All Department of the Air Force (USAF) articles – Page 9
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NewsGeneral Atomics teases new addition to its portfolio of air-launched effects
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems is teasing a new air-launched effect, a part of a growing portfolio of in-development drones that it plans to launch from its MQ-9A Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle unmanned air vehicles.
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NewsGE Aviation finishes testing on first XA100 adaptive cycle engine
The US Air Force is interested in re-engining the Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighter with an adaptive engine to increase the aircraft’s 1,200nm (2,222km) range, which is viewed as too short for attacking targets within China.
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NewsUS Air Force shows F-15E loaded with five stealthy JASSMs
The proof-of-concept shows that the F-15E could more than double its capacity of long-range cruise missiles.
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NewsB-52 completes long-range kill chain with simulated hypersonic missile attack
The US Air Force demonstrated a Boeing B-52 Stratofortress bomber carrying out a simulated hypersonic missile strike using targeting data from sensors positioned more than 1,000nm (1,852km) away.
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NewsKratos to deliver first XQ-58A Valkyrie production unit in a ‘couple of months’ to USAF
Kratos is anticipating that the XQ-58A Valkyrie will move toward operations.
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NewsSkyborg autonomy ‘brain’ flies for first time aboard Kratos UTAP-22 UAV
The US Air Force’s (USAF’s) Skyborg autonomy core system flew for the first time aboard a Kratos UTAP-22 Mako tactical unmanned vehicle (UAV) at Tyndall AFB in Florida.
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NewsUS Air Force signs research contract for ‘Bell’s High Speed VTOL’
The US Air Force Research Laboratory has contracted Bell to research a high-speed vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
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NewsBoeing VC-25B takes $318m loss due to Covid restrictions and supplier dispute
Boeing’s V-25B was snagged by coronavirus restrictions and a dispute with a supplier in the first quarter of 2021, causing the company to report a $318 million loss on the Presidential Aircraft Replacement programme.
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NewsAll USAF B-1B bombers grounded for fuel pump issue, as fleet shows its age
The US Air Force grounded all of its Boeing B-1B Lancer bombers on 20 April after a fuel pump issue was discovered.
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NewsUS Air Force rewrites basic doctrine, emphasising ‘commander’s intent’
As the US Air Force (USAF) potentially faces more complex and fast-paced battles in the future, where communications are likely to be disrupted, for example by jamming, it is rewriting its basic doctrine to emphasise “commander’s intent”.
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NewsUS Air Force starts MQ-9 Reaper upgrades to keep UAV relevant against sophisticated foes
The US Air Force (USAF) has started upgrades to part of its General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper fleet to keep the unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) effective against near-peer adversaries, such as China and Russia.
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NewsUS Air Force HH-60W combat rescue helicopter finishes developmental tests
The US Air Force’s Sikorsky HH-60W Jolly Green II combat rescue helicopter finished its developmental test programme on 13 April.
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NewsBoeing delivers only two KC-46A tankers in Q1 2021
Despite orders for dozens more KC-46A Pegasus in-flight refuelling tankers in recent months, Boeing only delivered two examples of the aircraft in the first quarter of 2021.
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NewsHow do you design and build throw-away aircraft?
The US Air Force wants UAVs that it can afford to lose – but that presents industry with numerous challenges to overcome.
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NewsFormer SpaceX engineers propose two-stage eVTOL for regional, military use
Two former SpaceX engineers are proposing a two-stage electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft for regional cargo and passenger flight, as well as for US military missions.
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AnalysisWhat’s the strategic logic behind ‘surprise’ bomber flights?
US Air Force (USAF) bombers are touching down in new places. In February, for the first time in history, the Boeing B-1B Lancer bomber landed in India. Then, in March, the supersonic jet deployed for the first time from a Norwegian air base. Just this week the variable-sweep bomber landed in Poland for the first time ever.
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NewsUS Air Force accepts first Boeing F-15EX fighter
The choice to acquire the F-15EX is controversial as the fourth-generation fighter lacks the low radar cross-section of the service’s former favourite jet, the Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter.
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NewsUS Air Force looks at air-to-air combat technologies for next-generation UAVs
The US Air Force is looking for air-to-air combat technologies for its family of next-generation unmanned air vehicles.
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NewsDARPA kicks off feasibility study of military jetpacks
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is studying the technical feasibility of military jetpacks, and other personal flying platforms, potentially for use by US special forces.
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NewsAFRL to expand ‘Golden Horde’ networked weapons with ‘Colosseum’ simulation software
The US Air Force Research Laboratory is aiming to accelerate the pace at which it adds weapons to its Golden Horde network by using a simulation software called Colosseum.