May 21, 1956

May 21, 1956
An Air Force crew flying Boeing B-52B Stratofortress at 40,000 feet air-drops a live hydrogen bomb over Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. The bomb has a measured blast of 3.75 megatons.

Related

WATCH: From Navigation to Actuation: One Integrated Manufacturing Partner

Sept. 15, 2026
Kearfott, a 108-year-old company, is seeing renewed demand for its inertial navigation and motion-control technologies as GPS jamming and spoofing increasingly threaten military operations. Kearfott’s Bob Carpenter explains how he supports aircraft, spacecraft, maritime systems, and missiles, while expanding production...

Schiess Highlights Space Force’s Role in Epic Fury

Sept. 15, 2026
Guardians are playing a critical role in U.S. operations against Iran, providing electronic warfare effects to stifle enemy air defense and communication systems and other space capabilities vital to the war effort, Gen. Douglas Schiess said in one of his first appearances since swearing in as Chief of Space Operations.

Air Force Will Hit Long-Elusive Goal to Train 1,500 New Pilots in a Year

Sept. 14, 2026
The Air Force is on track to reach its annual goal of graduating 1,500 new pilots that had proved elusive to this point, one year after the service launched a sweeping overhaul of its undergraduate pilot training program, Air Education and Training Command said Sept. 14.

F-35 Readiness Surged in Epic Fury; Now Pentagon and Lockheed Eye Broader Gains

Sept. 14, 2026
For years, sustainment challenges and spare parts shortages have hindered the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s readiness. But the Air Force’s experience flying F-35s heavily in operations against Iran have showed what the jet can be capable of, if maintainers get all the supplies and support they need.

CMSAF to Airmen: Use AI or ‘End Up in Everyone’s Rearview Mirror’

Sept. 14, 2026
Today’s Airmen are going to have to embrace artificial intelligence the same way Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David R. Wolfe learned to love desktop computers and email in the 1990s, the senior enlisted Airman said Sept. 14 during AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference.

Air Force Stacks Inert Sentinel ICBM Ahead of First Test in 2027

Sept. 14, 2026
The Air Force has erected an inert version of its LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Calif., the service announced Sept. 14. Officials also confirmed at AFA’s Air, Space & Cyber conference that they still expect to finish restructuring the long-troubled Sentinel program by the end…