DefenceTalkThe Air Force successfully held a critical design review of the B-21 weapon system November 28-30, 2018. The event served as a multi-disciplined technical review that ensured the Air Force’s newest bomber has a stable and mature design as the program moves forward into manufacturing and flight test. According to Air Force leadership, the review […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-21-raider-program-holds-weapons-system-critical-design-review-71984/

DefenceTalkThe United States has selected Boeing as its contractor for the MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial tanker. Boeing won an $805 million engineering and manufacturing development contract to provide four aircraft. The MQ-25 Stingray will allow for better use of combat strike fighters by extending the range of deployed naval combat aircraft, according to the U.S. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-mq-25-stingray-procurement-could-reach-over-150-71840/

DefenceTalkAirmen and F-35A aircraft from the active duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing returned here May 4-5 following a six-month deployment to Kadena Air Base, Japan. Families gathered on the flightline to welcome the pilots, maintainers, and support personnel who had been working at Kadena and the surrounding region since October 2017. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/airmen-f-35-jets-return-from-japan-deployment-71679/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force outlined plans for its bomber fleet in its Fiscal Year 2019 President’s Budget Request February 12, 2018. In line with the service’s bomber vector, the budget request detailed the Air Force plan to update the B-52 Stratofortress fleet and continue modifications to the B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets while continuing to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-outlines-future-of-bomber-force-71473/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force successfully launched the fourth Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V Evolved Expendable launch Vehicle from Space Launch Complex 41 here, Jan 19. “The successful launch of SBIRS GEO Flight-4 is the reward for years of hard work put in by our combined government […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-successfully-launches-new-satellite-71150/

DefenceTalkDelivering improved performance at lower cost Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) and the U.S. Air Force validated performance of an upgraded navigation system for the Miniature Air Launched Decoy-Jammer (MALD-J) in six flight tests from B-52 and F-16 aircraft at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The system upgrade, designated as GAINS II (GPS Aided Inertial Navigation […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-us-air-force-upgrade-mald-j-with-anti-jam-capabilities-69320/

DefenceTalkWRIGHT-PATTERSON AFB, Ohio — It’s a materials scientist’s dream, but as some experts say, an engineer’s nightmare. For scientists and engineers at the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, additive manufacturing, also known as 3-D printing, can be a powerful tool for rapid innovation. Ultimately, it’s a new way of looking at manufacturing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-air-force-explores-additive-manufacturing-technology-68785/

DefenceTalkThe United States and Bulgarian air forces will conduct the first ever joint NATO air policing mission in Bulgaria, Sept. 9-16. The air policing mission enables on-demand response capabilities, which serve to mitigate and deter violations and infringements on Bulgarian sovereign airspace. Working alongside the Bulgarian air force are four F-15C Eagle fighter aircraft from […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bulgaria-us-air-forces-commence-joint-air-policing-68151/

DefenceTalkThe US Air Force is facing a fighter pilot shortage as it scrambles to service an ever-growing array of air campaigns around the world, top officials said Wednesday. The shortfall will likely rise to more than 700 pilots (from a force size of 3,500 fighter pilots) by the end of this fiscal year, and as […]https://www.defencetalk.com/stretched-us-air-force-faces-fighter-aircraft-shortage-67978/

DefenceTalkGen. Hawk Carlisle, the Air Combat Command commander, discussed the importance of air superiority and the need to assure it by modernizing the combat air force during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee in Washington, D.C., July 13. This is the second of two hearings where ACC […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-dominance-and-the-critical-role-of-fifth-generation-fighters-67836/