USAF Chief Wilsbach on hardened shelters, T-7 flight and F-35 delays
In a one-on-one with Breaking Defense, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach laid out his big concerns for the service.
As GOP debates defense spending, Air Force chief pushes for supplemental, $1.5T budget
“There's a wide array of things that we have stopped spending money on so that we could pay for the bills that are associated with Epic Fury,” Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told Breaking Defense. “That's why you need a supplemental for this year.”
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How defensive cyber responds to hockey-stick growth of AI-driven threats
Artificial intelligence is reshaping adversarial cyber operations at machine speed, requiring defenders to increase operational tempo while imposing pain and cost.
In first, Air Force fires live shot off CCA wingman drone
“It wasn’t just an AMRAAM that came off,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach told Breaking Defense. “It was tracking the target.”
Air Force flight tests drone wingman carrying (inert) weapons, competitors reveal new names
Anduril’s YFQ-44A drone wingman under development for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has begun testing flights with a missile underwing, according to an Air Force press release.
Next-gen air dominance and surprise new Air Force leadership: 2025 review
A look at some of the top stories that defined the air warfare beat this year.
Air Force (mostly) ditches Biden-era ‘reoptimization’
New leadership under the Trump administration has opted to kill key organizational changes sought by former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall, leaving just a handful of initiatives intact.
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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.
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.
Air Force reverses course on Integrated Capabilities Command
The decision creates a new Chief Modernization Officer, but deals a blow to a key initiative started under the Biden administration to change how the service sets requirements for buying weapon systems.
Shutdown will delay Air Force drone wingman’s first flight, Anduril executive says
“I can’t fund the government,” said Anduril Founder Palmer Luckey.
Wilsbach declines to commit to congressional ‘intent’ for reconciliation money
Air Force Chief of Staff nominee Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach also left the fate of the Air Force's wide-ranging "reoptimization" overhaul in the air.
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America needs next-gen solutions to counter modern air and missile threats
Defending a country the size of the US from threats requires advanced sensing, communications and interception capabilities.
Air Force Global Strike chief Bussiere to retire
Lt. Gen. Stephen Davis is slated to succeed Gen. Thomas Bussiere as the head of Air Force Global Strike Command in a ceremony scheduled for Oct. 17.
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.
Wilsbach expected to become next Air Force chief of staff: Sources
Former Air Combat Command head Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach had emerged as the frontrunner for the Air Force’s top uniformed job shortly after Gen. Dave Allvin announced his retirement in August.
EXCLUSIVE: Wilsbach, former ACC commander, in running to be next service chief, sources say
Three sources familiar with the discussions told Breaking Defense that Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach is a leading candidate to succeed Gen. David Allvin as the next Air Force chief of staff.