America’s fighter force is running out of margin: Rep. Biggs
The current demand signal for US air power abroad is not sustainable without significantly growing the force, argues Rep. Sheri Biggs, R-S.C.
EXCLUSIVE: Air Force halts F-16 ejection seat competition
The 90-day suspension tees up a final decision on whether to compete a deal for new ejection seats on the F-16, despite a previous move by the Air Force to reopen the Next Generation Ejection Seat program.
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Automation vs autonomy: What will shape the future of battlefield drones?
While humans must stay in the loop for kinetic decisions, empowering drones to operate autonomously is a force multiplier.
To field weapons quicker, Pentagon should improve testing and evaluation process: GAO
The office outlines 13 recommendations for the DoD and services that primarily revolve around revising weapon systems' test and evaluation policies to reflect “leading practices” for product development.
In a first, F-22 pilot controls wingman drone from cockpit, General Atomics says
“We already know the F-22 will play a critical role in crewed-uncrewed teaming operations, and General Atomics is in a unique position to get this started now,” company spokesman C. Mark Brinkley told Breaking Defense.
Senate confirms Wilsbach as Air Force Chief
The former head of Air Combat Command will now lead the Air Force as its next top uniformed officer, following the surprise retirement of Gen. David Allvin.
Trump taps Wilsbach as next Air Force chief
Breaking Defense previously reported that former Air Combat Command chief Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach was a frontrunner to replace outgoing Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin.
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Right sized for the fight, smaller Group 2 drones are solving for the limitations of larger UAS
It’s fuel cells, not batteries, that let Group 2 unmanned VTOLS fulfill many missions of larger Group 3s.
What’s in a pin? Trump dons golden F-22 during Erdogan meeting
Fashion aside, the president said he and the Turkish leader would discuss Ankara rejoining the F-35 program, suggesting Erdogan would be "successful" in buying jets he wanted.
Lockheed has path to pilot-optional F-35, CEO says
“We could make the F-35 pilot optional over a relatively modest time frame based on a lot of the development we've done” for sixth-generation fighter competitions, Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet said.
Trump wants a twin-engined F-35. Experts say it’s ‘not feasible.’
“We're going to do an F-55,” President Donald Trump announced today in Doha. “That'll be two engines and a super upgrade on the F-35.”
To protect F-47 plans from hackers, Boeing should lean on CMMC, zero trust: DoD official
“The CMMC certification will be proof — trust, verify that those companies have the cyber posture needed to secure the data that is critical to national security, like on programs like the F-47,” Katie Arrington, who is performing the duties of the DoD CIO told Breaking Defense.
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MQ-9B and Gambit Series: Advancing European Defense Capabilities
GA-ASI will build Gambit aircraft in Europe, partnered with European-based companies, with airframes available for international procurement starting in 2027.
America needs to modernize its Air Force now — or be prepared to lose
The Air Force is an "antique force," write David Deptula and Mark Gunzinger in this op-ed, and must rebuild.
The sights of Avalon Air Show 2025: Day Three [PHOTOS]
An on-the-ground look at the 2025 Avalon Air Show in Australia.
‘No smoke and mirrors’ with Boeing’s NGAD win, executive says
“We’ve been flying a prototype for quite some time,” said Steve Parker, Boeing’s interim defense unit CEO. “And we won the program. So that is a maturity stamp that I’ll give you right then and there.”
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The future of autonomous airpower: Collaborative Combat Aircraft in the Royal Australian Air Force
The development of the YFQ-42A is the first in a series of Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), highly autonomous armed jets that can operate independently or with other uncrewed and crewed aircraft.