Six F-35 Lightning IIs are squaring off against potential adversaries’ air defense systems to test the fighter’s real-world sensing and penetrating capabilities at Edwards AFB, Calif., reported Military.com. “The surface threat is a tough problem. … If the missile is big enough it can shoot you from hundreds of miles away,” said Thomas Lawhead, F-35 integration office operational chief. Testers are specifically probing the effectiveness of F-35’s electro-optical targeting system and distributed aperture situational awareness suite against Chinese, Iranian, and Russian threat systems, according to the April 17 press report. Pitting the F-35’s sensors and systems against various surface-to-air systems allows testers to develop a database of threat profiles “so that when the aircraft sees something on radar … it can categorize what it is,” added Lawhead.
Air Force Academy Leaders Ousted in Shake Up
Feb. 6, 2026
The U.S. Air Force Academy is getting a leadership refresh after a tumultuous year, with Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind and Commandant of Cadets Brig. Gen. Gavin Marks both set to retire this year and Col. James Valpiani set to come on as the new Dean of the Faculty.
