April 17, 1971

April 17, 1971

Federal express begins air freight operations from Memphis, Tenn., guaranteeing overnight delivery anywhere in the United States. The first night, Fed Ex carries only 18 packages.

B-52 Flies over Dubai amid Trump’s Middle East Push

Nov. 20, 2025

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber flew over the Middle East on Nov. 18 as the Trump administration moved to boost ties with Saudi Arabia.

Space Force Still Planning Futures-Like Command, Perhaps With a New Name

Nov. 20, 2025

The Space Force is moving ahead with plans to create a fourth field command focused on wringing out future capabilities, although details around timing—and the new organization's name—are still in flux.

Tennessee Guard to Receive Eight KC-46s

Nov. 20, 2025

The Air Force has tapped McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base as its preferred location for the next base to host KC-46 aerial refuelers, replacing the KC-135s that have been there since the 1970s.

White to Become Czar for Highest-Profile Air Force Programs: F-47, B-21, and More

Nov. 20, 2025

Lt. Gen. Dale White, the military deputy to the Air Force’s acquisition executive, has been nominated for a fourth star and a newly created job overseeing the service’s highest-visibility, highest-risk, and highest-cost programs.

Trump Says Saudi F-35 Sale Will Be Approved ‘Quickly,’ as Israel Eyes Balance of Power

Nov. 19, 2025

President Donald Trump projected confidence Nov. 19 that a proposed sale of F-35s to Saudi Arabia will sail through the Foreign Military Sales process, an early test of the Pentagon’s acquisition reforms. The deal is also likely to face scrutiny from ally Israel over how it could affect the balance…

New Cybersecurity Rules for Pentagon’s Commercial Satellite Vendors

Nov. 19, 2025

The Pentagon recently issued new rules on cybersecurity measures that commercial satellite operators must employ if their products or services are used by U.S. intelligence agencies or military services.

Air Force Buying $50 Million in Small Drones to Support Special Ops Missions

Nov. 19, 2025

A recent Air Force contract to buy up to $50 million worth of small drones from Anduril Industries may soon allow the service’s special operations command to transform its MQ-9 Reapers into drone-launching motherships.

Saltzman’s ‘Vector’ Charts Space Force’s Progress and Next Steps

Nov. 19, 2025

As the Space Force prepares to mark its sixth birthday—and Gen. Chance Saltzman embarks on his last year as Chief of Space Operations—the service has released a new document meant to sum up its current status and all of Saltzman’s efforts to solidify the Space Force’s identity as a warfighting…

Pratt & Whitney Gets More Than $1.2 Billion for F100 Engine Sustainment

Nov. 19, 2025

Pratt & Whitney recently received more than $1.2 billion worth of contracts to sustain the F100 engines flown in older-model F-15s and F-16s.

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