Air force

U.S. Air Force faces a $14 billion aircraft parts gap as aging fleets, supply shortages and maintenance backlogs pressure readiness.

The U.S. Air Force is on track to exceed 1,500 pilot graduates in fiscal 2026 after overhauling undergraduate pilot training through the FUPT model. The system shifts foundational instruction to civilian flight schools while keeping advanced military training at Air Force bases. The milestone strengthens pilot production, but officials say retention, operational absorption and flying-hour funding will remain critical to reducing the broader pilot shortage.

The U.S. Air Force is considering buying new F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters as it works to address capacity gaps in an aging fighter fleet.

The US Air Force is moving to make base defense a core combat function as missiles and drones expose vulnerabilities at American installations.

Based on early 2026 fleet figures, here are the 10 largest army aviation branches in the world by aircraft numbers.

Trump plans to fly Qatar-gifted Boeing jet to Ireland after security upgrades raised questions over presidential aircraft protection.

Lufthansa Aviation Training will train 50 German Air Force pilots yearly at Rostock-Laage from February 2027.

The Air & Space Forces Association (AFA) has called on Congress to fully support the U.S. Space Force’s proposed $71.1 billion fiscal 2027 budget while urging lawmakers to increase procurement of F-35A fighter aircraft.

The US Air Force expects its next-generation adaptive fighter engine to be ready for aircraft integration by around 2030, marking a major milestone in the service’s effort to modernize military propulsion systems.

While advanced fighter jets and bombers often dominate headlines, trained military pilots remain the foundation of every combat-ready air force.