USAF seeks $9.9B for 1.1M flying hours in FY2027, a four-year high, but readiness gaps persist amid pilot shortages.
Defense
Pentagon awards Lockheed Martin $177M for three F-35 flight test jets to accelerate delayed Block 4 upgrades and certifications.
USAF issues FAMM-BAR RFI for affordable 1,000-nm anti-ship missiles launched from cargo aircraft pallets for mass strike capability.
Russia uses civilian airlines and dual-use airfields to move troops and weapons, bypassing sanctions through shadow charter flights globally.
NATO Support and Procurement Agency has reportedly selected a Swedish-Canadian solution to replace its aging airborne early warning fleet, signaling a major shift in defense procurement strategy.
USAF rescues downed F-15E crew from Iran in $300M CSAR mission, first combat pilot rescue in 27 years since Serbia ops.
USAF plans $1.7 billion investment to modernize B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers, extending service life as B-21 Raider production ramps up.
Northrop Grumman delivers first EGI-M jam-resistant navigation system for F-22 Raptor and E-2D Hawkeye for GPS-denied operations.
The Netherlands Ministry of Defence has formalized a partnership with the United States Air Force to advance collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) development, marking a significant step toward allied interoperability in future air combat.
USAF more than doubles F-15EX buy to 267 jets in FY2027 budget, replacing aging F-15E Strike Eagles with Boeing’s latest Eagle II.