Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request

Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request
Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request

Across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the Pentagon will purchase 21 fewer fighter jets than originally expected for the 2025 fiscal year, dropping a planned buy of 107 to 86.

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request
Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

“We’re very, very fixated on being competitive with the pacing challenge [of China],” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. “I think the budget that we’ve submitted moves us forward — not quite as fast as we would like to, but it moves us forward in the right direction while maintaining current capabilities that are essential to the nation.”

Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability

Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability
Singapore downplays defense spending hike, though with warning of instability

COVID-19 stalled defense programs, so money moves from last year to this, giving Singapore defense spending a single year bump of over 12 percent.

4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety

4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety
4 solutions for addressing the Air Force’s distance anxiety

In this op-ed, Timothy Walton and Mark Gunzinger discuss solutions to extend the reach of the US Air Force for a China scenario.

Navy seeking to rapidly prototype new air-launched, stand-off missile

Navy seeking to rapidly prototype new air-launched, stand-off missile
Navy seeking to rapidly prototype new air-launched, stand-off missile

The service wants to produce up to 500 rounds per year and field an early version in fiscal year 2027.

Hungary, Sweden reach deal for additional Gripen fighters, with NATO clearance looming

Hungary, Sweden reach deal for additional Gripen fighters, with NATO clearance looming
Hungary, Sweden reach deal for additional Gripen fighters, with NATO clearance looming

Hungary was the third country, behind Sweden and Czech Republic to operate the Gripen C/D planes, initially acquired under a lease agreement for 12 single seaters (Gripen C) and a pair of two seaters (Gripen D).

US and Switzerland sign Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile contract

US and Switzerland sign Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile contract
US and Switzerland sign Patriot Advanced Capability 3 missile contract

“The procurement of a second type of guided missile [PAC-3] for the Patriot system expands the capabilities of longer-range ground-based air defense and increases the endurance of the Swiss Army” said Switzerland’s federal department of defense, civil protection and sport in a translated statement.

Jets on highways: Why European militaries are expanding ‘dispersed’ road exercises

Jets on highways: Why European militaries are expanding ‘dispersed’ road exercises
Jets on highways: Why European militaries are expanding ‘dispersed’ road exercises

“Let’s say enemy strike plans are based around them going in and taking out a whole air wing at an airfield within a morning. Well that is not going to happen if they [friendly aircraft] are dispersed around the country and moving from A to B to C to D the whole time,” said Gary Waterfall, a former UK Royal Air Force air vice-marshal.

Agile basing gets real world test in Pacific Northern Edge: replace F-15 engine on small island

Agile basing gets real world test in Pacific Northern Edge: replace F-15 engine on small island
Agile basing gets real world test in Pacific Northern Edge: replace F-15 engine on small island

“They worked basically until the end of their duty day, got up early the next morning to finish it off, ran the engine and had it ready to go within about 12 hours of the C-130 touching down.”

US clears Norway for $293 million small diameter bomb sale to equip F-35 fleet

US clears Norway for $293 million small diameter bomb sale to equip F-35 fleet
US clears Norway for $293 million small diameter bomb sale to equip F-35 fleet

Separately, the US cleared a potential $15 billion sale to Poland for Patriot air defense systems and related equipment.

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The state of air dominance in Europe and what the air chiefs say they need to stay ahead of the threat

The state of air dominance in Europe and what the air chiefs say they need to stay ahead of the threat
The state of air dominance in Europe and what the air chiefs say they need to stay ahead of the threat

Gen. (ret) Jeff “Cobra” Harrigian, recently retired commander of US Air Forces Europe and Africa, describes the European battlespace and what’s on the minds of the air chiefs as Ukraine defends itself.

Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker

Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker
Denmark considering military submarines after almost 20 year gap: Danish lawmaker

The Scandinavian nation divested of submarines in 2004 but lawmakers are actively considering whether to acquire them again.

Air Force program for new F-35 missile will knock out at least one prime in FY24

Air Force program for new F-35 missile will knock out at least one prime in FY24
Air Force program for new F-35 missile will knock out at least one prime in FY24

Air Force’s Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW) program has funded prototyping work with three short-term contracts first issued last year to Lockheed Martin, L3Harris and Northrop Grumman.

Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future

Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future
Air Force’s FY24 request seeks to retire 310 older planes to invest in its future

Building off trends established by the fiscal 2023 budget, the service is asking for even more retirements in FY24 while seeking to launch new efforts like a program to field autonomous wingmen. “We’ve built a budget that we think has a reasonable balance between current-, midterm- and longer-term investments, if you will, or capabilities,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said.