AFA Warfare Symposium 2025
Space Force Chief “Enamored By Systems That Deny, Disrupt, And Degrade” Satellites
Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman alluded to the kinds of counter-space capabilities that the U.S. Space Force is now prioritizing.
NATO Operations Chief’s Five Lessons Learned From War In Ukraine
NATO is taking note of opportunities and glaring deficiencies in its ability to wage war, some of which are harder to capitalize on than others.
Houthi Weapons Arsenal Remains A Mystery To The U.S.
Despite 18 months of attacks by the Houthis, the U.S. does not have a clear idea of how many standoff weapons they possess or how they get all of them.
Collaborative Combat Drones Designed From Ground Up To Do Logistics Differently
Using many parts found in civilian aircraft and sporting features specifically for operating in austere forward locales are key tenets of CCA.
USAF Generals Downplay Calls For More Hardened Aircraft Shelters In Pacific Theater
USAF pushback on new hardened infrastructure comes as emphasis grows on being able to fight from bases while under attack.
F-15’s New EPAWSS Electronic Warfare Suite Already Has Successor In Development
The EPAWSSv2 boasts improved processing power and will be able to handle a greater number of threats to keep pace with developments in air defense.
Lockheed’s Low-Cost Cruise Missile ‘Truck’ Is Now In Testing
The modular Common Multi-Mission Truck is now being proposed for launch from both air and ground platforms to carry out a wide range of mission sets.
MQ-20 Avenger Tests ‘Hivemind’ AI In Orange Flag Exercise
General Atomics jet-powered drone took part in the exercise loaded with ‘reference autonomy stack’ software from Shield AI.
F-22 Raptor Pilots Finally Getting Helmet Mounted Displays
Beyond equipping Hawaii-based F-22s, Thale’s Scorpion will now be standard on all F-16s in the USAF’s fleet.
Next Generation Fighter Critical To Future Air Superiority, Key USAF Study Concluded
We now know the key findings of a deep review of the USAF’s paused Next Generation Air Dominance combat jet program.
Rotating Detonation Engine For Future High-Performance Missiles Successfully Tested
Operationalizing the RDE would be a breakthrough for low-cost, high-supersonic, long-range air-to-ground strike weapons.
‘Fighter Drone’ Designations Officially Assigned To Collaborative Combat Aircraft By USAF
General Atomics and Anduril’s CCAs are officially designated YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A, the first aircraft with ‘fighter drone’ prefixes ever.
F-22 Raptors Completed Six Test Flights For New Sensor Upgrades
F-22s could now serve into the 2040s with the help of key upgrades, including new infrared search and track systems.
Private F-16 Aggressors Getting Ability To Insert Synthetic Bandits Into Live Training
Top Aces’ new constructive wingman initiative will make it appear that another aggressor is in the air to enemies and friends alike.
Notorious Abandoned Pacific Island Outpost Eyed For Space Force Rocket Cargo Delivery Tests
Historic Johnston Atoll in the Pacific could host landing pads and start tests for the Rocket Cargo Vanguard program this year.
QF-16 Zombie Vipers To Keep Flying And Dying Into The 2030s
QF-16s will keep providing the USAF with valuable full-size targets to shoot missiles at as the search for a stealthy replacement grinds on.
Ground-Launched And Powered Air-Launched Versions Of StormBreaker Glide Bomb Are In Development
The Small Diameter Bomb II already brings the ability to hit moving targets at standoff distances in any weather.
This Is What The Classified AIM-260 Missile Actually Looks Like, Air Force Confirms
The Pentagon has been very tight-lipped about the AIM-260, a missile with far greater range than the AIM-120 while maintaining the same size.
New Hypersonic Strike-Recon Aircraft Effort Eyeing Prototype Development By 2030
The launch of the Next Generation Responsive Strike effort follows uncertainty around a previous hypersonic aircraft program called Mayhem.
Massive WWII B-29 Bomber Base Fully Reclaimed For Future Pacific Fight
Satellite imagery shows the dramatic restoration of Tinian Island’s historic North Field, a site that also presents targeting challenges for China.
F-15EX Nails Pentagon Test Campaign, Survivability Concerns Remain
The F-15EX has so far impressed in simulated combat, even against fifth-generation threats, although new enemy long-range missiles could prove a challenge.
F-16s Have Been Using Laser-Guided Rockets To Shoot Down Houthi Drones
Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System rockets now officially have a combat-proven air-to-air capability that could be valuable beyond the Red Sea.
XQ-67 Getting Overhauled With New Capabilities As Part Of Demon Ape Program
New XQ-67A testing is building on a modular chassis concept, which is feeding into the Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone program.
F-35 AI-Enabled Drone Controller Capability Successfully Demonstrated
The F-35, along with the F-22, are gaining new capabilities to help pilots control Collaborative Combat Aircraft and other drones.
F-22 Raptor To Get Distributed Infrared Search And Track System
The F-22 seemed slated to get a podded IRST system, but now a built-in one appears like it will be replacing or augmenting it.
F-15E Strike Eagle With New EPAWSS Electronic Warfare Suite Heads To Frontline Unit
The 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England is the first recipient of the sophisticated Eagle Passive/Active Warning Survivability System.
$20 Billion Price Tag To Complete Development Of USAF’s Next Generation Fighter (Updated)
The Air Force could also still proceed with its original 6th generation stealth combat jet plans, but would need billions more in funding.
Why Greenland Is Of Growing Strategic Significance
Donald Trump seems more insistent than ever on controlling Greenland, but regardless of his controversial intentions, the island is of real strategic importance