F-4 Makes Its First Flight

May 27, 1958

The first flight of the McDonnell XF4H-1 (F-4) Phantom II is made by company pilot Robert Little (who was wearing street shoes at the time) at the company’s facility in St. Louis, Mo.

JetZero Pitches Blended Wing Body Tanker as ’Game-Changer’

May 10, 2025

The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.

ACC Unveils New Way to Measure Readiness

May 9, 2025

Air Combat Command is changing how it measures and tracks readiness for its fleet of aircraft, with a top general saying the focus is on “simplicity” and better articulating what its wings need.

USAF, Boeing May Modify Air Force One Requirements to Get Delivery by 2027

May 9, 2025

The Air Force is in talks with Boeing to modify requirements for its new VC-25B presidential aircraft, in a push to get them into service by 2027. Boeing has given the Air Force a revised timeline that could bring the VC-25B aircraft earlier “if adjustments are made to requirements,” a…

Kadena Sends ‘Message You Can’t Ignore’ with Huge Elephant Walk

May 9, 2025

The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…

New Study: Air Force Needs to Work Now on How to Sustain CCAs in the Field

May 8, 2025

As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.

Some Spectrum Frequencies ‘Crucial’ to Golden Dome, but Pentagon Willing to Share Others

May 8, 2025

The Pentagon cannot afford to lose access to certain parts of the electromagnetic spectrum if it is to proceed with the “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative, a top official told lawmakers. And with the telecommunications industry and some lawmakers pushing to open military radio waves for commercial use, the Defense…

SPACECOM Wants to Be Dynamic in Orbit. The Question Is How

May 8, 2025

U.S. Space Command is still passionate about the idea of being able to maneuver satellites in orbits without worrying about conserving fuel. But how exactly to achieve that remains unsettled as the combatant command works with the Pentagon’s acquisition enterprise, SPACECOM’s deputy commander said.

Pentagon Opening the Throttle on New Rules for Software

May 8, 2025

The Department of Defense is pushing ahead with a plan to automate and streamline the system it uses to ensure that software running on military networks is secure, and will start implementation next month, acting Chief Information Officer Katie Arrington said May 7.

New B-52 Radar Program Has Nunn-McCurdy Cost Breach, May Be Reduced in Scope

May 8, 2025

The B-52 Radar Modernization Program has incurred a Nunn-McCurdy breach, with a cost estimate increase of more than 15 percent, the Air Force said. A breach of that magnitude won’t require the Secretary of Defense to certify the program as critical to national defense, but the program may be reduced…

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