September 18, 1980

Sept. 18, 1980
An explosion destroys the 308th Strategic Missile Wing’s Titan II launch complex 374-7 in Little Rock, Ark., killing one person.

Related

The Soul of Aerospace Power: It’s the People, Not the Machines

April 6, 2026
For weeks, Operation Epic Fury showcased the breathtaking reach, precision, and persistence of American air and space power: more than 13,000 combat sorties and more than 12,300 targets struck by April 1. But numbers do not tell the most important story. What is truly important is what happened on April…

F-15E Aviator Missing in Iran Rescued by US Forces

April 5, 2026
The second crew member of the Air Force F-15E shot down April 3 has been rescued from Iran. U.S. forces recovered the aviator alive and all American forces involved in the operation are believed to be safe, U.S. officials told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

Pentagon Plans Major Boost in Spending and Research on Mass-Producing Munitions

April 3, 2026
The Pentagon's research labs are ramping up their search for munitions that can be mass-produced—an effort likely to be buoyed by billions of dollars in the department's new fiscal 2027 budget request and tens of billions in the upcoming years. While the topline information shared about the President’s defense budget…

F-15E Downed over Iran, A-10 Crashes in Region

April 3, 2026
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran, sparking a massive combat search and rescue effort April 3, people familiar with the matter told Air & Space Forces Magazine. Meanwhile, a U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was also lost in the Persian Gulf…

B-52s Carrying JDAMs over Iran as US Bombers Play Growing Role in Air War

April 2, 2026
B-52 Stratofortress bombers marked a new first in Operation Epic Fury when some of the BUFFs flew over Iran carrying JDAM-guided gravity bombs, according to people familiar with the matter. The development signals a weakening of Iranian air defenses and a new use for the venerable bomber in the nearly…

Space Force to Create Futures-Like Group on HQ Staff

April 2, 2026
The Space Force plans to establish a new headquarters staff group focused on force design and analysis that will oversee and guide a number of future-oriented organizations, including the Space Warfighting Analysis Center and the Chief Science Officer.