May 05, 1996

Air Force to Cut Civilian Jobs from China-Focused Research Center

Sept. 23, 2026

The Air Force is slashing all civilian positions at its premier research institute for Chinese military aviation, prompting concern among experts who say it will dilute the service’s focus on the Pentagon’s most significant long-term adversary.

Air Force Experiment Looks at How Humans and AI Can Team Up for Command and Control

Sept. 23, 2026

A recent two-week experiment tested how Airmen and Guardians can team with machines and artificial intelligence to enhance command and control in complex scenarios—with researchers measuring everything from the heart rate of participants to the quality of their decision-making.

CCA Builders Start Revving Production Rates, as They Await 2027 Funding

Sept. 23, 2026

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. and Anduril Industries both say they’re ready to produce Collaborative Combat Aircraft at a rapid clip and even expand that production, as they wait for a fiscal 2027 budget to fund that work.

Space Force Weighs Options to Boost Supply Chain Amid Production Surge

Sept. 23, 2026

As the Space Force eyes a possible fivefold increase in the number of satellites it operates on orbit, defense officials are looking for ways to shore up the industrial base to support that growth, which is expected over the next three to five years.

Experts: Affordable Munitions Could Help USAF in Taiwan Conflict, but More Is Needed

Sept. 22, 2026

A new think tank report calls for a buildup of U.S. drones and munitions needed for a potential fight against the Chinese military over Taiwan, thought other experts argue the report is missing some nuance in the munitions equation.

Investigators Blame F-16 Thunderbird Crash on Turned Fan Blade Deep in Engine

Sept. 22, 2026

A misaligned vane in an F-16 engine that field-level maintainers cannot see to inspect caused one of the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbird jets to crash last December, a new report concludes. The same problem led another F-16 to crash 20 months earlier.

Space Force Seeks Maneuverable Spacecraft for On-Demand Launch

Sept. 22, 2026

The Space Force may invest in a maneuverable space vehicle that can be available for an on-demand launch in response to “emerging threats,” according to a new industry notice.

8,000 Airmen and Guardians Still Have Medical Shaving Waivers After Policy Changes

Sept. 22, 2026

Around 8,000 Airmen and Guardians currently have medical waivers exempting them from shaving—thousands less than just a few years ago but still about half of all the waivers across the U.S. military. The revelation comes shortly after the Department of the Air Force started directing commanders to consider separating those…

F-16 Crashes in Germany; Pilot Successfully Ejects

Sept. 22, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed on a local mission in Germany on Sept. 22. The pilot ejected safely and is receiving medical care, Air Force officials said. The fighter was assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base. The jet went down on base property…

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