Author Archive

Audrey Decker

Staff Writer

Audrey Decker
Audrey Decker is the air warfare reporter for Defense One. She previously reported for Inside Defense, where she reported on the Navy and emerging defense technology. She's a graduate of the University of Maryland. Contact her on Signal at adecker.59.
Business

As CCAs make international debut, companies pitch European co-production

General Atomics said their robot wingman offering will be “far less than $20 million” a pop.

Business

F-35 engine upgrade hits delay, casting doubt on timeline

Critical design review has been pushed back a year, according to Pratt & Whitney.

Business

Spat over Europe’s next-gen fighter program spills over at Paris Air Show

Public bickering between France and Germany doesn’t bode well for the continent’s efforts to build up military capability.

Business

Boeing says they can build F/A-XX *and* F-47, rejecting SecNav's concerns

Defense chief adds that Qatari-747 conversion won’t affect its Air Force One contract.

Business

Lockheed says new upgrade package for F-35 is ready

The TR-3 upgrade is more than two years late and has been plagued by software-development problems.

Business

Weapons, wariness, and war: Paris Air Show opens amid uncertainty

U.S. defense companies, at least, hope to assuage European fears about Washington’s reliability.

Policy

USAF slashes F-35 buy, boosts next-gen fighter in unconventional 2026 budget proposal

The Pentagon’s spending request includes not just the usual appropriations, but also the still-under-debate reconciliation bill.

Policy

US Air Force’s nascent radar plane faces the axe

Hegseth says the E-7 Wedgetail may be discarded to fund Pentagon shift toward space-based ISR.

Threats

Air Force Reserve faces steep fighter cuts, uncertain future

Plan to eliminate multiple squadrons “takes us out of the fight,” the Reserve’s top general said in a Pentagon interview.

Business

Lockheed pitches pilot-optional F-35

The company is hoping the Pentagon will buy into plans to “supercharge” the F-35.

Policy

Pentagon accepts Qatari jet to use as Air Force One

The Air Force is preparing to award a contract to modify the luxury jet.

Policy

Space Force losing 14% of its civilian workers

That’s more than other military branches, and it means the service will end the year with nearly 1,000 fewer people than expected.

Business

Hegseth to Air Force: Figure out how to modify Qatari jet

Converting the luxury plane into Air Force One could cost more than $1 billion, one senator said.

Policy

Is Trump’s ‘F-55’ fighter jet real?

One former defense official said the president is “very confused.”

Threats

Trump’s Qatari Air Force One would pose massive security risks

Treating the aircraft as safe for the commander in chief with just a few modifications is "absurd," one former senior defense official said.