WORLD: Air Operations

June 20, 2025
US Doubles Airstrikes in Somalia, Surpassing 2024 Levels By Chris Gordon  U.S. Africa Command has ratcheted up airstrikes in Somalia as it looks to pressure militants there, the head of the command told reporters May 30.  Marine Corps Gen. Michael...
It is a law of survival, if not physics: In war, any advantage wielded by one side will be countered with an opposite, if not equal force, in a continuous back-and-forth until one or the other capitulates. The resultant innovation...

Verbatim

June 20, 2025
Still Smaller, Still Older   “The fleet is aging; 30-plus years on average. Some of the … critical platforms, are significantly older than that. When I was a navigator, I never flew a KC-135 that was younger than me. They’re...
A comprehensive look at the Air Force and the Space Force, including people, equipment, budget, weapons systems, and more. This Almanac was compiled by Amanda Miller, Aaron M.U. Church, and the staff of Air & Space Forces Magazine. We gratefully...
As futuristic aviation programs gain priority, the F-35—the only in-production, fifth-generation American fighter—is facing new headwinds. Fresh debate over its challenges and its potential in the coming months will shape its future role in the force.  The House’s $150 billion...
DAF TOTAL FORCE END STRENGTH Fiscal 2024 end strength is as of Sept. 30, 2024, except where noted by a single *, which is an estimate provided in the fiscal 2025 Defense Department budget request. The White House had not...