Michael Marrow

Michael Marrow covers air warfare for Breaking Defense. He holds a BA in history from the University of Virginia and started out as a freelance reporter covering local news in Fairfax County, Virginia and policing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michael previously reported on the Air Force and Space Force for Inside Defense, where he tracked major acquisitions, policy changes and modernization efforts.

Stories by Michael Marrow

Air Force mobility fleet seeks on-board defenses against small drones

Air Force mobility fleet seeks on-board defenses against small drones
Air Force mobility fleet seeks on-board defenses against small drones

Air Mobility Command documents say they’re interested counter-drone systems, including platforms that can operate near friendly aircraft, so as not to hypothetically accidentally jam or spoof a nearby vice president’s plane.

Red Cat unveils low-cost ‘family’ of small ISR, strike drones

Red Cat unveils low-cost ‘family’ of small ISR, strike drones
Red Cat unveils low-cost ‘family’ of small ISR, strike drones

The company revealed a new drone dubbed FANG and is championing a separate system the company is acquiring by buying manufacturer FlightWave Aerospace Systems.

First flight of new Air Force One jet slips to 2026, Air Force says

First flight of new Air Force One jet slips to 2026, Air Force says
First flight of new Air Force One jet slips to 2026, Air Force says

Boeing is currently revising the schedule for the presidential jetliner once again, which is expected to be updated later this summer, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

Allvin: ‘No decision’ made on NGAD, but ‘difficult’ choices loom

Allvin: ‘No decision’ made on NGAD, but ‘difficult’ choices loom
Allvin: ‘No decision’ made on NGAD, but ‘difficult’ choices loom

“The deliberations are still underway, there’s been no decision made. We’re looking at a lot of very difficult options that we have to consider,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said today when asked about the sixth-generation fighter.

SASC breaks spending cap by $25 billion in FY25 defense policy bill

SASC breaks spending cap by $25 billion in FY25 defense policy bill
SASC breaks spending cap by $25 billion in FY25 defense policy bill

The amendment to break congressionally-mandated spending caps, offered by Sen. Roger Wicker, the committee’s top Republican, led SASC Chairman Jack Reed to vote against the bill.

House narrowly passes NDAA after Democrats balk at culture war amendments

House narrowly passes NDAA after Democrats balk at culture war amendments
House narrowly passes NDAA after Democrats balk at culture war amendments

Many pro-defense Democrats voted against the traditionally bipartisan NDAA, after Republicans added conservative social riders to the bill.

Next-gen doubts? Air Force Chief of Staff won’t commit to fielding NGAD

Next-gen doubts? Air Force Chief of Staff won’t commit to fielding NGAD
Next-gen doubts? Air Force Chief of Staff won’t commit to fielding NGAD

In what would be a stark reversal for a high-profile program, Gen. David Allvin appeared to include the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter among “choices” the service is still making amid budget constraints.

V-22 Ospreys barred from full mission capability until ‘mid-2025’: NAVAIR boss

V-22 Ospreys barred from full mission capability until ‘mid-2025’: NAVAIR boss
V-22 Ospreys barred from full mission capability until ‘mid-2025’: NAVAIR boss

“I’ll assure you folks that we’re not going to let this matter drop,” House Oversight subcommittee chairman Glenn Grothman, R-Wisc., told families of victims who attended a congressional hearing today on the safety of the V-22 Osprey.

House appropriators spending bill report shows key changes across procurement, R&D

House appropriators spending bill report shows key changes across procurement, R&D
House appropriators spending bill report shows key changes across procurement, R&D

Funding tables show the detailed changes House appropriators make in their $833 billion version of the FY25 spending bill, with big cuts to programs like the Air Force’s beleaguered Sentinel ICBM.

Boeing wrapping up lot 1 F-15EX deliveries after handing over first operational jet

Boeing wrapping up lot 1 F-15EX deliveries after handing over first operational jet
Boeing wrapping up lot 1 F-15EX deliveries after handing over first operational jet

A second operational fighter is expected to be delivered “in the next couple of weeks,” according to a Boeing spokesperson, averting a potential schedule breach for the F-15EX program.

What a crashed jet means for an F-35 program already thin on test planes

What a crashed jet means for an F-35 program already thin on test planes
What a crashed jet means for an F-35 program already thin on test planes

The crashed F-35 was supposed to add to the small test fleet of just 43 aircraft, many of which are older models that can suffer from maintenance issues, the F-35 Joint Program Office tells Breaking Defense.

Air Force, DIU pick 4 companies to compete for drone test vehicle

Air Force, DIU pick 4 companies to compete for drone test vehicle
Air Force, DIU pick 4 companies to compete for drone test vehicle

Anduril Industries, Integrated Solutions for Systems, Leidos Dynetics and Zone 5 Technologies will now compete to carry their drone prototypes into production.

F-35B test jet crashes in New Mexico, pilot ejects safely but sustains injuries

F-35B test jet crashes in New Mexico, pilot ejects safely but sustains injuries
F-35B test jet crashes in New Mexico, pilot ejects safely but sustains injuries

The crash occurred just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday after the jet took off from Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The aircraft was an F-35B test jet on its way to Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.

DARPA green lights Aurora, Bell for next phase in SPRINT X-plane competition

DARPA green lights Aurora, Bell for next phase in SPRINT X-plane competition
DARPA green lights Aurora, Bell for next phase in SPRINT X-plane competition

Northrop Grumman and Piasecki Aircraft Corporation have been eliminated from a DARPA effort to design, develop and fly a high-speed vertical takeoff and landing X-plane.

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