John A. Tirpak
John A. Tirpak is Editorial Director of Air & Space Forces Magazine, with more than 25 years at the publication and more than 34 years in defense journalism. He has written for Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aerospace Daily, and Jane’s, reporting from all 50 U.S. states and 25 countries. He has been recognized with awards for journalistic excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Aviation and Space Writer’s Association, the Association of Business Publications International, and was the recipient of the 2018 Gill Robb Wilson Award in Arts and Letters from the Air & Space Forces Association. He has lectured at the National War College and did postgraduate research at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum.
Recent stories by John A. Tirpak
Pentagon Awards $7.8 Billion in Contracts for Hundreds of New Missiles
In a pair of major contracts announced July 31, the Pentagon awarded a combined $7.8 billion for new missiles, including JASSM and AMRAAM.
No Slowdown in Demand for Air Force Bombers, 4-Star Says
Bomber taskings are at a modern high, Air Force Global Strike Command head Gen. Thomas Bussiere said in a recent interview. The level of effort is so intense that he's willing to pull more aircraft out of the boneyard to replace any bombers lost in ...
Global Strike Command to Grow as B-21 and Other New Systems Come Online
Air Force Global Strike Command has a “detailed” plan in hand for how new B-21 Raiders will replace existing bombers in the coming years, boss Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere said. And while many details are classified, he did reveal that the command’s personnel numbers will ...
Air Force Global Strike Boss: Second B-21 to Fly ‘Shortly’
A second B-21 bomber will fly soon, and production increases are a recognition of a changing global environment and the important of long-range strike, according to Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, head of Air Force Global Strike Command.
GE Urges Pentagon to Keep Up with Adaptive Engine Tech
GE Aerospace CEO H. Lawrence Culp is urging the Pentagon to press on with the Navy F/A-XX fighter program, arguing that it will further the development of adaptive engine technology—which faces delays in the Air Force’s latest budget.
Lockheed CEO Pitches F-35 Upgrade as ‘Bridge’ to F-47
Lockheed Martin chief executive officer Jim Taiclet renewed his call for a substantial upgrade of the F-35 with technologies his company developed for the Next-Generation Air Dominance program, which it lost out on to Boeing in March. Taiclet said the upgrade would be an important ...
Northrop Fully Back to Work on Sentinel, Negotiating Faster B-21 Production
A work pause on the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program is over, and Northrop Grumman has moved into negotiations with the Air Force about accelerating B-21 bomber production, company officials said July 22.
New F-35 JPO Director Takes Over at Key Moment for Program
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Gregory L. Masiello has officially taken over the sprawling multiservice and multinational F-35 program. He walks into the job at what could be one of the program’s pivotal moments.
L3Harris Unveils ‘Wolf Pack’ Concept for Cheap, Kinetic/Nonkinetic Missile Swarms
Swarms of kinetic and electronic attack “Wolf Pack” munitions, operating collaboratively, could overwhelm enemy defenses, L3Harris said of its new low-cost combat aerial vehicles.
Lockheed Reveals Second Low-Cost Cruise Missile ‘Truck’ and Successful Flight Tests
Lockheed Martin has revealed a second version of its Common Multi-Mission Truck vehicle, and both types have recently been tested successfully, the company said.
Air Force Funds New External Pylons for B-1, Eyeing Loadout Gains and Hypersonic Testing
The Air Force plans to add external weapons pylons on the B-1B bomber, both to increase the number of aircraft that can test hypersonic missiles and expand the Lancer’s loadout as USAF transitions to the B-21 bomber.
Carlyle ‘Smitty’ Harris, Vietnam POW Who Originated ‘Tap Code,’ Dies
Retired Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris, known for introducing the "tap code" by which American POWs in North Vietnam could surreptitiously communicate with one another, died July 6. Harris was brutalized by the North Vietnamese over almost eight years of captivity.
Air Force: Test B-21s Could Fly Combat Missions, Northrop Can Expand Production at Plant 42
Expanded production of the B-21 bomber can be accomplished at Northrop Grumman's existing Palmdale, Calif., facilities, the Air Force said. The service also stated that test aircraft will be so similar to the production version that early examples could be used in combat if necessary.
Air Force Senior Statesmen Make the Case for E-7, F-35, and Air Superiority
Air Force senior statesmen explained the reasons they jointly sent a letter to Congress urging restoration of the E-7 Wedgetail and more F-35s to the fiscal 2026 defense budget.
DARPA Picks Bell Textron for New Runway-less Drone X-Plane
Bell Textron has won DARPA's contest for a no-runway, high-speed drone that will prove out technologies useful for special operations forces and possibly the Air Force's Agile Combat Employment concept. Bell's design converts a tiltrotor to a jet-powered aircraft able to fly at up to ...
