All United States Air Force articles
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NewsPentagon orders fleetwide inspection of Osprey proprotor gearboxes after latest safety incident
More than a year after a fatal V-22 crash killed eight US Air Force personnel, a recent “near-crash” has prompted the Pentagon to order fleet-wide inspections of a problematic component, while plans for a long-term mechanical fix remain uncertain.
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NewsUS Air Force flies last T-7A test aircraft ahead of low-rate initial production decision
The fifth example of the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer took off from Boeing’s fighter delivery centre at St. Louis Lambert International airport on a customer acceptance flight, with the commander of the US Air Force’s 416th Test Squadron at the controls.
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NewsRolls-Royce completes critical design review for new B-52J engine
Engine maker Rolls-Royce says its new F130 turbofan successfully cleared critical design review, a key programmatic step in the effort to modernise the US Air Force’s iconic B-52 long-range bombers with new propulsion and improved onboard systems.
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NewsCongress orders review of US air-to-air missile inventory needs
A provision in the draft legislation covering 2025 Pentagon operations would require the US Air Force and US Navy to assess their inventory requirements for air-to-air missiles, including possible extension of AIM-120 AMRAAM production beyond 2028.
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NewsLawmakers move to cut US F-35 purchases over ‘long-standing’ sustainment issues
A provision in wide-ranging defence legislation covering Pentagon operations for 2025 would limit new acquisitions of the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to 48 examples until concerns about availability rates and aircraft sustainment are addressed.
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NewsPentagon again grounds Osprey fleet after recent ‘near-crash’
The US miltiary’s fleet of Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotors are grounded for the second time this year after what the Pentagon describes as a “near-crash” in November.
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NewsCommander of USAF bomber force sees need to re-evaluate B-21 fleet plans
A senior US Air Force leader suggests that it would be prudent to consider obtaining significantly more Northrop Grumman B-21 bombers given the existing nature of threats.
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NewsOutgoing US Air Force leaders defer sixth-generation fighter decision to Trump administration
After promising for months to deliver a new strategy for the next generation of new aircraft development, civilian leaders of the US Air Force are deferring a decision on the service’s sixth-generation fighter programme to the incoming administration of Donald Trump.
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NewsNorway, UK and USA test F-35 data-sharing during live-fire bombing drills
The drills over Norway and the North Sea involved fighters and bombers teaming with surveillance jets, reconnaissance aircraft, tankers and ground-based fire-control personnel to strike targets in Norway with live ordnance.
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NewsSierra Nevada begins modifying first 747-8 for ‘Doomsday’ jet replacement programme
Known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Centre, or SAOC, the new fleet of Boeing 747-derivative jets are intended to replace the US Air Force’s Boeing E-4B Nightwatch aircraft, which can serve as an airborne platform for commanding the American nuclear arsenal.
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NewsPentagon confirms A-10 strikes in Syria, claiming defence of US forces
Although the Pentagon has denied taking any part in the rebel offensive against Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad, Washington says it conducted what are described as “self-defence strikes” in Syria against unspecfied threats to US forces and their partners.
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NewsUSAF conducts test drop of new Stand-in Attack Weapon
The US Air Force has completed the first successful drop of the Stand-in Attack Weapon from a Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter.
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NewsUS Air Force seeks new ‘runway independent’ regional airlifter
The Next Generation Intra-theater Airlift programme aims to enhance the air force’s existing airlift capability with a regional logistics aircraft able to operate without ground infrastructure like a maintained runway.
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AnalysisWhich types left use during our latest World Air Forces review?
We detail some of the most notable national fleet retirements recorded in the 12 months since we published our last World Air Forces directory at the end of 2023.
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NewsLockheed uses L-39 and two L-29s to test air-to-air combat with autonomous fighters
In a series of flight tests, Lockheed Martin’s secretive Skunk Works unit simulated an offensive counter-air mission where an airborne, human battle manager aboard an Aero Vodochody L-39 Albatros directed two autonomous Aero Vodochody L-29 Delfin jets, which worked together to defeat two mock enemy fighters using simulated mission systems and weapons.
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NewsBoeing wins $2.4 billion deal for 15 KC-46As
Boeing has secured a $2.4 billion US government contract to build 15 KC-46A tankers, adding to the number of contracted orders for the 767 derivative.
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AnalysisHow the global military fleet shapes up in our 2025 World Air Forces review
Our annual World Air Forces directory – published in association with Embraer – details the military aircraft fleets of 161 nations, and analyses the main events of the last 12 months.
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NewsUS Air Force to withdraw South Korea-based A-10s in 2025
The US Air Force is continuing with plans to retire its ageing fleet of Fairchild Republic A-10 ground-attack jets, including the withdrawal of its forward stationed squadron from South Korea in 2025.
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NewsUS B-52 drops ordnance over Lithuania during live-fire training
Boeing B-52H heavy bombers with the US Air Force are currently on rotational duty in the UK for one of the Pentagon’s regular bomber task force missions, training with European members of the NATO alliance.
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NewsNorthrop delivers first Stand-in Attack Weapon for F-35 air defence suppression mission
The new Stand-in Attack Weapon is being positioned as a successor to Northrop’s AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range, purpose built for the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter to hunt and destroy critical air defence assets.