December 04, 1996

Dec. 4, 1996

The Mars Pathfinder, the first spacecraft designed to land and explore Mars in nearly 21 years, is launched from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla., aboard a McDonnell Douglas Delta II rocket. It is expected to arrive on Mars on July 4, 1997.

Air Force Inks Deal for 22 More Boeing F-15EX Fighters

Sept. 29, 2026

The Air Force awarded Boeing a $2.38 billion contract for 22 F-15EX Eagle II fighters on Sept. 29, narrowly meeting a deadline to use funds from last summer’s reconciliation bill or face cuts.

Hegseth to Slash 20 Percent of Generals and Flag Officers, Deepening Cuts to Top Ranks

Sept. 29, 2026

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth plans to announce Sept. 30 that the Pentagon will slash the number of general and flag officers by 20 percent

F-47 Maker Boeing Tapped for Navy’s F/A-XX Sixth-Gen Fighter

Sept. 29, 2026

The Navy has awarded Boeing a contract worth more than $20 billion to build its new carrier-based sixth-generation fighter, the F/A-XX. Boeing is also building the Air Force’s sixth-gen F-47.

Pentagon Hands Out $20.7B Contract for AMRAAM Missiles to RTX

Sept. 29, 2026

The Pentagon on Sept. 28 announced a contract potentially worth $20.7 billion for RTX to build Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles used by Navy and Air Force aircraft and for ground-based interceptors.

Two Guardians Just Became the First Space Force Grads of Army Jungle School

Sept. 29, 2026

Space Force Maj. Alyson Gleason and Capt. Stephen Richard just gave their highly technical service a tougher image by becoming the first Guardians to endure 18 punishing days of training to graduate from the Jungle Operations Training Course in Panama.

CCAs and Autonomy Gain Momentum as Focus of Future Force

Sept. 29, 2026

For the past four years, the idea of autonomous drone warfare like Collaborative Combat Aircraft has been discussed as a future concept, rather than near-term reality. But now that promised vision appears imminent, with the Air Force promising at least 1,000 such drones by 2032.

Air Force, Industry Fear Continuing Resolution Could Hinder CCA Production

Sept. 28, 2026

The Air Force’s emerging Collaborative Combat Aircraft program would suffer delays if Congress fails to pass a budget before the end of this calendar year, a top service official said Sept. 28.

Airmen, Guardians Told to Select Religion Code from New Consolidated List

Sept. 28, 2026

Active-Duty Airmen and Guardians have until mid-October to update their personnel records with their religious preference using the Pentagon’s new consolidated list of Religious Affiliation Codes, according to a recent Department of the Air Force announcement.

Space Force Interested in Commercial Antennas to Control Satellites

Sept. 28, 2026

The Space Force is starting a new competition to bolster its aging network of antennas that track and manage Pentagon and other U.S. government satellites—and this time, acquisition officials are open to leasing commercial systems or even paying for commercial antennas as a service.

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