First Nighthawk Flight

June 18, 1981

In total secrecy, Lockheed Martin pilot Hal Farley flies the F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter for the first time at Tonopah Test Range, Nevada. The aircraft’s existence was not publicly revealed until 1988.

Air Force Vice Chief: No Contract for Extra KC-46s Until Deficiencies Are Fixed

March 4, 2026

The Air Force won’t finalize a new deal with Boeing for another 75 KC-46 tankers until some of the “deficiencies” with the refueler are resolved, new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Lamontagne told lawmakers March 4.

Airstrikes Shift Deeper Inside Iran as US Gains Air Superiority

March 4, 2026

Control of the skies in Operation Epic Fury is enabling the Pentagon to rely more on satellite- and laser-guided bombs, throttle back on expensive long-range standoff munitions, and move to a new phase of air war, defense officials said on March 4. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen.…

DOD Seeks to Quell Weapons Concerns, as White House Crafts Iran Supplemental

March 4, 2026

Pentagon leaders insist they have a sufficient stockpile of munitions to continue strikes on Iran amid reports that the U.S. military’s supply of key weapons and interceptors has been diminished in the first four days of conflict.

With E-3s Busy Over Iran, New Report Calls E-7 ‘Indispensible’

March 4, 2026

With more than a third of the Air Force's entire E-3 AWACS fleet deployed to support the war against Iran, the ability to perform airborne battle management, or ABM, remains essential to the broader joint force, a new think tank report argues.

Air Force Test Launches Unarmed ICBM with Two Reentry Vehicles

March 4, 2026

The Air Force conducted its first test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile in 2026 on March 3, launching an unarmed missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., equipped with two test reentry vehicles at 11:01 p.m. Pacific Time.

Space Force Officials Preparing for More Budget Growth in 2027

March 3, 2026

After years of describing to lawmakers and Pentagon leaders the nature of that threat and the key role spacepower plays in deterring conflict in the domain and enabling the rest of the joint force, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman told reporters during AFA’s Warfare Symposium here that the message appears to…

Kuwaiti F/A-18 Aircraft Suspected of Shooting Down US F-15s

March 3, 2026

Kuwaiti aircraft are suspected to be responsible for the shootdown of three U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles on March 2, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Promotion Rate for Senior Master Sergeant Dips for First Time in Five Years

March 3, 2026

The Air Force will promote 11.07 percent of eligible master sergeants to senior master sergeant this year, a decline from last cycle that snaps a four-year streak of increases. Out of a pool of 13,315 eligible individuals, 1,474 new E-8s were selected.

Bombers Need Wider Range of Weapons: Panel

March 3, 2026

B-2 bombers dropped precision-guided bombs on Iranian targets this week, demonstrating the flexibility and utility of U.S. Air Force long-range strike capabilities. But not all weapons can be delivered by bombers, a fact Air Force leaders want to overcome as they develop next-generation aircraft and weapons.

Related