John Stillion
Recent stories by John Stillion
Air Force, Boeing Agree on $2.4B Deal for 15 New KC-46 Tankers
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million ...
Seeking New Options for GPS, Space Force Eyes Multiple Orbits
For the Space Force and the U.S. writ large, the mission of position, navigation, and timing has become synonymous with three letters: GPS. That is likely to change in the coming years, as service officials described plans this week for a whole host of alternative ...
Space Force Ready to Sign with Commercial Reserve Satellite Partners
The Space Force is finalizing its first contracts for the Commercial Augmentation Space Reserve and plans to award them early in 2025—giving the service access to commercial satellites and other space systems in times of conflict or crisis—officials said Nov. 21.
STRATCOM Boss: AI Useful, But Don’t Expect ‘WarGames’
Gen. Anthony J. Cotton wants to use artificial intelligence to more efficiently process vast amounts of data related to America’s nuclear weapons—but when it comes to actually making a decision on what to do with those weapons, it will be always be a human making the ...
Before There Are Part-Time Guardians, USSF Needs to Figure Out Promotions, HR, and More
Scores of different HR systems, a new model for how to handle promotions, and protections against conflicts of interest are all challenges the Space Force will have to resolve as it tries to bring part-time Guardians into the fold instead of a traditional Reserve component.
SDA Will Be 6 Months Late Launching Next Satellites, But May Up the Pace After That
The Space Development Agency will start launching its next batch of satellites in March or April 2025, six months later than originally planned, but director Derek Tournear suggested he may try to increase the pace of launches after that to get back on schedule.
Air Force Moving Fast to Put New Information Dominance Systems Center at Hanscom
Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass., is the likely home for the Air Force’s new Information Dominance Systems Center, which will be responsible for procuring battle management systems, cyber and electronic weapons, and more. The Air Force identified Hanscom as the sole candidate location to host the ...
‘Did We Do Enough?’ Airmen Heed Lessons from Their Air Victory over Iran
In the third and final part of our series about how the U.S. Air Force helped defeat Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel, Airmen describe the final drone shootdowns of the night and the lessons they have drawn from one of the Air Force’s biggest ...
How USAF Fighters Kept Going Amid Chaos to Defend Israel
In Part 2 of our series about how Airmen helped defeat Iran’s April 13 attack on Israel, troops from the 494th Fighter Squadron describe how they kept launching jets even as their own base came under fire.
Silver Star Airpower: Inside an F-15 Mission to Block an Attack on Israel
In a series of exclusive interviews with Air & Space Forces Magazine, Airmen from the 494th Fighter Squadron described how they helped defeat the massive drone and missile attack launched by Iran against Israel in April—actions that led to many being decorated Nov. 12.
USAF Will Withdraw A-10s from Final Overseas Base in Korea in 2025
Starting in January, the U.S. Air Force will start withdrawing its A-10 aircraft from Osan Air Base, South Korea, the Thunderbolt II’s last overseas location. Meanwhile, the USAF F-16s on the peninsula will continue to receive avionics upgrades as part of the Post Block Integration Team ...
Fresh F-15E Fighters Arrive in Middle East to Replace Departing Jets
F-15Es from the 492nd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, U.K., have deployed to the Middle East, replacing Strike Eagles from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., that recently wrapped up a rotation in the region.
PHOTOS: Nearly 15 Percent of Air Force B-52 Bombers Deployed
Ten B-52 Stratofortresses are currently deployed across Europe and the Middle East, representing nearly 15 percent of the entire U.S. Air Force fleet and an even larger chunk of combat-ready B-52s available.
Reserve Wing Becomes First in the Air Force to Get Its Own F-35
The 301st Fighter Wing in Fort Worth, Texas, became the first standalone Reserve unit in the Air Force to get its own F-35s, welcoming the first fighter Nov. 5.
Pentagon Plans $6 Billion in Ukraine Aid Ahead of Presidential Change
President Joe Biden’s administration plans to commit some $6 billion in aid for Ukraine in the next two months before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, a Pentagon spokesperson confirmed Nov. 7.