Air Force Archives

Next-generation air dominance and CCA drone concept art (Lockheed Martin image)

Big decisions coming for the Air Force’s next-gen aircraft platforms

Some of the service’s future aircraft programs are in limbo as it looks for more clarity over the next few months.

Sep 27, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force Col. Larry Fenner Jr., 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing commander, stands at attention after rendering his first salute to the wing after taking command at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, July 9, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Benjamin Aronson)

‘We can go faster’ on EW reprogramming, Air Force spectrum warfare commander believes

The head of the 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing wants to get fixes out to the field as quickly as possible to stay ahead of threats.

Sep 25, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau

An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off for a night mission during Red Flag-Nellis 24-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 21, 2024. Red Flag participants conduct a variety of scenarios, including defensive counterair, offensive-counterair suppression of enemy air defenses and offensive counterair-air interdiction. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Jimmy Cummings)

Air Force looking to disaggregate electronic warfare capabilities from platforms

The Air Force is taking a more holistic approach to electronic warfare across a variety of systems and capabilities.

Sep 24, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau

Members of the 106th Rescue Wing Communication Flight stand in formation at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, New York National Guard, during their unit’s redesignation ceremony to become the 106th Communications Squadron, February 4, 2024. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Donaldson)

New warrant officers poised to improve readiness of Air Force cyber mission force teams

The initial cadre of warrant officers, the first in over 65 years, are slated to graduate in early December and be on mission later that month or…

Sep 19, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau

Under the direction of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), two F-15s assigned to the Massachusetts Air National Guard and two CF-18 assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force fly in formation behind a KC-135 assigned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard during air-defense Operation NOBLE DEFENDER, Oct. 27, 2022. (U.S. Air National Guard Photos by Tech. Sgt. Bryan Hoover)

Air Force deploys cloud-based C2 capability to all NORAD air defense sectors

The Air Force is now looking to scale the CBC2 capability from a tactical level up to an operational level.

Sep 18, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Cyber warfare operators assigned to the 275th Cyber Operations Squadron of the 175th Cyberspace Operations Group of the Maryland Air National Guard configure a threat intelligence feed for daily watch in the Hunter’s Den at Warfield Air National Guard Base, Middle River, Md., Dec. 2, 2017. (U.S. Air Force photo by J.M. Eddins Jr.)

Air Force elevating role of communications networks

As the Air Force looks to split up its A2/6 directorate, electromagnetic spectrum operations, cyber ops and information ops will be moved to the deputy chief of…

Sep 18, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin speaks to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi on a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft during Bamboo Eagle 24-3, an Air Combat Command directed exercise, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Aug. 5, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Julian Atkins)

Air Force stands up ‘provisional’ Integrated Capabilities Command

The Air Force has also announced the creation of a new role known as the capability development executive officer as part of its major reorganization effort.

Sep 16, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an F-22 Raptor assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron participate in exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 with 32nd Air Refueling Squadron air crews over the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 9, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Monica Roybal)

16th Air Force looking to reevaluate how it generates requirements with Phoenix Initiative

The Air Force’s information warfare organization is working more collaboratively with industry and academia to better inform how it can produce capabilities.

Sep 16, 2024 By Mark Pomerleau

Anduril reveals new family of software-defined, autonomous cruise missiles

One of the variants in the Barracuda family of cruise missiles is Anduril's solution for the Air Force's Enterprise Test Vehicle program.

Sep 12, 2024 By Mikayla Easley

Airmen from the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron munitions flight load an AIM-120D Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile onto an F-15E Strike Eagle during an integrated combat turn training event at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, March 3, 2021. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Greg Erwin)

Air Force integrating AMRAAM weapons onto first batch of CCA drones

Raytheon is working with the service and the two vendors competing in the ongoing development-for-production phase of CCA Increment 1 to incorporate the missiles onto the drones.

Sep 10, 2024 By Mikayla Easley