Policy
Nearly 300 days after purge, Pentagon taps new Air Force vice chief, JAG
Air Mobility commander nominated to be vice chief; Oklahoma Air National Guard commander to be top judge advocate general.
Business
Next presidential jet will arrive a bit earlier than projected, Air Force says
Boeing's first VC-25B Air Force One jet is now slated to enter service in mid-2028.
Threats
New GAO, Navy reports warn of serious V-22 Osprey safety risks, with some fixes stretching into 2030s
The pair of accountability reports highlight Joint Program Office woes and maintenance failures.
Science & Tech
Congress supports bare minimum on Navy’s F/A-XX, while fully backing Air Force’s F-47
Appropriators and other lawmakers have pushed for the Navy’s next-gen fighter, but the latest NDAA offers only enough to keep the nascent program warm.
Business
Northrop Grumman to fly new, improved CCA offering next year
The company spent 15 months redesigning and building a robot wingman after losing its initial bid for the U.S. Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft program.
Policy
Air Force leaders axe major China-focused organizational efforts
The service continues to unravel its “reoptimization for Great Power Competition” strategy.
Defense Systems
USAF plan to fly C-5, C-17s even longer elicits concern
Service says it needs to hedge against delays to planned Next-Generation Airlift plane.
Policy
Most of the Air Force’s biggest programs will now be overseen by a 4-star under the deputy SecDef
The centralization of the ICBM, B-21, F-47, and Air Force One programs appears at odds with the Pentagon’s professed acquisition approach, one expert said.
Science & Tech
The pilot of an F-22 just controlled a drone wingman in flight
The General Atomics linkup is a first for the Air Force’s collaborative combat aircraft effort.
Policy
Shutdown deal adds $850M for B-21, Sentinel construction projects
Lawmakers boosted projects in the three-bill funding package that reopened the federal government on Wednesday.
Defense Systems