All United States Air Force articles – Page 6
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In depthL3Harris poised to deliver first OA-1K Armed Overwatch turboprop
Although the Armed Overwatch programme to develop a new close-air support turboprop has been criticised by government auditors, US Special Operations Command stands by the concept and contractor L3Harris is poised to deliver the first aircraft.
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NewsA-10s escort US ballistic missile submarine during strait transit
Ground-attack A-10 fighters from the US Air Force overflew the USS Nebraska ballistic-missile submarine during a transit through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, as the air force continues seeking new missions for the ageing jets.
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NewsUSA no longer pursuing amphibious MC-130 variant
Although they described the concept as technically feasible, procurement officials at the US Special Operations Command say they are no longer pursuing a kit that could modify the Lockheed Martin MC-130J for amphibious take-offs and landings, citing budget constraints and competing priorities.
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NewsTop US Air Force official rides in front seat of autonomous F-16
Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall flew in the lead seat of the service’s X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), a specially modified Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter being used to test and develop artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities.
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AnalysisUSAF awards Sierra Nevada contract for replacement ‘Doomsday’ aircraft
Officially known as the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, the new aircraft will replace the Boeing E-4B Nightwatch jet capable of commanding the USA’s nuclear arsenal.
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NewsAnduril and General Atomics advance in USAF autonomous fighter programme
Two manufacturers have been selected by the US Air Force to advance in the competition to develop an autonomous fighter aircraft.
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NewsUSAF launches show of force with 12 B-2 sortie
The flight, which incorporated nearly two-thirds of the stealth bomber fleet, was part of annual drills meant to test the US Air Force’s ability to generate sorties with Washington’s only nuclear-capable bomber capable of penetrating modern air defences.
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NewsDARPA tests dogfighting AI against human fighter pilot
Using a specially modified F-16 fighter known as the X-62A VISTA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Air Force pitted a dogfighting artificial intelligence system against human fighter pilots in recent air-to-air combat exercises.
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NewsOmega completes contracted air refuelling with B-52 for first time
Contractor Omega Air Refueling Services for the first time topped off a US Air Force B-52 bomber and an MC-130J special-operations transport.
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Analysis‘True sense of fear’: US military expands pilot training at virtual test range created for F-35
The US military has significantly expanded its use of the US Navy’s Joint Simulation Environment, using technology initially developed to evaluate F-35 systems and sensors to create robust and realistic training environments for pilots flying F-35s, F-22s, F/A-18s, EA-18Gs and E-2Ds.
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NewsUS Air Force reveals photos of restored B-1B bomber
After recalling a decommissioned Boeing B-1B bomber to service, US Air Force technicians restored the supersonic aircraft to flying condition at the Davis-Monthan AFB “boneyard” before a transfer to Tinker AFB in Oklahoma for a full overhaul and modernisation.
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NewsUS Air Force begins modifying F-16s for autonomous flight testing
Under the Viper Experimentation and Next-generation Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed, or VENOM-AFT programme, the air force will modify three Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters for use as testbeds to develop autonomous flight technologies.
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NewsUS Air Force and BAE complete on testing latest F-15 electronic countermeasures
The Eagle Passive Warning Survivability System, or EPAWSS, is an electronic warfare system viewed as critical for making the fourth-generation F-15E and F-15EX more survivable against modern air defences.
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NewsUS F-35s arrive in Poland for NATO air defence mission
Four of the fifth-generation stealth fighters from the US Air Force are temporarily deployed to Lask, Poland from their home station RAF Lakenheath, under a NATO mission to increase air and missile defences along the alliance’s eastern flank.
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NewsExosonic flies demonstrator of in-development autonomous supersonic military jet
US supersonic aircraft developer Exosonic has started test flying a subscale demonstrator of a conceptual supersonic unmanned aircraft that the company aims to develop for military customers.
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NewsUS Air Force recalls mothballed B-1B to service from boneyard
A mothballed Boeing B-1B supersonic bomber is being refurbished for active service with the US Air Force to offset multiple non-combat losses in recent years.
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NewsHypersonic developer Hermeus teases first flight of Quarterhorse this summer
The Atlanta-based start-up revealed the second of four planned vehicles in the Quarterhorse line and revealed the selection of the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine to power its follow-on aircraft.
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In depthCongress gives extra $3bn to Pentagon for aircraft procurement
Six months behind schedule, lawmakers in Washington have agreed to a spending plan for the US military that includes new P-8 maritime patrol jets from Boeing, more Combat Rescue Helicopters from Sikorsky and over $2 billion for a sixth-generation fighter programme.
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NewsUS lawmakers call for recapitalisation of LC-130 Arctic transport fleet
The US Air National Guard in New York state operates the world’s only fleet of the unique “Skibird” C-130 variant equipped for take-off and landing on snow runways.
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In depthUS Air Force cuts fighter acquisition goals for 2025
In its fiscal year 2025 budget request, the US Air Force reveals it plans to acquire fewer F-15EXs, temporarily slow the pace of F-35 purchases and spend billions of dollars developing a sixth-generation fighter and autonomous jets to support the new platform.
