All Department of the Air Force (USAF) articles – Page 3
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NewsUS 'spaceplane' returns to Earth after 908 days in orbit
The US Space Force’s reusable spacecraft known as the Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has now completed six missions, logging 1.3 billion miles flown and over 3,700 days in space.
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NewsUS Air Force to retire Japan-based F-15s
Billed as a modernisation effort, the USAF will decommission its older Boeing F-15C/D models currently assigned to an important military hub in Okinawa.
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NewsKC-46 completes limited crew refuelling flight
The US Air Force is testing the concept of minimally-crewed flights to prepare for potential combat scenarios in which personnel may be unavailable.
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NewsB-21 reveal date set for 2 December
The designer of the next-generation strategic bomber, Northrop Grumman, says it will unveil the new aircraft on 2 December in California.
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NewsLockheed Martin F-35 crashes at Utah air base, pilot ejected
An investigation is under way into the crash at Hill AFB, which is home of the US Air Force’s F-35 flight-demonstration team and a combat fighter wing.
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NewsUS Air Force declares Sikorsky’s HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter operational
The new HH-60W Jolly Green II will replace the USAF’s HH-60G Pave Hawk fleet in providing aerial support to pilot recovery and medevac missions.
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NewsCongress signals support for continued advanced-propulsion research funding
US lawmakers sent a letter to the Pentagon urging defence leaders to continue funding research into adaptive-propulsion jet engines, which are expected to power future military aircraft.
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NewsUS Air Force to test blended-wing logistics aircraft by 2027
The airframe concept proposed in the service’s recent climate action plan would serve as a refueller and cargo transport.
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InterviewHypersonic threats: Why Canada is doubling down on enhanced Arctic defence
Canada disclosed in June plans to spend nearly C$40 billion ($29.4 billion) over 20 years to enhance defence of its sprawling Arctic region, citing threats including those from “autocratic regimes”.
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NewsUS Air Force grounds select C-130 transports over propeller cracks
The discovery of cracks in the propeller barrel assemblies on multiple C-130H models led Air Mobility Command to issue a no-fly order for roughly 100 aircraft.
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NewsTop US commander calls for adding 12 fighter squadrons to USAF
Mark Kelly, the four-star general in charge of Air Combat Command, says the USAF currently does not have enough multi-role fighter squadrons to meet the missions it has been assigned.
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NewsRaytheon-Northrop Grumman beat Boeing, Lockheed Martin in hypersonic missile contest
The pair were awarded a US Air Force contract to build the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile, a scramjet-powered munition capable of Mach 5 flight.
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NewsUSAF hopes for decision on F-35 engine this year
Chief of staff General Charles Brown says his service would like to reach a decision before January on whether the advanced strike fighter needs an entirely new powerplant or just an upgrade.
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NewsFirst B-21 roll-out planned for December
The US Air Force and designer Northrop Grumman plan to reveal the first of the service’s secretive B-21 Raider next-generation strategic bombers in December.
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US Air Force leaders stress importance of air dominance in countering rising threats
Speaking at the 2022 Air & Space Forces Association conference near Washington DC, US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and senior generals warned of the need to counter advancing authoritarian regimes – an uphill fight.
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NewsTop Aces’ private F-16 fleet wins USAF contract for adversary air
The Canadian company flies the world’s only fleet of commercially-operated F-16 fighter jets, which will now go head to head against US Air Force pilots in training.
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In depthTwo decades of under-investment has left the US Air Force hollowed-out: Mitchell Institute
The airpower think tank says the USA’s fleet of combat aircraft is currently smaller, older and less ready than it has been in decades.
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NewsBoeing expands purchase of F-15 electronic warfare systems from BAE
The deal will provide additional units of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System under low-rate initial production.
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NewsNew F/A-18 targeting pod makes first test flight
Northrop Grumman’s Litening all-weather, electro-optical targeting pod is slated to replace the legacy system for the US Navy’s Super Hornet fleet.
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NewsB-2 stealth bomber successfully launches long-range cruise missile
The reveal comes from B-2 maker Northrop Grumman, which says the US Air Force successfully tested air launching the extended range variant of a low-observable cruise missile in December 2021.