The U.S. Department of State has told Americans across the Middle East to prepare to depart, citing flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures and travel disruption at hubs including Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH) and Tel Aviv (TLV).
US AIR FORCE
US Air Force boosts F-35 readiness, strengthens base defense, and accelerates fleet modernization under Gen. Wilsbach.
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter crashed near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California on Friday after the pilot ejected moments before impact.
Boeing has absorbed another $280 million loss on the VC-25B Air Force One program, taking its total out-of-pocket charges past $3 billion. The company says the added spending covers extra production and certification resources needed to keep the first fully equipped presidential jet on track for delivery in 2028, more than three years later than originally planned.
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.
The US Air Force expects the F-35 Engine Core Upgrade to reach its critical design review in August, a senior service propulsion official said on July 27.
While advanced fighter jets and bombers often dominate headlines, trained military pilots remain the foundation of every combat-ready air force.
The United States has paused its air campaign against Iran after nearly 2 weeks of consecutive nightly strikes, with a US source describing military operations as being on a hold.
The F-35 Joint Program Office, which runs the fighter effort from just outside Washington, awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.6 billion spare parts contract last week. It is the largest such deal in the history of the F-35 Lightning II program.
A United Airlines (UA) flight bound for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) diverted to Luke Air Force Base (LUF) late Monday night after the crew declared minimum fuel during severe thunderstorms.