A year after Russia unveiled its T-50 stealth fighter—and less than a month after China flew its own J-20 stealthy prototype—the Air Force Fiscal 2012 budget plan contains no new program to pursue a sixth generation fighter. Air Combat Command officials have said they will wrap up an analysis of alternatives soon on what technologies a sixth generation fighter would need to have, and when it would need to appear. In recent weeks Air Force and Pentagon officials have downplayed the J-20, suggesting that China has a lot of development work to do before attaining a true stealth operational capability. They have pointedly not commented on the T-50’s potential operational status.
Air Force Changes Rules for Pregnant Aircrew—Again
April 3, 2025
The Air Force is changing its policy for pregnant aircrew, generally reverting to rules set in 2019 that barred female aviators from flying during the first trimester—or from flying in aircraft with ejection seats at all—due to potential risks to the pilot and her unborn fetus.