B-1A Flies for the First Time

Dec. 23, 1974

Company pilot Charles Bock Jr., U.S. Air Force Col. Emil Sturmthal, and flight test engineer Richard Abrams make the first flight of the Rockwell B-1A variable-geometry bomber from Palmdale, Calif.

Air Force Grapples with Challenges to Aircraft Readiness: Parts and Maintainers

Feb. 3, 2026

If the Air Force is in line for a big budget bump from President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, the head of Air Combat Command said he would make aircraft spare parts his top spending priority—but cautioned that more money to buy parts won’t equal a…

Next Up in Pentagon’s Push for Defense Industry Reforms: Space

Feb. 3, 2026

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth exhorted the U.S. space industry to step up its efforts in a forceful Feb. 2 speech in which he called for a new era of American “space dominance."

Congress Passes $839 Billion Budget for Defense

Feb. 3, 2026

Congress officially passed the fiscal 2026 defense spending bill Feb. 3 after a House of Representatives vote, approving $839 billion in Pentagon funding and sending the package to President Donald Trump for his signature.

US F-35 Shoots Down Iranian Drone near Aircraft Carrier; F-16s Escort Threatened Tanker

Feb. 3, 2026

A U.S. F-35C shot down an Iranian drone operating near the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier Feb. 3 in a dramatic incident that American military officials cautioned could lead to conflict amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S.

NRO Pulls Back the Veil On Cold War-Era Intelligence Satellite Program

Feb. 2, 2026

The Pentagon agency charged with building and operating U.S. spy satellites recently declassified some details about a Cold War-era surveillance program called Jumpseat—a revelation it says sheds light on the importance of satellite imaging technology and how it has advanced in the decades since.

Air Force Recruiting ‘Looking Good’ for 2026, With Growing Backlog

Feb. 2, 2026

The Air Force’s recruiting momentum is showing no signs of slowing in 2026, and leaders are already thinking about how they might get after even bigger goals in 2027 and beyond.

After 11-Month Vacancy, Air Force Has a New Vice Chief

Feb. 2, 2026

The Senate confirmed Gen. John D. Lamontagne to be Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force by voice vote late Jan. 30, along five other Air Force three-stars and a new commander for U.S. Southern Command.

Midnight Hammer Lessons: USAF Needs More Tankers, Munitions

Feb. 2, 2026

Air Force leaders hail recent strike missions like Midnight Hammer as a shining example of operational readiness, but that success also highlights the challenges ahead should USAF need to mount an extended long-range strike campaign.

In a World Teeming With Threats, One CCA Stands Out as the Best Defense

Feb. 2, 2026

Washington and its allies face a bottomless list of tasks, challenges, and uncertainties in every region of the globe. The geopolitical outlook has seldom been so unsettled. The good news is that some answers, at least, already are clear. Nearly...

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