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)
“There's a chance it might be uncrewed, but I think that's not quite ready yet. And we could always do something like an optionally crewed platform," Secretary…
Analysts told DefenseScoop that a number of variables are likely shaping the Air Force's decision on the fate of its sixth-generation fighter jet, including new technologies, budget…
Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, speaks during the panel discussion “Answering the Warfighters’ Needs” at the Air and Space Forces Association 2023 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colo., March 7, 2023. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric Dietrich)
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall prepares to fly in the X-62 VISTA during a visit to Edwards Air Force Base, California, May 2. (Air Force photo by James West)
Shield AI put a technology known as reinforcement learning-based artificial intelligence onto the VISTA aircraft that recently flew Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall flies in the X-62 VISTA in the skies above Edwards Air Force Base, California, May 2, 2024. (Air Force photo by Richard Gonzales)
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall testifies before the Senate Appropriations Committee on the fiscal year 2025 budget requests for the Department of the Air Force and Space Force, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., April 9, 2024. Kendall was joined by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and Chief of Space Operations during the hearing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Andy Morataya)
The new Quick Start rapid acquisition authority allows the Air Force and other services to begin development on new programs without a congressionally approved budget.