May 05, 1996

May 5, 1996

Col. Betty L. Mullis takes command of the Air Force Reserve’s 940th Air Refueling Wing, becoming the first woman to command a USAF flying wing.

AFMC Boss Richardson Retires After 42-Year Career: ‘I Love This Stuff’

July 7, 2025

Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.

13 Retired 4-Stars Urge Congress to Fund E-7 and More F-35s

July 7, 2025

Six former Air Force Chiefs of Staff and seven other retired 4-star generals joined Air & Space Forces Association leadership in calling on Congress to triple the number of F-35A fighters the Air Force buys in fiscal 2026 and to reinstate funding for the E-7 Wedgetail battle management platform that…

Air Force Fighters Control Semi-Autonomous Drones in ‘Crucial’ Test

July 7, 2025

The U.S. Air Force recently took a significant step in its push to integrate crewed fighters with semi-autonomous drones, the service says. Pilots of an Air Force F-16C and an F-15E each controlled two XQ-58A Valkyrie drones in an “air combat training scenario,” the Air Force Research Laboratory said in a…

Space Force Cancels Major Tactical SATCOM Competition

July 7, 2025

The Space Force is canceling a competition to build new satellites for jam-resistant tactical communications, instead choosing to focus on operationalizing two prototypes it plans to launch next year.

Space Force Awards $2.4B Contract for New Nuclear Command and Control Satellites

July 7, 2025

The Space Force has tapped Boeing to build up to four new satellites for the critical nuclear command, control, and communications mission. The contract award, announced by Space Systems Command July 3, is valued at $2.8 billion for the first two satellites, with an option for two more, as part…

B-21 Production Is Speeding Up, But How Much and For How Long Is Still Unclear

July 5, 2025

The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.

Trump Signs Reconciliation Bill, Securing Billions for Air Force and Space Force Programs

July 4, 2025

President Donald Trump on July 4 signed into law $150 billion in defense funds as part of the tax-and-spending package known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” after congressional Republicans approved the legislation in narrow, drawn-out votes earlier this week.

Air Force, Space Force to Triple Enlistment Bonus Funding in 2026

July 3, 2025

The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.

Pentagon Keeping Bolstered Presence in Middle East in Wake of Iran Strike

July 2, 2025

The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

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