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U.S. Air Force (Page 2)

Latest in U.S. Air Force

Another battle-damaged KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling jet arrived at RAF Mildenhall.
U.S. Air Force

Another Battle Damaged KC-135 Tanker Seen Passing Through RAF Mildenhall

By Howard Altman

Posted on May 26, 2026

The U.S. Air Force plans to send a new version of the glider-like Unmanned Long-endurance Tactical Reconnaissance Aircraft (ULTRA) drone with a turbocharged engine to the Middle East for an operational evaluation.
U.S. Air Force

USAF’s New Turbocharged ULTRA Surveillance Drones Are Heading To The Middle East

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 25, 2026

The U.S. military has finally released video footage said to show an Air National Guard F-16 shooting down an unidentified object over Lake Huron back in 2023.
U.S. Air Force

We Finally See The Mysterious Object Shot Down By F-16s Over Lake Huron

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 22, 2026

A U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft approaches an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft for aerial refueling in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, May 9, 2026.
U.S. Air Force

A-10 Warthog’s New Aerial Refueling Probe Is Now Operational In The Middle East

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 22, 2026

An OA-1K Skyraider II comes in for a landing on a dirt path July 10 on the Eglin Air Force Base, Florida range. The new Air Force Special Operations Command aircraft continues developmental testing with the 96th Test Wing and the U.S. Special Operations Command at Eglin.
U.S. Air Force

Plan To Test OA-1K Skyraider II’s Rapid Deployability Outlined By Air Force Special Ops Command

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 19, 2026

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft piloted by Airmen from the 556 Test and Evaluation Squadron flies over the Nevada Test and Training Range and performs live-fire exercises with Air-to-Ground Missile-114 Hellfire missiles and Guided Bomb Unit-12 Paveway IIs, Aug. 30, 2023. The 556 TES performs all software and physical testing to improve the combat capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper.
U.S. Air Force

MQ-9 Reaper Replacement Requirements Stress A Drone Cheap Enough To Risk Losing

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on May 13, 2026

The Pentagon says it is working to amend its proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget to request new funding for the E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control aircraft.
U.S. Air Force

Pentagon’s Mindset On E-7 Radar Aircraft It Tried To Axe Has Completely Changed: Hegseth

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 12, 2026

The ARRW program has not only reemerged from purgatory, with missiles being ordered for operational use, but a new variant is on the horizon.
U.S. Air Force

New Version Of Bomber-Launched ARRW Hypersonic Missile Is A Ship Killer

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 12, 2026

The U.S. Air Force says it does not expect the last of its huge C-5M Galaxy cargo planes to be replaced by a Next-Generation Airlift (NGAL) platform until Fiscal Year 2050.
U.S. Air Force

C-5 Galaxies Now Slated To Keep Flying Until 2050 As Readiness Plummets To 37 Percent

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 11, 2026

The Air Force is now looking to conduct a formal review of its requirements to see whether the development of a successor to the B-52 might be warranted, and potentially sooner rather than later.
U.S. Air Force

USAF Is Going To Explore What Will Finally Replace The B-52

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 7, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle, specially painted to mark 40 years since Operation Eldorado Canyon, the raid on Libya, has taken to the air.
U.S. Air Force

Camouflaged F-15E Painted To Mark F-111’s Libya Raid Blasts Through Mach Loop On First Flight

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 7, 2026

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer performs a functional check flight in a stripped, bare-metal configuration over Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, Feb. 26, 2026. The aircraft was undergoing depot maintenance after being removed from long-term storage and is part of an effort to return the bomber to service.
U.S. Air Force

B-1B “Apocalypse II” Out Of The Boneyard And Back In Service

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on May 6, 2026

Northrop Grumman's experimental XRQ-73 Series Hybrid Electric Propulsion AiRcraft Demonstration (SHEPARD) hybrid-electric drone has now taken to the skies.
U.S. Air Force

DARPA’s XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 6, 2026

The compact version of the AIM-9X is being developed with a focus on increased magazine depth when carried internally by "advanced aircraft," while also offering improved range and performance.
U.S. Air Force

Smaller AIM-9X Sidewinder For Stealthy Weapons Bays Is In Development

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 5, 2026

A donated Qatari 747-8i has been modified and flight tested to serve as an Air Force One and will be delivered to the Presidential Airlift Group by this summer, according to the Air Force.
U.S. Air Force

New VC-25B Air Force One “Bridge” Aircraft Now Fully Modified And Flight Tested

By Howard Altman

Updated on May 1, 2026

The Department of Energy is seeking millions of dollars for work in part on a new bunker-busting nuclear weapon called the Nuclear Deterrent System-Air-delivered (NDS-A) in its latest budget request.
U.S. Air Force

New Nuclear Bunker Buster Bomb Plans Revealed (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on May 1, 2026

A U.S. Air Force E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node aircraft assigned to the 430th Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron sits parked after participating in an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) integration exercise at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, March 24, 2021. Globally integrated ISR capabilities ensure U.S. and partner forces carry out mission requirements with great situational awareness of the battlespace.
U.S. Air Force

Air Force Wants To Axe Its E-11A BACN Communications Jets

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2026

For the first time, as far as we know, the U.S. Air Force has publicly released imagery showing a B-1B Lancer bomber carrying an AGM-183 Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon hypersonic missile, or ARRW.
U.S. Air Force

B-1B Seen Carrying ARRW Hypersonic Missile For The First Time

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 30, 2026

Jolly Green IIs will be poised to spirit senior U.S. officials and lawmakers to safety at a moment's notice to ensure the federal government can continue to function even in the event of a nuclear attack or a similarly serious contingency.
U.S. Air Force

HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters To Take On Doomsday Evacuation Role In The Nation’s Capital

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 24, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, releases flares over the Gulf Coast, April 3, 2026. The 96th Test Wing and 53rd Wing perform developmental and operational test series on the platform including next-generation survivability, radars, sensors and networking capabilities.
U.S. Air Force

F-15EX Buy Was Just Doubled By The USAF, Which Makes Perfect Sense

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 22, 2026

The Qatari-donated 747-8i jet envisioned as a presidential airlifter, had a recent test flight.
U.S. Air Force

Qatari 747-8i Gifted To Trump For Interim Air Force One Is Undergoing Test Flights

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Apr 17, 2026

The Air Force’s Experimental Operations Unit, under Air Combat Command, concluded a critical exercise with Collaborative Combat Aircraft recently at Edwards Air Force Base, California, putting principles of the new Warfighting Acquisition System into practice. The exercise employed the YFQ-44A aircraft and represents a shift toward the new concept of earlier, operator-driven experimentation to inform tactics and procedures that will accelerate the delivery of this transformative capability to the warfighter.
U.S. Air Force

YFQ-44 Fury Fighter Drone Wraps Contested Operations Test That Could Accelerate Its Fielding

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 17, 2026

An F-35A Lightning II from Eglin Air Force Base flies with a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, June 16, 2024, before the Columbus Air Show. This year’s event featured more than 20 military and civilian planes, including a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 121st Air Refueling Wing, which served as the base of operations for military aircraft participating in the show.
U.S. Air Force

Air Guard Warns Of Dire Consequences If At Least 72 Fighters Aren’t Bought Annually

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 14, 2026

KC-135 ghost tanker
U.S. Air Force

Inside The Air Force’s Elite Ghost Tanker Unit

By Jamie Hunter

Posted on Apr 9, 2026

President Donald Trump and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine provided new details about the risky missions to rescue the crew of an F-15E Strike Eagle shot down over Iran.
U.S. Air Force

Everything We Now Know About The Operation To Rescue The F-15E WSO (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 7, 2026

FARP in Iran set up by special tactics squadron airman during WSO rescue.
U.S. Air Force

How A Dusty Strip Deep In Iran Can Be Turned Into A U.S. Special Operations Base In Hours

By Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

B-52 epic fury mission.
U.S. Air Force

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Deal (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 6, 2026

Iran claims it shot down a fighter over Iran showing wreckage on an F-15E.
U.S. Air Force

F-15E Down In Iran, Rescue Operation Ongoing (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 4, 2026

A front view of an SR-71 aircraft assigned to Detachment 4, 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, as it prepares for takeoff.
U.S. Air Force

SR-71 Blackbird Crews Had These Custom Smith & Wesson Pistols Built For Them

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Apr 3, 2026

A photographer on a flight over Greenville, Texas, captured an especially good look at one of the U.S. Air Force's RC-135V/W Rivet Joint aircraft with its usual paint scheme completely stripped off.
U.S. Air Force

RC-135 Rivet Joint Surveillance Jet Caught ‘In The Nude’ In Texas

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Apr 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force's highly secretive NT-43A radar cross-section measurement platform is supporting the launch of NASA's Artemis II space mission, and this reflects the start of an entirely new stage in the career of the notoriously shy aircraft.
U.S. Air Force

Secretive 737 Radar Jet ‘RAT55’ Has Begun “The Next Phase Of Its Career”

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Apr 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force Materiel Command’s highly secretive NT-43A has been spotted in Florida, apparently taking part in the preparations for the launch of NASA's long-delayed Artemis II lunar space mission.
U.S. Air Force

World’s Most Secretive 737 Is Supporting NASA’s Historic Artemis II Launch

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Apr 1, 2026

U.S. Air Force EA-37B Compass Call arrives at RAF Mildenhall on March 30, 2026.
U.S. Air Force

New EA-37B Compass Call Electronic Warfare Jets Cross Atlantic, Middle East Next? (Updated)

By Thomas Newdick, Howard Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 31, 2026

Rapidly fielding more hardened shelters to better protect U.S. forces at bases in the Middle East is a top priority, according to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
U.S. Air Force

Bunkers For U.S. Bases In Middle East Now A Top Priority For Pentagon

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

A retired Air Force tanker pilot and wing commander offers insights into what it will take to fight China
U.S. Air Force

Former KC-135 Wing Commander On What It Will Take To Fuel A Fight Against China

By Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 31, 2026

A KC-135T Stratotanker from the 171st Aerial Refueling Squadron of the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, readies to refuel an A-10C from the 107th Fighter Squadron, also from Selfridge, on an aerial refueling sortie June 27, 2023. In addition to routine aerial refueling training in all conditions, aircraft from the 127th Wing commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the first aerial refueling conducted on June 27, 1923.
U.S. Air Force

Dozens Of A-10 Warthogs Appear Poised To Join Epic Fury

By Thomas Newdick

Updated on Mar 30, 2026

CENTCOM is seeking an underground hardened facility at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
U.S. Air Force

Hardened Underground Facilities Now Being Sought For Al Udeid Air Base

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 27, 2026

Iran says the US is dropping mines from the air on its missile facilities.
U.S. Air Force

Is The U.S. Dropping Mines To Stop Iranian Missile Launchers?

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 27, 2026

KC-135 is being used heavily in Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. Air Force

Veteran KC-135 Base Commander’s View Of Epic Fury’s Strain On The Tanker Force

By Howard Altman

Posted on Mar 26, 2026

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing
U.S. Air Force

F-22 Raptor “2.0” Spotted Undergoing Flight Testing

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 23, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that it has, for the first time, used its new 5,000-pound-class GBU-72/B bunker-buster bomb in combat.
U.S. Air Force

U.S. Used Its New 5,000-Pound Bunker Busters To Hit Iranian Anti-Ship Missile Sites: Reports

By Thomas Newdick, Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Mar 18, 2026

A KC-135 refueling tanker crashed in Iraq, according to CENTCOM.
U.S. Air Force

KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie (Updated)

By Howard Altman, Thomas Newdick, Joseph Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 13, 2026

B-1B bomber used to strike Iran from RAF Fairford.
U.S. Air Force

Epic Fury Day 11: U.S. Promises “Most Intense Day Of Strikes” On Iran

By Thomas Newdick, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Mar 10, 2026

Kuwait F/A-18 shoot down up for debate.
U.S. Air Force

Kuwaiti F/A-18’s Triple Friendly Fire Shootdown Gets Stranger By The Day

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 6, 2026

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied claims circulating online of the loss of another F-15E Strike Eagle, this time over enemy territory, as part of ongoing operations against Iran.
U.S. Air Force

U.S. Denies F-15E Strike Eagle Went Down In Iran

By Howard Altman, Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Mar 5, 2026

Iran appears to be increasingly focusing its retaliatory attacks against energy production infrastructure in Gulf Arab States.
U.S. Air Force

Gulf Arab States Under Pressure As Iranian Attacks Grind On (Updated)

By Joseph Trevithick, Thomas Newdick, Howard Altman

Updated on Mar 4, 2026

A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornet assigned to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), flies over the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility during a mission in support of Operation Inherent Resolve Sept. 28, 2020. The F/A-18 is a highly versatile aircraft due to its avionics, cockpit displays, aerodynamic characteristics, and its ability to carry a wide variety of weapons. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Duncan C. Bevan)
U.S. Air Force

Friendly-Fire Incidents Are Nothing New In Modern Air Warfare

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Mar 2, 2026

The U.S. Air Force now has at least 14 aerial refueling tankers forward-deployed in Israel ahead of potential strikes on Iran.
U.S. Air Force

Israel’s Fighter Force Stands To Be Far More Effective With Full USAF Tanker Support In A War With Iran

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 28, 2026

Substantial demands placed on the relatively small B-52 create additional challenges when it comes to planning how to get those upgrades into service on operational aircraft.
U.S. Air Force

Small B-52 Fleet Size Creates Challenges For Engine, Radar Upgrade Plans

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

EA-37B Compass call next generation electronic attack jet.
U.S. Air Force

This Is What The EA-37B Compass Call Electronic Attack Jet Can Actually Do

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

USS Ford heads to Israel. (U.S. Navy photo)
U.S. Air Force

USS Gerald R. Ford’s Imminent Arrival Off Israel Comes As Negotiations Grind On

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Florida Air National Guard’s 125th Fighter Wing arrive for Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Feb. 10, 2026. The 125th Fighter Wing accelerated its readiness timeframe ahead of a mission conversion deadline by deploying eight F-35A Lightning II aircraft, establishing joint-component interoperability with two active-duty U.S. Air Force units under the ACE concept.
U.S. Air Force

Former Air Force Fighter Pilot And F-35 Instructor Charged With Training Chinese Military 

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 26, 2026

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II flies over the Gulf of America, September 16, 2025. The F-15EX, from the 40th Flight Test Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is one of the first F-15EXs in the Air Force, and is going through developmental and operational test series at Eglin to prepare the platform to be delivered to the warfighter.  
U.S. Air Force

General Running Air Force Reserve Wants Surplus F-15E Strike Eagles, New F-15EX Eagle IIs

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

As well as a second aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald Ford, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors have also arrived in theater, according to multiple reports. The stealth jets took off from RAF Lakenheath in England yesterday, confirmed by open-source flight tracking data and aircraft spotters, and are now at an Israeli Air Force base in the south of Israel.
U.S. Air Force

F-16s Arrive To Protect Diego Garcia, F-22s Forward Deploy To Israel

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 25, 2026

Lockheed Martin has presented a scale model of the new-look F-22 Raptor fitted with stealthy external fuel tanks and underwing infrared sensor pods. Up to this point, the fuel tanks had been seen in renderings as well as at least one long-distance photo that revealed little in the way of details. The sensor pods had previously been seen at closer quarters during flight testing, as you can read about here.
U.S. Air Force

Upgraded F-22 “Raptor 2.0” Details Seen In New Model

By Thomas Newdick

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

The official target size of the future B-21 Raider fleet remains 100 aircraft, despite an announcement that production of the stealth bomber is expanding, a U.S. Air Force official has confirmed to TWZ.
U.S. Air Force

100 B-21 Stealth Bomber Fleet Size Target Unchanged For Now Despite Production Acceleration

By Joseph Trevithick, Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 24, 2026

The U.S. Air Force has given us our first look at one of Anduril's YFQ-44 Fury ‘fighter drone’ prototypes carrying an inert AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).
U.S. Air Force

Anduril’s Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft Is Now Flying With AIM-120 AMRAAM

By Joseph Trevithick

Updated on Feb 24, 2026

Four C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 911th Airlift Wing perform an elephant walk at the Pittsburgh International Airport Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania, July 18, 2023. Elephant walks demonstrate the teamwork and capability of the 911th AW to perform rapid large-force to defend, mobilize and fight. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Jeffrey Grossi)
U.S. Air Force

Straight Talk On State Of U.S. Airlift Capabilities From General Who Ran Air Mobility Command

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Updated on Feb 23, 2026

USS gerald R Ford has entered the Mediterranean.
U.S. Air Force

Supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford Has Crossed Into The Mediterranean

By Howard Altman, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 20, 2026

A decision by the U.K. to block U.S. access to two key bases for an attack on Iran could impact President Donald Trump's plans.
U.S. Air Force

U.K. Denying U.S. Use Of Key Bases Would Impact Bombers’ Role In Iran Air Campaign

By Howard Altman

Posted on Feb 19, 2026

The construction of new silos for the U.S. Air Force's future LGM-35A Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) means that units charged with defending them will have to update their tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
U.S. Air Force

Security Forces Guarding ICBMs Need Fresh Tactics To Defend New Sentinel Silos

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 19, 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.
U.S. Air Force

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

By Joseph Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway

Posted on Feb 18, 2026

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.
U.S. Air Force

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

By Joseph Trevithick

Posted on Feb 17, 2026

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

Final Pieces Moving Into Place For Potential Attack On Iran

By Howard Altman

Updated on Feb 17, 2026