DC military-air traffic control hotline hasn’t worked for over 3 years
The FAA confirmed the agency didn’t know the hotline hadn’t been working since March 2022 until after the latest near miss at Reagan National Airport.
Air Warfare
Air Force eyes longer range for F-47 as combat edge in Pacific theater
A greater fighter range would help the Air Force reach targets in contested airspace in the Pacific, where refueling tankers may not be an option.
Senate confirms Meink as next Air Force secretary
Former NRO deputy director Troy Meink will now run the Air and Space Forces as space becomes increasingly important to future wars.
Experts: Qatar-gifted Air Force One may be security, upgrade disaster
Upgrading a Qatar-donated 747 into a new Air Force One would take a large sum of money and years to complete, aviation experts said.
General Atomics touts UK breakthrough in drone airspace integration
The achievement has been a long time coming for the U.S. drone vendor after spending spending $500 million and working for 11 years.
Upgrades ahead across the special operations helicopter fleet
Better targeting, lighter airframes and more firepower are on the docket.
More data, comms, countermeasures needed for Special Ops aircraft
From their largest to smallest aircraft, upgrades are needed for the next fight, Special Operations Command officials said.
KC-46 vision system upgrade slips to 2027, 3 years behind schedule
The original vision system for the KC-46 was beset by troubles such as distorted images, but its replacement also has repeatedly fallen behind.
Sentinel nuclear missiles will need new silos, Air Force says
The Sentinel ICBM program is already alarmingly over budget, and trying to reuse 55-year-old Minuteman III silos would put it even further behind.
US Air Force sending ‘boneyard’ F-16s to Ukraine for spare parts
The F-16s being shipped to Ukraine lack critical components like an engine and radar, the Air Force said, meaning they cannot be used operationally.
Defense firms closely watching tariffs, but split on potential sting
Tariffs are a key economic tool for the Trump administration, which also wants to bring manufacturing and material production back to the United States.
Vendor vows to hasten Turkey’s fifth-generation ‘Kaan’ fighter plane
“We’ve now ignited the afterburner on the first aircraft. We are awaiting its third flight – perhaps in August or before October."
Air Force starts ground testing Anduril collaborative combat aircraft
The service wants CCAs to fly alongside aircraft like the F-35 and F-47, and autonomously carry out missions like airstrikes, recon and serving as decoy.
With new jets, Marines need new weapons for future fights
Marine aviation leaders are looking for upgraded weapons and munitions options for the Corps' growing fleet of F-35B and F-35C fighter jets.
Safety fears keep most of India’s go-to military helicopters grounded
The grounding has strained the military’s fleet and forced the leasing of civilian helicopters as gap fillers.
Marines more than halfway through fielding of new 360-degree radar
More than half of the 60 systems have been received.
India tops up its Rafale warplane buy with 26 carrier-capable jets
The Indian Navy will become the first international user of the French jet's naval variant, underscoring the strategic ties between the two countries.
