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Air Forces

Latest in Air Forces

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MARYLAND - JUNE 22: A Boeing 747-8 jetliner practices touch and go landings on June 22, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The plane, which was a gift from the government of Qatar, is designated as the new Air Force One and will replace the military-grade 747-2. The Air Force has been working to upgrade the jet so it is ready for presidential transport. (Photo by Andrew Leyden/Getty Images)
U.S. Air Force

Inside The Making Of The New Air Force One

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted 20 Hours Ago

Turkey’s Baykar and Leonardo of Italy say they have successfully completed the first live trials of their K-SWARM concept, demonstrating collaborative operations between crewed and uncrewed aircraft as part of an effort to develop next-generation autonomous air combat capabilities. The trials, involving Baykar’s Kizilelma uncrewed combat air vehicle (UCAV) and Leonardo’s M-346 light combat aircraft, are the latest to explore what is fast becoming a key element in the evolution of air combat.
Turkish Air Force

Turkey’s ‘Fighter Drone’ Teamed With M-346 Fighter-Trainer In Autonomy Trials

By Thomas Newdick

Posted 22 Hours Ago

Engels shelters long-range aviation
Russian Air Force

Russia Is Building Huge Protective Shelters For Its Strategic Bombers

By Thomas Newdick

Posted Yesterday

A U.S. Air Force Airman from the 355th Wing hoists into an HH-60W Jolly Green II during combat search and rescue training for Mosaic Lightning 26-2 in New Mexico, May 15, 2026. The exercise tested personnel recovery capabilities and strengthened interoperability between rescue forces operating in high-stress scenarios.
U.S. Air Force

Congress Questions Air Force’s Combat Rescue Readiness As HH-60W Helicopters Get Turned Into VIP Transports

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

There are growing signs that President Donald Trump's next trip on an Air Force One jet will be aboard the so-called VC-25B “Bridge” aircraft converted from an ex-Qatari VVIP Boeing 747-8i, not a VC-25A.
U.S. Air Force

No, A VC-25A Air Force One Jet Isn’t Being Retired Just Yet

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 18, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has awarded contracts for the production of General Atomics YFQ-42A Dark Merlin and Anduril YFQ-44A Fury drones., setting it up for a split fleet of operational CCAs.
U.S. Air Force

USAF Orders Both General Atomics’ FQ-42 And Anduril’s FQ-44 Into Production

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

The Senate Armed Services Committee is "concerned" about the U.S. Air Force's current plan to retire its E–11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft in Fiscal Year 2028.
U.S. Air Force

Senators Want Answers On USAF Plans To Cut E-11 BACN Combat Communications Jets

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 17, 2026

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie
U.S. Air Force

B-52 Involved In Tragic Crash Was Heading Out On Radar Test Sortie

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

New footage confirms the R6000 uncrewed tiltrotor has moved into a new and more demanding phase of flight testing.
Air Forces

China’s Big R6000 Tiltrotor Drone Has Entered Full Flight Testing

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 16, 2026

Russia's Defence Ministry said the Tu-22M3 crashed while making an approach to land in the Irkutsk Region during what it described as a routine training flight.
Russian Air Force

Russian Tu-22M3 Swing-Wing Bomber Seen Plunging Into The Ground

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 15, 2026

A-10C Thunderbolt II close-support jets with kill marking were seen at RAF Lakenheath.
U.S. Air Force

A-10 Warthogs Arrive In England Festooned With Nose Art And Mission Markings From Epic Fury

By Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 13, 2026

Members of Congress are again moving to block the U.S. Air Force from retiring all of its U-2S Dragon Lady spy planes. This time, legislators also want to compel the service to "fully restore" a quartet of the iconic aircraft through depot maintenance.
U.S. Air Force

Four U-2S Spy Planes Would Be Restored In Bill That Would Save The Dragon Lady Fleet

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 12, 2026

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions
U.S. Air Force

Boeing “Encouraged” By C-17 Production Restart Discussions

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 11, 2026

There's an unusual twist here with the specific plane that NASA is now eyeing: it currently belongs to the U.S. Air Force and is part of a "classified military program." There is a strong possibility that the aircraft in question is a mysterious 737 that the service acquired in 2020, and that has been the subject of much speculation as to its purpose ever since.
U.S. Air Force

Is This Secretive Air Force 737 About To Become NASA’s Next ‘Vomit Comet’? (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Jun 10, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that the so-called VC-25B Bridge aircraft is now wearing its new red, white, and blue livery and undergoing final preparations for its official delivery.
U.S. Air Force

VC-25B Air Force One “Bridge” Aircraft Now Wears Trump’s Preferred Red, White, and Blue Paint Job

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Jun 9, 2026

Germany and France have failed to reconcile competing military requirements, bringing Europe’s flagship fighter jet program to an abrupt end.
French Air Force

Franco-German Future Fighter Effort Collapses Over Irreconcilable Differences

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Jun 8, 2026