Greg Ulmer said.
Maria Demaree, Vice President of National Security Space for Lockheed Martin Space, joined Air & Space Forces Magazine to discuss acceleration of tech readiness in space, such as new ways of powering satellites and Combined Joint All Domain Command and...
The $4.5 billion program to upgrade Taiwan’s F-16s to the Block 70/72 configuration is complete, the U.S. Air Force said, bolstering that country's deterrent to China. Still underway is the provision of 66 new-build Block 70/72s.