June 30, 1928

June 30, 1928

Capt. William E. Kepner and Lt. William O. Eareckson took first place at the James Gordon Bennett International balloon Race, bringing the Army Air Corps international recognition for its lighter-than-air activities.

Space Force Taps Viasat for $450M Ops Center to Harmonize Data Network

Nov. 9, 2026

Space Systems Command recently awarded Viasat a contract with a $450 million ceiling to design and field a mission operations center for the command’s burgeoning Space Data Network.

In First, Two CCAs Fly Air Combat Maneuvers Using Autonomy Software

Nov. 9, 2026

Two of the Air Force’s semi-autonomous drones flew air combat maneuvers coordinated by an “AI pilot,” or mission autonomy software, in a test Oct. 26, a first for the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

After Midterms, Congress Returns to Reckon with Defense Funding, NDAA

Nov. 9, 2026

Following a historic win for Democrats in the midterm elections, Congress returned to Washington, D.C., Nov. 9. Between now and Jan. 3, 2027, when the midterm winners are sworn in, lawmakers are staring down major unfinished business, including defense legislation stalled for months leading up to the election.

New Report: More Than 1 Million F-35 Spare Parts Remain Missing

Nov. 9, 2026

The F-35 Joint Program Office is struggling to keep track of billions of dollars worth of spare parts for the fifth-generation fighter, government auditors said in a new report—and it still can’t find $85 million in parts that have been lost for years.

Air Force Leaders: C-17s Will Soon Be Armed with Pallets of Cruise Missiles

Nov. 8, 2026

After years of experiments and tests, senior Air Force leaders say they're on the verge of using C-17s and other cargo aircraft to launch cruise missiles via airdrop, touting the development as a way to bolster the combat fleet and a major shift in the service’s mindset.

Wilsbach Lays Out Goal for USAF to ‘Own and Run’ All Its Bases

Nov. 6, 2026

The Air Force wants to “own and run” more of its air bases, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach said Nov. 6, in what could be a major potential revamp the military’s joint base program. Speaking at the Airlift/Tanker Association’s 2026 Symposium, Wilsbach said he and the…

Very Low-Earth Orbit: How the Space Force Is Exploring Ops at Lower Altitudes

Nov. 6, 2026

As commercial companies, universities, and research agencies develop new approaches to operating satellites at lower and lower altitudes, the Space Force is taking notice and considering how it might leverage those advances in both the near and long term.

Ukrainian Officials: F-16 ‘Super Effective’ at Downing Russia Drones But Challenges Remain

Nov. 6, 2026

Ukraine’s fleet of F-16 fighters has played a vital role in protecting the country against Russian aerial attacks, including the jet-powered drones the Russians have used to try to overpower Ukrainian air defenses, senior Ukrainian officials said. But Ukraine has a chronic need for spare parts to keep the venerable jets…

AFRL Takes Steps to Push Quantum Tech to the Field

Nov. 5, 2026

The Air Force Research Lab has awarded quantum computing firm IonQ a $7.5 million follow-on contract to bridge the gap between the lab and the field for the highly advanced technology.

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