Air Force’s outgoing acquisition chief on NGAS, CCA and his biggest regrets
Speaking to Breaking Defense, Andrew Hunter said that the CCA loyal wingman program is proof the Air Force can move forward in new directions.
EXCLUSIVE: Air Force reworking approach for T-7A Red Hawk, delaying production by 1 year
The trainer’s production decision, or Milestone C date, will be pushed back to 2026, and Boeing will be given an opportunity to make more money if it adds new improvements to the jet, a top Air Force official tells Breaking Defense.
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The challenge for Western democratic institutions is not a lack of capability — it is a structural one.
China ‘could beat us to the punch’ to a 6th-gen fighter, Air Force official warns
“It's fair to say we pay a lot of attention to what the Chinese are doing. And so, not everything that becomes public is a shock,” Andrew Hunter said when asked about new images of purported Chinese fighters. “But having said that, their pace is incredibly fast.”
Trump administration inherits Air Force funding hurdle: 2025 preview
With Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy set to co-lead a commission that could recommend cuts to the Pentagon, many previously unthinkable options may be on the table for the US Air Force as the second Trump administration takes over Washington.
Anduril, General Atomics drone wingmen clear critical design review, Air Force says
The Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program is expected to carry out its first flight next year and field operational drone wingmen by the end of the decade.
Air Force’s interim tanker buy in limbo as service mulls next-gen refueler timeline
A recent request for information for NGAS to industry represents a new approach that seeks to gather feedback from more vendors earlier in the procurement process, according to Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter.
Satellites at the center: Inside the Pentagon’s next-gen space architecture
From emerging data networks to missile tracking and cyber resilience, Breaking Defense’s latest eBook brings together essential reporting on the evolving role of satellites in national security.
CCA drones may not be tied to NGAD, need line-of-sight control: Kendall
The Air Force Secretary emphasized whatever plane flies with CCAs, it'll be manned and will need line-of-sight to maintain "tight control."
False start? DoD IG ‘terminated’ NGAD next-gen fighter review, but may revisit down the road
The review was to examine whether the Air Force was moving too fast in pushing the plane into the EMD phase, but there was no EMD phase after all.
Air Force to add back over a dozen MH-139 helos in FY26, averting ‘critical’ cost breach
The service is partially reversing course on a planned cut of 38 aircraft, and plans to add back in 14 Grey Wolf helicopters in its upcoming budget request for a fleet size of “at least” 56.
Air Force, Boeing finalize deal for E-7 Wedgetail at $2.6 billion for 2 planes
The hefty pricetag comes in part due to the need to integrate US-specific requirements on planes already flown by American allies, the company and the Air Force have said.
The ‘Bill Belichick’ of Pentagon contracts is negotiating a deal on AMRAAM missiles
Shay Assad, a former Pentagon director of defense pricing, is back assisting the Air Force on three programs - and could be tagged for more in the future.
‘No fail’: Air Force officials spotlight cost jumps, delays for B-52 bomber modernization
The pricetag to put new engines on the decades-old bomber has jumped from $12.5 billion to $15 billion, while an effort to integrate a new radar has climbed to $3.3 billion from an original forecast of $2.3 billion, service officials revealed.
Air Force could reopen competition for Sentinel ICBM ground infrastructure, Hunter says
“I think there are elements of the ground infrastructure where there may be opportunities for competition that we can add to the acquisition strategy for Sentinel," said Andrew Hunter, the Air Force's top acquisition official.
Pentagon still withholding F-35 payments to Lockheed over upgrade delays
“Since not everything that we contracted for has been delivered, payment is also not complete. We will not pay for that which we have not yet received,” said Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter.