DefenseNews

Air Force sees historic recruitment surge with delayed entry program

AURORA, Colo. — The Air Force is seeing a historic surge in recruits in its delayed entry program, as the service works to further boost recruitment of new airmen and guardians, officials said this week. More potential recruits are making appointments with recruiters to discuss the possibility of joining the Air Force or Space Force, Air Force Recruiting Service commander Brig. Gen. Christopher…
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Air Force revives Skyraider name for new light attack aircraft

FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida — Air Force Special Operations Command has dubbed its newest aircraft Skyraider II, a nod to the Cold War-era propeller plane that delivered close air support during the Vietnam War. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, head of Air Force Special Operations…
DefenseNews

Airbus, Boeing angle for Polish tanker aircraft deal

WARSAW, Poland — The Polish Ministry of National Ministry is advancing plans to buy new transport and refueling aircraft, with major players Airbus and Boeing intensifying their rivalry for potential contracts. A Polish MoD spokesperson confirmed the ministry’s aircraft…
DefenseNews

F-35s to get new capabilities with summer software update

AURORA, Colo. — Lockheed Martin hopes to begin rolling out early Block 4 capabilities to the F-35 this summer, a senior company official said Monday. Chauncey McIntosh, vice president and general manager of Lockheed’s F-35 program, said at the Air and Space Forces Association’s AFA Warfare Symposium here that the company plans to drop an update to the F-35′s Technology Refresh 3 software…
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DefenseNews

Air Force budget cuts may open old wounds with Congress

The Air Force wants to accelerate its plans to retire old and outdated aircraft to meet Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s order for services to cut and reallocate a portion of their spending. But the service’s previous efforts to cut planes like the A-10 Warthog and older…
DefenseNews

Trump fires Joint Chiefs chairman, Navy head in DOD leadership purge

President Donald Trump on Friday evening fired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Jim Slife. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a statement that Trump plans to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, who joined the venture capital firm Shield Capital in January, as the nation’s next…
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Air Force tests unarmed nuclear missile in pre-dawn video

The Air Force conducted a test launch of an unarmed Minuteman III missile early Wednesday to help ensure its land-based nuclear force still operates safely and effectively. Airmen from Air Force Global Strike Command launched the intercontinental ballistic missile from…
DefenseNews

GM Defense boosts Mideast footprint with Edge military vehicle tie-up

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — GM Defense has signed an agreement with Edge Group to build a local manufacturing capability for some of its light tactical vehicles, which could be integrated with Emirati weapons. The General Motors subsidiary will work on the project with NIMR Automotive, an arm of the Emirati defense conglomerate, to assess demand for military platforms in the Middle East…
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