Dangerous intercepts by Chinese and Russian aircraft of U.S. aircraft are an attempt to gain insight into how U.S. aircraft will behave and respond, but are also a sign that those air forces feel capable of challenging USAF, Air Combat Command chief Gen. Mark D. ...
Airmen and Guardians from Air Force Global Strike Command and 30th Space Launch Delta launched an unarmed ICBM, the Minuteman III, equipped with three test re-entry vehicles on Sept. 6.
The U.S. could find itself in a near-peer conflict with an adversary like China and Russia “tomorrow,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in a recent livestreamed Facebook event—and if that happens, the department is “not as [ready] as we could be by a significant ...
More than a month after the Pentagon announced it was sending Air Force F-35s, thousands of U.S. Marines and Sailors, and American warships to the Persian Gulf region in response to Iran’s attempted seizures of commercial vessels, officials say they see no signs the situation ...
After a series of incidents in the skies over Syria, Russian pilots appear to have become less aggressive toward U.S. forces following the arrival of F-35 stealth multirole fighters to the Middle East, according to U.S. officials. Originally tasked to deter Iranian attacks on commercial ...
The U.S. will train Ukrainian pilots and maintainers on F-16s at Morris Air National Guard Base, Ariz., in October, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder announced Aug. 24—the most direct American involvement yet in the international effort to equip and train ...
Ukraine won’t get a basic F-16 capability until at least 2024, and developing proficiency with that aircraft “could be four or five years down the road,” Gen. James B. Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces Europe and Air Forces-Africa, said Aug. 18. Hecker also downplayed ...
Twelve U.S. Air Force F-35s have arrived in the Middle East to beef up U.S. Central Command’s airpower in the region and deter Iran from seizing oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, the service announced July 26. The deployment of the aircraft also comes ...
A Russian fighter damaged a U.S. drone over Syria earlier this week, the top Air Force commander for the region said July 25, in the latest escalation between American and Russian aircraft. The incident took place at approximately 7:23 am Syria time on July 23. ...
A Russian fighter harassed a U.S. manned surveillance aircraft over Syria on July 16, engaging in a maneuver that risked the lives of the four American crew members, U.S. officials said July 18. The move comes as escalating tensions with Iran and Russia have led ...
The U.S. is deploying F-35 fifth-generation fighters and additional F-16s to the U.S. Central Command region, the Pentagon announced July 17. A senior U.S. defense official told Air & Space Forces Magazine that the F-35s could be used over the Gulf and the Strait of ...
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. appeared before the Senate Armed Services Committee on July 11, a key step in the confirmation process to make him the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. A few common themes and key ...