YF-22 Prototype Unveiled to the Public

Aug. 29, 1990

The Lockheed/Boeing/General Dynamics YF-22A ATF prototype is unveiled in ceremonies at Lockheed Plant 10 in Palmdale, Calif. This aircraft is powered by two General Electric YF120-GE-100 turbofan engines.

Lohmeier: Next Budget Will Fund ‘Year of Readiness’ in Fiscal ’27

Feb. 24, 2026

Fiscal 2027 will be the “year of restoring our foundational readiness accounts,” Air Force Undersecretary Matthew Lohmeier promised Feb. 24, with billions of dollars going to spare parts, flying hours, facility maintenance, and more.

Meink Suggests E-7 Program Remains Unresolved

Feb. 24, 2026

Air Force leadership needs to have a "discussion" with Congress on the long-term future of the E-7 Wedgetail, Secretary Troy Meink said, after lawmakers blocked a Pentagon plan to cancel the program in 2026. Meink's remarks leave open the possibility that the Defense Department will try to curtail the airborne…

Air Force Eyes Small Engines for Future CCAs with New Contracts

Feb. 23, 2026

The Air Force has awarded multimillion contracts to two industry teams to design small prototype engines for the service’s future Collaborative Combat Aircraft, according to Feb. 23 announcements.

Meink Lays Out New Vision for Acquisition

Feb. 23, 2026

The Department of the Air Force plans to establish around 27 "portfolio acquisition executives" and grant them far greater authorities and responsibilities for supporting and sustaining the systems they acquire, Secretary Troy E. Meink said in a keynote address to kick off AFA’s Warfare Symposium here Feb. 23.

WATCH: Inside the ‘X-BAT,’ the World’s First AI-Piloted VTOL Fighter Jet

Feb. 23, 2026

AURORA, Colo. — Shield AI takes us inside their new AI-piloted VTOL fighter jet, dubbed the “X-BAT,” at the 2026 Warfare Symposium. The X-BAT will be capable of launching and recovering from ships, remote islands, or austere forward bases while...

Space Force Starts Briefing Stakeholders on 15-Year Vision

Feb. 23, 2026

The Space Force is starting to share early versions of its 15-year force structure roadmap with industry, government, and allied officials, focused on three primary mission areas—navigation warfare, space domain awareness, and satellite communications—Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman announced Feb. 23.

CCAs Start Carrying Inert Missiles, Live Fire Shots Expected Later This Year

Feb. 23, 2026

The Air Force has put inert weapons on its new uncrewed fighters for the first time and plans to conduct live weapons tests later this year. Those steps come as the service is moving to bring its new drone wingmen into service more rapidly than traditional aircraft.

Air Force Announces B-21 Production Deal, 2027 Entry into Service

Feb. 23, 2026

The Air Force and Northrop Grumman have struck a $4.5 billion deal to increase production on the B-21 Raider bomber by 25 percent. Secretary of the Air Force Troy E. Meink announced the completed deal during his Feb. 23 keynote address to open AFA’s Warfare Symposium.

Space Development Agency Awards Tactical SATCOM Demo Contract

Feb. 23, 2026

The Space Development Agency is shelling out $30 million to see how it can use a commercial satellite network for tactical communications. The contract award to AST SpaceMobile, announced Feb. 23, is the agency's first use of a vendor pool meant for demonstration and experimentation contracts.

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