December 12, 1953

How the Air Force Rigged F-15s in the Middle East with Drone-Busting Rockets in a Week

Sept. 18, 2026

As the threat of Iranian-made drones grew, the Air Force rushed last year to equip F-15E Strike Eagles in the Middle East with a cheap, cost-effective way of defeating them. The service fielded the new capability in roughly a week.

F-16 Crashes During Training Exercise in Michigan; Pilot Ejects

Sept. 17, 2026

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.

USSF Leaders Lay Out the Path to More Than Double the Force

Sept. 17, 2026

When Space Force leaders started talking about expanding the service early this year, the idea was simple: double the size of the force in the next five years. At AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference this week, officials detailed just how they’re planning to grow so much so quickly.

CCA Drones to Fly at Large-Scale Air Force Exercise in December

Sept. 17, 2026

The Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft will take part in their first large-force engagement exercise in December, the head of the drones’ Experimental Operations Unit said Sept. 15.

SPACECOM Boss Wants Better Domain Awareness to Target Threats on Orbit

Sept. 17, 2026

The Space Force revealed this week that it has space control weapons on orbit, but the head of U.S. Space Command said the U.S. still has “a long way to go” in improving its ability to detect and target threats in the domain.

Pentagon, Lockheed to Expand Production of Secretive New Joint Advanced Tactical Missile

Sept. 17, 2026

The Pentagon announced a deal with Lockheed Martin on Sept. 17 to expand production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile, an advanced new Air Force and Navy air-to-air missile meant to equip fifth- and sixth-generation fighters.

How the Space Force Is Preparing for Its New Moving Target Missions

Sept. 16, 2026

As the Space Force prepares to field new fleets of satellites that can track moving targets in the air and on the ground, it’s working to ensure it has the organizational structures in place to onboard and operate those systems.

Lockheed’s New Modular JASSM Offers Swappable Noses and Launch Options

Sept. 16, 2026

Lockheed Martin has unveiled its concept for a modular version of one of the Air Force’s main air-to-ground cruise missiles, opening up a range of possible upgrades and uses for the weapon.

The Only Air Force Fighter Pilot in Congress Wants ‘Wingmen to Come Join Me’

Sept. 16, 2026

When the 119th Congress took office in January 2025, it counted a record seven former Navy SEALs among its members—and just one former Air Force fighter pilot. Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas), a former F-15 and F-22 pilot, says that must change to help the Air Force get the resources it…

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