U.S. Air Force

Latest in U.S. Air Force

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed it is buying two Boeing 747-8 airliners from German flag carrier Lufthansa.

USAF Buying Lufthansa 747s To Serve As Future Air Force One Trainers, Spare Parts Sources

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted Yesterday

The Pentagon has sent more KC-135 refueling jets to the Dominican Republic as part of the Trump administration's pressure campaign on Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro.

More KC-135 Tankers Deploy To The Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted Yesterday

U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters, assigned to the 943d Rescue Group, conduct helicopter air-to-air refueling with an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft,

Combat Rescue Aircraft, Tankers Arrive In Caribbean As U.S. Military Buildup Accelerates

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Dec 12, 2025

As it now stands, the Boeing 707-based E-6B is slated to be replaced by the E-130J aircraft, which Northrop Grumman will modify from Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 cargo planes.

Congress Wants To Know If The C-130 Hercules Could Be The USAF’s New ‘Doomsday Plane’

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Dec 8, 2025

War Secretary Pete Hegseth has arrived in the Caribbean as Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro rattles his sabre.

Maduro Literally Rattles His Saber As Hegseth Arrives In Caribbean

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 26, 2025

A U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress bomber assigned to the 2nd Bomb Wing, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing, in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, Oct. 15, 2025. B-52s are world-wide deployable and deter foreign terrorist and transnational criminal organizations, which threaten the safety, security and stability of the Western Hemisphere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Foster)

U.S. Pressure Campaign Against Venezuela Has Entered A New Phase

By Howard Altman

Posted on Nov 24, 2025

The U.S. Air Force says it estimates a fleet of Next Generation Airlift (NGAL) aircraft will be flying operational missions by the 2040-2041 timeframe.

C-17 Will Fly Until 80 Years Old Under New USAF Airlifter Strategy

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 21, 2025

The Utah Air National Guard demonstrated new capabilities that expand the KC-135 aerial refueling tanker's ability to also act as an airborne communications and data-sharing node during major exercises in the Pacific earlier this year.

KC-135 Refueling Pods Have Been Converted Into Flying Communication Nodes

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 20, 2025

With the first example of Boeing’s F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter for the U.S. Air Force now in production, a company official has highlighted how its prototyping effort allowed the program to move forward at a rapid pace. Winning the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program was “humbling,” said Steve Parker, president and CEO of Boeing Defense, Space and Security. He added that the fact the F-47 is now in production is testament to “the maturity of our design and pedigree coming off the prototype.”

F-47 Program’s Accelerated Pace Made Possible By NGAD X-Plane Efforts

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Nov 17, 2025

The U.S. Air Force has put out a new call for concepts for a future anti-air missile that costs no more than $500,000 and that could be built at a rate of at least 1,000 per year.

USAF’s New Low-Cost Anti-Air Missile Program Aims For $500K Target Price

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Nov 10, 2025

C-32A Carrying Hegseth Makes Emergency Landing In England After Rapid Descent

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Oct 15, 2025

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II flies a presence patrol over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Feb. 26, 2025. The U.S. Air Force is globally postured to protect and defend the freedom of coalition allies and regional partners within the CENTCOM AOR to maintain peace and stability.

A-10 Warthog Appears To Have Become A Drone Killer

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 13, 2025

C-130H Eight-Bladed NP2000 Prop Upgrade Plans Cut Short By USAF

C-130H Eight-Bladed NP2000 Prop Upgrade Plans Cut Short By USAF

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 8, 2025

Details remain scant about an unspecified U.S. Air Force aircraft, widely believed to be a drone of some kind, which came down in southern Nevada not far from Area 51 nearly two weeks ago.

Mysterious Aircraft Crash Near Area 51 Just Got Weirder

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Oct 7, 2025

A LC-130 "Skibird" assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, operates in Antarctica in 2022.

Funds Shifted To Develop New LC-130J “Ski Bird” Polar Airlifters

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Oct 1, 2025

For the Beacon program, Northrop Grumman has adapted the Model 437 Vanguard, adding digitally engineered wings and modifications for optionally autonomous flight. The first flight was achieved with a test pilot in the cockpit.

Scaled Composites’ Model 437 Vanguard Jet Is Now Flying As An AI Testbed

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Sep 27, 2025