All United States Air Force articles
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Analysis‘Brightest explosion that I’ve ever seen’: inside US effort to develop a bomb for Iran’s nuclear sites
The US military’s top officer says development of the bunker-busting 13,600kg (30,000lb) GBU-57 bomb began 15 years ago and involved significant use of supercomputers.
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NewsUS Air Force seeks to retire all A-10 Warthogs by 2027
Congress must approve the plan, which would see the US Air Force accelerate retirement of its entire A-10 fleet by two years.
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NewsTrump Administration ‘all in’ on F-47 but plans minimal funding for F/A-XX naval fighter
A senior Pentagon official tells FlightGlobal the Trump Administration will focus resources on developing a sixth-generation fighter on the US Air Force’s F-47 programme, with the US Navy’s new carrier-based equivalent in a holding pattern.
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NewsUS Air Force releases footage of B-2s preparing for Iran strike mission
Video shot through a low-light night vision lens shows multiple Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bombers taxiing and launching under cover of darkness, and later returning to land during daytime conditions.
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NewsBoeing defence chief optimistic about prospects for US E-7 acquisition
Despite indications the Pentagon has soured on purchasing new E-7A airborne early warning and control jets from Boeing, the head of the airframer’s defence unit remains sanguine on the aircraft’s prospects.
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NewsUS strikes Iranian nuclear facilities with largest B-2 mission in history
After more than a week of uncertainty about whether Washington would directly join Israel’s military operation against Iran, US President Donald Trump carried out air strikes against Tehran’s nuclear development sites on the evening of 21 June US time.
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NewsFormer air mobility chief calls out USAF vulnerability amid Middle East build-up
Retired US General Mike Minihan, who oversaw the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) mobility fleet, says the current flow of combat assets into the Middle East is providing “false comfort that tomorrow’s war will look like today’s rehearsal”.
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NewsAugmented reality coming to the cockpit as Red 6 moves toward operational fielding
US start-up Red 6 has matured its augmented reality flight training technology and is preparing to field the system for both fixed-wing jets and rotorcraft in Europe and North America.
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NewsBoeing seeks European partner for further development of MQ-28
The chief executive of Boeing’s defence unit thinks the time is ripe to bring the MQ-28 uncrewed jet Europe, as the continent’s plans for next-generation air power take shape.
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NewsSaab and General Atomics team up to offer uncrewed airborne early warning solution
The announcement of an airborne early warning capability based on the General Atomics MQ-9B UAV comes as support within the Pentagon is waning for a new crewed aircraft to replace the ageing Boeing E-3 Sentry fleet.
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NewsUS defence secretary casts further doubt on E-7 acquisition plan
In recent congressional testimony, US secretary of defense Pete Hegseth gave the clearest indication yet that his Pentagon has soured on the battlefield value of Boeing’s E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning and control platform.
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NewsBoeing defence chief sees F-47 as a 'transformative' programme
The head of Boeing Defense, Space & Security is highly confident about the company’s ability to execute on the F-47 programme, a competition victory that reflects many years of investment and work.
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NewsUS Air Force conducts first-ever tri-bomber formation flight with fighter escort
The demonstration sortie over the Hyundai Air and Sea Show in Miami Florida saw all three of the USA’s dedicated bomber aircraft, plus multiple fighter types, flying in close formation for the first time ever.
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NewsGeneral Atomics developing Ghost strike and reconnaissance platform for US Air Force
UAV manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has received a $99 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory to support development of a new reconnaissance and strike platform called Ghost, which will feature hybrid-electric propulsion and ducted fans for lift.
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NewsUS accepts Qatari 747-8I BBJ for presidential transport
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747-8I Boeing Business Jet from Qatar to serve as Air Force One, a mission that will require extensive modifications.
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NewsGA-ASI posts YFQ-42A image as ground tests continue
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has released a photo of its YFQ-42A, a production representative test vehicle under the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme.
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NewsUSAF reveals inventory target for new F-47 fighter
The service aims to field at least 185 of the sixth-generation Boeing fighters, with each aircraft having a combat radius of over 1,000nm.
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NewsBoeing begins Lot 2 deliveries of F-15EX as production ramps up
Boeing has now delivered nine of the so-called 4.5-generation fighters to the US Air Force, which is initially fielding the modernised twin-engined fighter to the Oregon Air National Guard.
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InterviewLong life ahead for CV-22, but no plans for FLRAA in USAF special operations
In a wide ranging interview with FlightGlobal, the three-star general in charge of US Air Force special operations outlined his long-term plans for the USA’s air commandos, legacy platforms like the CV-22 Osprey and MQ-9 Reaper, and the next-generation tiltrotor Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft.
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NewsUpgrades to Little Bird fleet, FLRAA fielding remain on track for SOCOM
The US Army’s premier aviation force is moving forward with its ongoing effort to upgrade the fleet of Boeing A/MH-6 Little Bird helicopters and field a the next-generation tiltrotor under development by Bell.