Almanac: Rank Insignia of the Armed Forces

Navy Eyes ‘Interchangeable’ CCAs with Air Force, Lessons from MQ-25

April 8, 2025

While the U.S. Air Force plans to spend big and make Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones an essential part of its tactical fleet in the near future, the U.S. Navy is working to team manned and unmanned aircraft as well.

F-35 Office Seeks to Clarify $2.1 Trillion Cost Ahead of Budget Release

April 8, 2025

As the Trump administration puts the finishing touches on its 2026 defense budget, the F-35 Joint Program Office has issued a statement explaining what all is included in its $2.1 trillion, 94-year program cost estimate.

Space Force Satellite Refueling Demos Coming in 2026 and 2028

April 8, 2025

The Space Force will have one of its satellites refueled for the first time ever next summer, potentially the first step toward a future where satellites can maneuver like aircraft in the sky or ships on the sea to dodge threats and hold adversaries at risk.

With F-15C Gone, Kadena Gets Fresh Rotation of F-15E and F-35 Fighters

April 8, 2025

F-35A and F-15E fighter jets touched down at Kadena Air Base in recent days, marking the latest rotation of fighters as the Okinawa base awaits its new permanent F-15EX fleet.

How to Win a War in Space: SPACECOM’s 5 Keys

April 8, 2025

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.—U.S. Space Command has defined five factors it believes will be key to victory should it ever need to fight a full-fledged war in space, Gen. Stephen N. Whiting said April 8 at the Space Symposium. The factors,...

Space Force Went Fast for Its Last GPS Launch. Now It Plans to Go Even Faster

April 8, 2025

The Space Force is switching up rockets for its next GPS mission—and trying to go faster than ever in preparing the satellite for launch. The goal is to take the satellite bus from storage to orbit in around three months, well ahead of the 24 months it can sometimes take the…

Ukraine Flying Its F-16s ‘Every Day’ Against Russia, with More Coming: EUCOM Boss

April 8, 2025

Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, head of U.S. European Command, told lawmakers that F-16s fly every day in Ukraine, conducting bombing attacks and countering cruise missiles from Russia. The F-16s currently operating in Ukraine are “mainly from Netherlands and Denmark,” but more F-16s "prepared to be deployed" to Ukraine, Cavoli…

Could the Air Force Add More EA-37 Electronic Attack Jets to Its ‘Wish List’?

April 8, 2025

The industry team that builds the EA-37B Compass Call II is looking to extend production beyond the 10 airplanes in the program of record, possibly by including two jets on the Air Force's next Unfunded Priorities List.

Air Force Accepts Long-Awaited First New Radar for Ground Battle Management

April 7, 2025

The Air Force accepted its first new TPY-4 radar from Lockheed Martin and will start government-led testing of the system, the contractor announced April 7. It's the latest in a series of milestones for the service’s ground-based command-and-control enterprise.

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