John Stillion


Recent stories by John Stillion

WORLD: Epic Fury

Early Lessons of Epic Fury  USAF, USSF Lead in Biggest Air Campaign Since 2003. With contributions from Courtney Albon, Matt Cox, Stephen Losey, and Todd South W hen the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against hundreds of targets in Iran...

New Acquisition Czars Say They’re Not Trying to Blow Up the System

Pentagon leaders, eager to move fast and avoid pitfalls that have plagued defense acquisition in the past, are handing authorities and oversight for some of their biggest programs to officers outside the traditional structure. But the Air Force and Space Force four-stars given those responsibilities say they don’t intend their jobs to be a permanent change to the system.

Drones Incursions Over B-52 Base Spark Concern

Unauthorized drones flew over Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home of a B-52 bomber wing, multiple times last week, Air & Space Forces Magazine has confirmed. The incident highlights the persistent, vexing threat that small drones present to military installations.

New Air Force Safety Tool Forecasts Mishap Risk

When you check the weather, the forecast projects the chance of rain based on barometric pressure, wind, humidity, and other factors. Now the Air Force Safety Center is offering a way to forecast accident risks, a dashboard intended to help mitigate against factors that historically indicate higher ...

CCA’s AI Pilots Step into the Spotlight

Just one year ago, Collaborative Combat Aircraft took center stage as then-Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin designated the two competing jets prototypes as the first unmanned fighters in Air Force history: General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril Industries’ YFQ-44A. Twelve months later, it’s the autonomy software that’s flying those aircraft garnering the attention. Autonomy software, more than hardware, may prove the most valuable and enduring element of the CCA ...

US Won’t Update Nuclear Posture Review: Pentagon Policy Chief

The 2026 National Defense Strategy, released in January, took a markedly different approach from the 2018 version produced by the President Donald Trump’s first administration. But don’t expect a similar overhaul in a new Nuclear Posture Review—the Pentagon has no plans to produce one.

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