Author Archive
Audrey Decker
Staff Writer
Threats
Russian pilots chill in Mideast skies after Pentagon’s name-and-shame effort
Air Force three-star says U.S. moves in the region have also deterred Iran and ISIS.
- Audrey Decker
Business
How many F-35 versions are there? Hint: more than 3
Fixes and upgrades have maintainers dealing with more than a dozen flavors of the Lightning II.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Defense Business Brief: F-35 wraps tests; NATO’s Ukraine shops; Boeing’s V-22 settlement…
- Audrey Decker and Lauren C. Williams
Policy
HASC chair: Space Command's temporary office is insecure. Officials: untrue
After White House scuttles move to Alabama, Rep. Rogers vows to keep SPACECOM from building a permanent HQ in Colorado.
- Audrey Decker
Policy
Air Force bristles at congressional cost limits for robot wingmen
But one lawmaker says the drone program needs safeguards against the Pentagon’s costly acquisition process.
- Audrey Decker
Science & Tech
Space Force’s speedy launch record clears way for bigger launches—faster
The “Victus Nox” mission is part of the service’s “tactically responsive space” effort to respond quickly to in-orbit threats.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Defense Business Brief: Shutdown watch; New F-35 missile; ‘Unsustainable’ repair scheme; and more...
- Lauren C. Williams and Audrey Decker
Science & Tech
Air Force eyes supply missions for its first electric air taxi
Joby Aviation delivered its battery-powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft to Edwards AFB in California.
- Audrey Decker
Science & Tech
Boeing is using Fortnite’s game engine to upgrade B-52s
Will this “hyper-realistic” modeling tool help get the program a Victory Royale?
- Audrey Decker
Threats
Pentagon propping up F-35 readiness by buying new parts instead of waiting for repairs, GAO says
This is unsustainable, DOD concedes—and may be delaying the creation of depots that could fix the repair backlog.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
Air Force general defends incendiary memo but says ‘war is not inevitable’
Minihan says a mindset of urgency helped produce three “game-changing” concepts in a recent exercise.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Lockheed aims to hit F-16 production goal by end of 2025
But lawmakers and Pentagon officials want more jets, faster, particularly for Taiwan.
- Audrey Decker
Business
Defense Business Brief: AFA wrap; 155mm production to rise; F-35 moves; and more...
- Audrey Decker and Lauren C. Williams
Exclusive
Business
As Lockheed hungers for F-35 sustainment deal, Pentagon says it might not happen
Company officials no longer expect DOD to approve a switch to performance-based logistics by year’s end.
- Audrey Decker
Ideas
Defense One Radio, Ep. 133: Unpacking the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber conference
In this episode, we review several things we learned at the Air & Space Forces Association's biggest annual event.
- Ben Watson, Audrey Decker, Lauren C. Williams and Marcus Weisgerber
Threats
Pentagon set to make 100K artillery shells a month in 2025
That’s up from an Army projection in August.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
After Niger coup, Air Force looks for other countries to host drone base
Still, ISR operations have resumed from Nigerien sites, the region’s U.S. Air Force commander said.
- Audrey Decker
Science & Tech
B-21 starts engine tests as bomber preps for first flight
Software is ready to go, program officials say, engendering some 'smack talk' with hardware teams.
- Audrey Decker
Threats
China, Russia taking ‘batting practice’ in air intercepts of aging US aircraft, general says
Aggressive maneuvers underscore diminishing U.S. advantage, Air Combat Command leader said.
- Audrey Decker
Policy
Some Ukrainian pilots could finish training in as few as three months
Air National Guard director said shorter timeline is “absolutely realistic” for experienced pilots.
- Audrey Decker