AFA Warfare Symposium 2026

An image of a Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider jet in a hanger at nighttime with the text "AFA WARFARE SYMPOSIUM SPONSORED BY" followed by company logos for Ursa Major, Aevex and General Atomics Aeronautical.

AFA Warfare Symposium 2026

In the past two days, the U.S. Air Force has sent six of its 16 E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) radar planes to bases in Europe.
Iran

Major Deployment Of Rickety E-3 Sentry Fleet For Iran Crisis Highlights Worrisome Gaps

The shrunken E-3 fleet isn’t getting any younger, and a replacement is still far off while demand for its services would be far greater in the Pacific.

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 18, 2026 2:38 PM EST

General Atomics' air-launched LongShort drone has made new progress toward its first flight with the completion of various tests on the ground, including a demonstration of its weapons release capabilities.
Drones

X-68A LongShot Air-To-Air Missile-Carrying Drone Moves Closer To F-15 Launch

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted 22 Hours Ago

A U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry, airborne warning and control system (AWACS).
Iran

Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran

By Howard Altman

Updated 23 Hours Ago

Last year, the U.S. government was able to reverse engineer a critical subcomponent for the 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bomb by leveraging technology from the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) short-range ballistic missile.
U.S. Air Force

New GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator Parts Reverse Engineered From ATACMS Ballistic Missile Tech

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 16, 2026

Looking like a scene in a sci-fi movie, and in what is clearly a unique operation, dubbed Operation Windlord, USAF C-17s have been tasked with transporting a micro nuclear reactor.
Uncategorized

C-17 Airlifts A Micro Nuclear Reactor For The First Time

By Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 15, 2026

Continued Coverage

The U.S. Air Force is exploring new ways to protect aerial refueling tankers and other high-value support aircraft by physically defeating incoming threats rather than trying to jam them or otherwise throw them off course.
U.S. Air Force

Mini Missiles Used To Shoot Down Incoming Missiles Eyed For USAF Tanker Fleet

Tankers are increasingly vulnerable as enemy long-range missiles evolve, leading the USAF to explore ‘hard kill’ solutions.

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 13, 2026

U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command says it is prepared to load more warheads onto Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and restore nuclear weapons capability to the entire B-52 bomber fleet, if called upon to do so.
LGM-30 Minuteman III

USAF Ready To Make All B-52s Nuclear-Capable, Load ICBMs With Multiple Warheads If Directed

The end of New START treaty has left the U.S. nuclear arsenal unbounded for the first time in decades.

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 12, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 912th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron prepare to recover the second B-21 Raider to arrive for test and evaluation at Edwards AFB, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. The arrival of a second test aircraft provides maintainers valuable hands-on experience with tools, data and processes that will support future operational squadrons. (U.S Air Force photo by Kyle Brasier)
U.S. Air Force

B-21 Raider Future Insights From Global Strike Command’s Top General

The new head of Air Force Global Strike Command offers us an exclusive look at the B-21 program in his first interview since taking charge.

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

The U.S. Air Force is in the process of taking back responsibility for the Airborne Command Post (ABNCP) mission, better known by the nickname Looking Glass.
U.S. Air Force

New E-4C Doomsday Plane Could Take On Airborne ICBM Launcher Role

USAF requirements are being developed for planes to take on the ‘Looking Glass’ mission after the Navy retires its E-6Bs.

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jan 27, 2026

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