April 26, 1964

April 26, 1964

At Norfolk, Va., the USAF Thunderbirds fly their first show in the Republic F-105B Thunderchief. The team would only perform six shows in the Thud, as it was soon determined that it was not a suitable show aircraft.

Air Force IT Leaders Adopt Commercial-First Strategy

Dec. 16, 2025

The Department of the Air Force is embracing the new commercial-first approach to IT ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, outsourcing networks and other infrastructure and reducing the amount of customization required from vendors, say the chief information officers for several DAF organizations. The aim is to minimize customization, said George...

Space Force Wants Lower-Cost, Commercial Capabilities for Silent Barker Replacement

Dec. 16, 2025

The Space Force wants to emphasize small, low-cost systems and commercial capabilities in the next generation of Silent Barker surveillance satellites, drawing lessons from its work to replace the Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness program.

Major Acquisition Programs Have Lost ‘Substantial’ Talent, Leaders Say

Dec. 15, 2025

The program executive officers for some of the Air Force’s largest acquisition management organizations are struggling to deal with an exodus of senior talent and experienced civilian staff, three of them told an industry conference.

Numbers Game Squeezes USAF Fighter Force

Dec. 15, 2025

Congress set the legal floor for how many primary mission aircraft the Air Force had to have in its fighter force in 2018, requiring at least 1,145 fighters through Oct. 1, 2026. In each of the past past two legislative cycles, lawmakers agreed to reduce the number. But when the House passed…

‘Victus Haze’ Responsive Space Mission Pushed to 2026 by Rocket Anomaly

Dec. 15, 2025

The Space Force has delayed its next Tactically Responsive Space mission, Victus Haze, until 2026, as one of its launch providers continues to recover from a rocket anomaly that occurred earlier this year.

WV Air Guardsman Wounded in DC Attack Making ‘Extraordinary Progress’

Dec. 15, 2025

Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Wolfe, who was wounded in an attack while serving in Washington, D.C., is making “extraordinary progress,” while being treated at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the West Virginia National Guard recently announced.

Hegseth Visits Alabama to Cement Redstone Arsenal as Future Home of Space Command

Dec. 14, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.

US Troops, Interpreter Killed by ISIS Gunman in Syria as Trump Vows ‘Serious Retaliation’

Dec. 13, 2025

The U.S. sent Air Force F-16s over central Syria in a show of force following the Dec. 13 killing of two U.S. Army Soldiers and one American civilian interpreter by a gunman linked to the Islamic State group.

New B-52 Radar Makes First Flight

Dec. 12, 2025

A B-52 equipped with the new Stratofortress radar flew Dec. 8, a key first step in modernizing the Cold War bomber.

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