Policy
What will happen to the Air Force’s next-gen fighter jet?
The service may be waffling on NGAD because it’s dealing with a “truly miserable choice,” one analyst said.
Business
Blue Origin cleared to bid on national-security launches
But Bezos-owned rocket firm is the only newcomer in a $5.6B contract pool that had been intended to foster competition.
Threats
Is NGAD slipping off the table? Air Force chief declines to confirm plans to build next-gen fighter
“We're going to have to make those choices” in the next few years, Gen. Allvin says at an AFA event.
Threats
V-22s won’t return to full flight operations until mid-2025
But some lawmakers are worried about the Osprey flying at all.
Science & Tech
Air Force tests AI-designed, 3D-printed drones
Qatar-based Task Force 99 is also eyeing a new U.S. component.
Policy
As new ICBMs' cost soars, a few lawmakers are trying to rein it in
A congressional working group on nuclear arms will hold a hearing in July on the budget-busting program.
Policy
House defense bills on collision course over F-35, second sub
Appropriators would boost, not cut, jet purchases, and hew to the Navy’s submarine-building plan.
Business
Pentagon looks beyond primes for cheaper drones
The Air Force and DIU say non-traditional contractors offer “the best chance” for inexpensive mass production.
Threats
Air Force unit resumes intel ops after Discord leak
Jack Teixeira's former group went through “recertification” before it could continue its mission.
Threats
F-35 crash shrinks a tiny test fleet under stress
Congress and GAO were already worried about having enough test jets to handle planned upgrades.
Policy
How the Space Force plans to surge a commercial fleet during wartime
New program is based on the concept of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet.
Threats
Lawsuit alleges contractors lied about V-22’s safety
The suit, filed by the families of Marines killed in a 2022 crash, says the tiltrotor aircraft don’t meet government safety specifications.
Science & Tech
SpaceX launches first batch of new spy satellites for NRO
The agency wants to quadruple the number of its satellites in orbit.
Threats
Space Force picks next mission areas for new ‘integrated’ units
Officials want to create more Integrated Mission Deltas to boost readiness.
Threats
DOD: Russia’s use of Starlink will be a ‘continuous problem’ in Ukraine
The Pentagon and SpaceX have been working together to shut off Russia’s use of Starlink.
Business
F-35s are piling up on Lockheed tarmacs, presenting ‘unique’ risks to the Pentagon
The program is trying to quash bugs that force pilots to reboot in midair, GAO says.
Policy
Air Force picks homes for expeditionary ‘Air Task Forces’
The new deployment model will get its first real-world test next year.
Policy
House authorizers: cut F-35 purchases to fix problems
Their version of the defense policy bill would reduce the Pentagon’s 2025 purchase by 10 jets.
Science & Tech
B-2 that caught fire in 2022 won’t be fixed, Air Force confirms
That will leave just 19 of the stealth bombers, according to the service’s new force-structure plan.
Science & Tech
AI-powered F-16 impresses ride-along SECAF in dogfight
Air Force will deploy armed, automated aircraft around 2030, Kendall says.
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