Air Force Names OA-1K Skyraider II as New Aircraft Prepares to Come Online
About a month away from its arrival, the Air Force named an upcoming light attack and observation aircraft after an iconic Cold War-era close air support platform.
F-16s, KC-135s Brave Greenland Chill for NORAD Exercise
Airmen from across North American Aerospace Defense Command deployed with fighters, tankers, and more to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland in recent weeks for a bitterly cold exercise.
Most Troops with Families to Serve 3-Year Tours in South Korea
Many U.S. troops stationed in South Korea with their families—including at Osan Air Base—will begin serving 36-month tours, up from 24 months, starting with service members arriving in October.
Banja Luka: NATO’s First Combat
Two USAF F-16 pilots of the 526th Fighter Squadron, flying as part of NATO’s Operation Deny Flight, shoot down four Serb Super Galeb attack aircraft after twice warning the Serb jets to leave Bosnian airspace. It is NATO’s first combat...
Radar Sweep
North Korea Is Sending More Troops to Russia, South Korea Says
The New York Times
Despite the heavy casualties it has suffered in the war between Russia and Ukraine, North Korea appears to have sent more troops to Russia as its soldiers re-entered frontline combat, South Korea’s spy agency said on Feb. 27.
Trump Sounds Warmer Tone on Ukraine but Stops Short of Security Guarantees
The Wall Street Journal
President Trump struck a more supportive tone on Ukraine during his meetings with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Feb. 27, but stopped short of promising the security guarantees for Kyiv that European allies want.
Trump Administration to Remove Transgender Troops from the Military
POLITICO
The Defense Department will begin removing transgender troops from the military, giving service members 30 days to voluntarily separate or be removed, according to a Pentagon memo released in a court filing Feb. 26.
Judge Blocks Trump Administration from Firing Probationary Employees
USA Today
A Northern California federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from its mass firing of probationary federal employees, a group of workers that represent some of the newest hires.
F-15 Nose-Mounted Infrared Sensor Hinted at in New Boeing Photo
The War Zone
A new photo published by Boeing shows one of its F-15 Advanced Eagle series fighters fitted with what looks like a previously unseen infrared search and track (IRST) sensor ahead of the cockpit. While F-15s already use IRST sensors in service, so far, operational IRSTs have been limited to pods and pylon-installed types. An internal version installed atop the nose would offer several key advantages.
Space Development Agency Pushes Back on GAO’s Criticism
SpaceNews
The Space Development Agency (SDA) is disputing findings in a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that raised alarms over the agency’s push to procure hundreds of satellites for its low Earth orbit (LEO) military mesh network without fully validating the key technology enabling it—laser communications links between satellites.
Pentagon Needs Further Industry Collaboration on O-RAN Development for 5G Interoperability
Breaking Defense
The Department of Defense needs industry partners to become more involved in the process of making open radio access network (O-RAN) capabilities a reality, Pentagon leaders and warfighters said Feb. 27.
Trump’s Navy Secretary Nominee Endorses Joint Collaboration with Air Force on Drone Enablers
DefenseScoop
John Phelan, President Donald Trump’s pick to be the next secretary of the Navy, told Senate lawmakers that he sees opportunities for joint technology development on next-generation capabilities to support manned and unmanned platforms.
Trump Administration Asks Agencies to Cull Consultants
Defense One
The Trump administration is asking agencies to review their consulting contracts with at least 10 large companies, including some global firms, as part of an effort to cut “non-essential consulting contracts.”
Former Defense Chiefs Call for Congressional Hearings on Trump’s Firing of Senior Military Leaders
The Associated Press
Five former secretaries of defense are calling on Congress to hold immediate hearings on President Donald Trump’s recent firings of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and several other senior military leaders, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
Ukraine’s Black MiG-29 ‘Ghost’ Fulcrum Showcased in New Video
The War Zone
Since at least the summer of last year, the Ukrainian Air Force has been flying an unusual, black-painted MiG-29 Fulcrum. A recently published official video shows the jet in more detail, although it remains unclear exactly why it was repainted in this way.