US Air Force

Read the latest US Air Force news, covering combat aircraft, bombers, tankers, procurement, weapons, autonomous systems, operations and the development of next-generation airpower.

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F-35 being maintained at a USAF base

GAO warns US F-35 readiness is falling as only a quarter of jets are fully mission capable

GAO

June 12, 20267 min read

A KC-46 Pegasus assigned to the 418th Flight Test Squadron, Global Reach Combined Test Force, refuels an F-22 Raptor assigned to the 411th Flight Test Squadron, Air Dominance Combined Test Force while an F-16 assigned to the 416th Flight Test Squadron, Airpower Foundations Combined Test Force, awaits a turn over the Mojave Desert on March 3, 2026. Partnerships between the Combined Test Forces at Edwards helps expedite critical capability for the warfighter by leveraging multiple program portfolios in tandem. In this scenario, the F-16 aircraft was operating as a target for key F-22 Raptor test points while the KC-46 was able to collect additional data for aerial refueling efforts. (Courtesy photo)

“Performing magnificently”: US Air Force officials satisfied with Boeing’s fix of KC-46 Remote Vision System

Aerial refuelling

June 11, 20265 min read

A US Army-operated AH-64E Apache Guardian prepares to land aboard the US Navy's first-in-class amphibious assault ship, USS America (LHA-6), on 11 September 2025. Image: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Nicholas Douglass

Iran shoots down US AH-64 Apache helicopter over Strait of Hormuz

AH-64E Apache

June 10, 20264 min read

Boy scout balloon being shot down by F-16 footage

US F-16 fired half-million-dollar missile at ‘UFO’ that turned out to be Boy Scouts balloon

balloon systems

June 8, 20264 min read

A USAF-operated F-15E Strike Eagle from the 48th FW's 494th FS 'Panthers' lands at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan on 18 January 2026. Image: US CENTCOM

Pulling the handle twice: A USAF F-15E pilot survived two shootdowns in Iran

Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle

June 3, 20264 min read

Eglin Test Team Rapidly Expands F-16 Readiness

Operation Midnight Hammer: USAF F-16s ran critically low on fuel after Iran B-2 strike

B-2 Spirit

June 1, 20264 min read

CENTCOM A-10 operating with new refuelling

The A-10 Warthog is now flying in the Middle East with new refuelling and EW capabilities

Aerial refuelling

May 22, 20265 min read

USAF Kamikaze Lucas drones

US upgrades LUCAS drones with Shield AI Hivemind for intelligent swarming

Drones

May 21, 20263 min read

T-38 Talon flying in formation

Entire US Air Force T-38 fleet grounded pending crash investigation

advanced jet trainer

May 20, 20263 min read

AEVEX group III strike drone

US Air Force adds new autonomous strike drone capability with AEVEX

AEVEX Corp

May 19, 20265 min read

Boeing E-7 Wedgetail

USAF rethinks E-7 Wedgetail cancellation after Iran war exposed surveillance gap

AWACS

May 15, 20264 min read

USAF's 100th KC-46A takes off from Boeing Field on delivery to Travis AFB on December 2, 2025

US Air Force to cannibalise early KC-46 Pegasus tankers to improve fleet readiness

Boeing KC-46 Pegasus

May 13, 20263 min read

Iranian Air Force RC-130

Did Pakistan hide Iranian aircraft? What we know so far

Centcom

May 13, 20265 min read

Rapid Dragon cruise missiles from cargo planes

Rapid Dragon: Inside the US Air Force plan to launch cruise missiles from cargo aircraft

Boeing C-17 Globemaster III

May 12, 20268 min read

US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress

The B-52J explained: Why the US Air Force still believes in the Stratofortress

B-52

May 10, 20268 min read

B-1B is ready to fight again

US Air Force pulls retired B-1B bomber from boneyard for hypersonic missions

Davis Monthan AFB

May 8, 20265 min read

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