Science & Tech

US Military Testing Whether Human Pilots Can Trust Robot Wingmen in a Dogfight

DARPA’s Air Combat Evolution program aims to find out — and so shape America’s future arsenal.

Science & Tech

Don’t Expect the US Military’s Next Fighter to Be Joint

While the Navy’s and Air Force’s next tactical jet might share some capabilities, a Navy official says, they won’t share an airframe.

Science & Tech

Fighter Jets with Missile-Killing Lasers Take Another Step Toward Reality

U.S. Air Force says a ground-based laser downed multiple test missiles over New Mexico.

Business

Lockheed, Frustrated with US Air Force, Eyes Foreign F-35 Sales

The service’s proposed purchase of Boeing F-15s has the company increasing its sales efforts on Capitol Hill, and elsewhere.

Science & Tech

Air Force to Begin Shifting Research Funds to These Kinds of Next-Gen Weapons

The Pentagon’s continues to shift focus toward Moscow and Beijing with a new push for tomorrow’s drone swarms and smart missiles.

Science & Tech

New Nuclear Missiles' Cost Estimate Changes Again

The fight over America’s nuclear missile future gets cloudier, as Air Force says expensive silo improvements would be needed for any new ICBMs.

Defense Systems

USAF adds competitive career categories for cyber, space

The Air Force is trying to improve training and talent retention by adding seven new competitive career categories for officers that will include cyber, intelligence and space.

Ideas

Tyndall and Offutt AFBs Need More Repair Money — and Fast

US Air Force readiness will suffer if Congress doesn’t approve more funds by June.

Ideas

The US Air Force Needs F-35s, Not the F-15EX

Only about 20 percent of USAF fighters are fifth-generation aircraft. Winning tomorrow’s wars depends on growing that share faster, not slower.

Policy

Shanahan Touts Unity in Space-Force Pitch, But Disagreements Clearly Remain

It’s a key week for proponents of the Trump administration’s space reorganization — and their detractors.

Policy

Sorry, Florida, Looks Like You’re Not Getting US Space Command

Despite lobbying, Sunshine State left off shortlist for command’s new headquarters.

Science & Tech

Another Launch Startup Gets Work from US Air Force

New Zealand-based Rocket Lab will orbit a trio of satellites as Pentagon hunts for cheap ways to put sensors in space.

Ideas

Escalating the US Air War in Afghanistan Isn’t Working

The dramatic increase in U.S. airstrikes that began last year has brought the country no closer to peace. In fact, Afghan soldiers, police, and civilians are dying at record rates.

Business

Pentagon: We’re Buying Boeing F-15s to Keep 2 Fighter Makers in Business

The acting defense secretary’s ties to the company had nothing to do with the decision, a senior defense official said Friday.

Business

Lockheed Martin is Waging War on Boeing’s F-15EX

The F-35 maker sees the Pentagon’s plans to buy new F-15s for the first time in 19 years as a threat.

Business

Boeing Has ‘Severe Situation’ After Parts Left in Tankers, Says Top USAF Buyer

Will Roper’s harsh assessment comes amid the unrelated grounding of the company’s popular 737 Max jetliner.

Defense Systems

GSA launches Netcents-2 replacement

A new five-year blanket purchase agreement will replace Air Force's expiring IT hardware and software commodity contract.

Defense Systems

DISA works to make JRSS faster, more reliable

After a scathing internal evaluation, the Defense Information Systems Agency said it is working to resolve latency and reliability issues in the Joint Regional Security Stacks program.

Threats

State of Defense 2019: Special Report

Our annual service-by-service look at the U.S. military finds the shift to great-power competition dogged by some old problems and some very new ones.