June 10, 1999

F-22 Pilots Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for Actions in CENTCOM, Including Midnight Hammer

Oct. 1, 2026

Seven F-22 Raptor pilots have recently been awarded one of the military’s highest decorations for their actions during operations in the Middle East. Six of the pilots were decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their role in Operation Midnight Hammer, the June 2025 strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Air Force Adjusting Plan for Maintenance Career Overhaul from Just 7 AFSCs to 14

Oct. 1, 2026

The Air Force will officially kick off a major overhaul of maintenance career field next year with a pilot program, but the plan for the revamp is still evolving—while officials once intended to condense 50 aircraft maintenance specialties down to just seven, now they are targeting 14 Air Force Specialty…

Space Force Sunsets 1970s-Era Missile Warning Satellite Constellation

Oct. 1, 2026

More than 50 years after the U.S. military launched its first Defense Support Program satellite, the Space Force has officially decommissioned the missile warning constellation as it prepares to start fielding its next-generation architecture.

Airborne T-7 Links Up with Simulators in Air Force First

Oct. 1, 2026

Three T-7A Red Hawk trainer jets flew together at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on Sept. 16—one physical aircraft in the air and two virtual ones controlled from simulators on the ground, all sharing one common operating picture.

Why the US Air Force Needs to Invest in Electronic Warfare

Oct. 1, 2026

United States air forces are engaged in combat operations today, and not all the aircraft are modern stealthy platforms like the B-2, F-22, or F-35. The venerable Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon remains the backbone of the U.S. Air Force...

Drowning in Data: New Report Says Space Force Needs Lasers Comms to Beat the Bottleneck

Sept. 30, 2026

The long-standing method for communicating data down from space via radio frequencies has the potential to create deadly data bottlenecks that could slow and stymie future operations, according to a new report from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. The report makes the case for combining RF with optical communications…

Hegseth Unveils New Autonomous Warfare Command in ‘State of the Force’ Address

Sept. 30, 2026

In a “State of the Force” address Sept. 30, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced plans for a new four-star command to lead the military-wide push to field autonomous systems, one of several initiatives meant to further his sweeping transformation of the Pentagon.

Air Force Names 7 to Vie for New MMA Drone Program

Sept. 30, 2026

The Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit have selected seven companies to move forward on a program meant to produce a low-cost, semi-autonomous drone to succeed the MQ-9A Reaper, multiple sources confirmed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.

White House Taps Miller to Lead US Space Command

Sept. 30, 2026

The White House nominated Lt. Gen. David Miller to lead U.S. Space Command, replacing Gen. Stephen Whiting, who is expected to retire by January 2027.

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