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.

Hegseth Visits Alabama to Cement Redstone Arsenal as Future Home of Space Command

Dec. 14, 2025

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.

US Troops, Interpreter Killed by ISIS Gunman in Syria as Trump Vows ‘Serious Retaliation’

Dec. 13, 2025

The U.S. sent Air Force F-16s over central Syria in a show of force following the Dec. 13 killing of two U.S. Army Soldiers and one American civilian interpreter by a gunman linked to the Islamic State group.

New B-52 Radar Makes First Flight

Dec. 12, 2025

A B-52 equipped with the new Stratofortress radar flew Dec. 8, a key first step in modernizing the Cold War bomber.

Space Force Accepts Meadowlands SATCOM Jammers

Dec. 12, 2025

The Space Force has accepted its first Meadowlands satellite communications jammer from prime contractor L3Harris and is poised to start using the system in operations next year.

Snakes, Sharks, and Ghosts: Space Force Reveals Themes for Naming Platforms

Dec. 11, 2025

In a move to better connect Guardians with the space systems they operate, the Space Force on Dec. 11 revealed a new naming scheme for its platforms.

NORTHCOM Boss: No Plans for Military Training Grounds in US Cities

Dec. 11, 2025

Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, told lawmakers that NORTHCOM has no plans to use U.S. cities as “training grounds” as President Donald Trump recently suggested to a room full of his top military leaders.

B-52s, Japanese Fighters Fly Together After China and Russia Fly Bomber Patrol

Dec. 11, 2025

Two U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bombers flew with Japanese fighters over the Sea of Japan after a string of Chinese provocations toward Japan—including a joint bomber patrol with Russia—in response to Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan.

Air Force to Take Back on Looking Glass Mission for Nuclear C3

Dec. 11, 2025

More than a quarter-century after handing over the mission to the Navy, the Air Force is taking the first steps towards taking back over a critical nuclear command, control, and communications function.

USSF to Keep Implementing Space-Focused Elements of Re-Optimization

Dec. 11, 2025

Weeks after senior Air Force leaders revealed the service would shed a number of the re-optimization initiatives pursued by their predecessors, Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman confirmed the Space Force is retaining all of the space-specific elements of the strategy.

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