Ideas
USAF Should Rethink Its Approach to Mental Health and Suicide
The commander and senior enlisted leader of the service’s Expeditionary Center see a back-to-basics path to stronger Airmen.
Science & Tech
F-35 Costs Still Climbing, as Pentagon Updates the Fleet
New GAO report details another $1.4 billion in upgrade costs, and additional delays.
Policy
Biden Picks Changemaking Air Force Chief as Next Top Military Officer
Gen. CQ Brown instituted the “agile combat employment” concept and the “Accelerate Change or Lose” doctrine.
Policy
F-35 Program Completes Band-Aid Fix for Engine
All jets had received the modification earlier this month, but the Pentagon is still trying to figure out why a mysterious vibration is happening.
Defense Systems
Tardy Training Jet Reveals Limits of Digital Design, Air Force Says
New GAO report says decade-late T-7A program will get later yet.
Science & Tech
Air Force Working Closely with New-Jet Designers, Secretary Says
Service engineers are “living in the same design space” as the two companies doing NGAD development, Frank Kendall said.
Policy
F-16s Would Make No ‘Fundamental Change’ in Ukraine’s War Effort, USAF Secretary Says
Biden’s decision to start training Ukrainian pilots on the jet is more about setting up Kyiv’s long-term capabilities, Kendall said.
Threats
B-2s to Return to Flight after Five Months
Air Force officials still won’t say why one of the stealthy bombers was forced to land in December.
Business
USAF Opens Bidding to Build Its 1st New Fighter in Decades
An engineering and manufacturing development contract is to be awarded in 2024 for the secretive Next Generation Air Dominance aircraft.
Defense Systems
USAF Sees '100 Roles' for Its Robot Wingmen—and Firms Are Lining Up to Make Them
Air Force procurement chief offers the most detailed description yet of the collaborative combat aircraft program.
Policy
Will SecAF’s Budget-Flexibility Proposal Die on the Hill?
Frank Kendall wants Congress to allow service secretaries to launch new efforts as threats arise, not when budget season rolls around.
Exclusive
Ideas
How Special Operations Forces Must Meet the Challenges of a New Era
To the commander of U.S. SOCOM, what matters most is whether we solve the problem our nation needs solved.
Threats
Blame ‘Global Demand,’ Parts Shortages for Taiwan’s Tardy F-16s, US Says
Lawmakers are frustrated by the delays in arming the island against China.
Science & Tech
Air Force Is Working on Rules for Using ChatGPT
The service's CIO also wants to encourage exploration of the "incredibly powerful capability" of generative artificial intelligence tools.
Policy