US Air Force • Page 8 of 105

Apr- 2026 -

15 April

An F-35 Lightning II test pilot conducts flight test Sept. 9 to certify the carrier variant of the fighter aircraft for carrying the AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM).

USAF Revives Standoff Attack Weapon Effort for Low-Cost Strike Capability

The US Air Force has revived its interest in an affordable Standoff Attack Weapon after roughly four years, with fielding targeted for 2033.

14 April

Air

Instructor Pilots with the 340th Flying Training Group, 39th Flying Training Squadron, and 559th Flying Training Squadron flew a T-6 Texan II four-ship formation on Mar. 23, 2023, over Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. The sortie also marked the final flight of Lt. Col. Mark Pasierb, former Undergraduate Flying Training program commander, who will have approximately earned a combined 6,000 flight hours in the C-5 Galaxy and T-6.

Rojoef Manuel

Textron to Provide T-6 Texan II Fleet Support for US Military

Textron Aviation Defense has secured a contract valued at more than $150 million to deliver program management and maintenance support for the US military’s T-6 Texan II training aircraft.

10 April

Americas

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

US Air Forces Central Expands Reach With Ultra-Long-Endurance Drone

US Air Forces Central is scaling up its unmanned reach in the air after awarding a $270 million contract to Kraus Hamdani Aerospace for the K1000ULE long-endurance aerial system.

10 April

Technology

Soldier holding a device with medical data

Rojoef Manuel

US Air Force Taps AeroVironment for $25M Health and Performance Tech Push

AeroVironment division UES has received a $25-million contract to support the US Air Force Research Laboratory in developing human health and performance capabilities.

9 April

Arms

U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 305th Rescue Squadron, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., deploys countermeasure flares as an U.S. Air Force F-15D Eagle from the 144th Fighter Wing, California Air National Guard, maneuvers overhead during a joint over-water test flight, Aug. 20, 2025. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

Rojoef Manuel

USAF Seeks Advanced Infrared Countermeasures for HH-60W Jolly Green II

The US Air Force has launched a market survey to equip its HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue helicopters with an Advanced Infrared Countermeasures system, boosting protection against modern infrared-guided missiles.

9 April

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

Inder Singh Bisht

Skydio to Supply USAF With Dock-Based ISR Drones for Mideast Air Bases

The US Air Forces Central has awarded Skydio a $9-million contract to deliver dock-based drone systems for securing US airbases across the Middle East.

8 April

Air

Bea Castañeda

B-21 Raider: Inside America’s Next-Generation Strategic Bomber

Shaped for secrecy and reach, this B-21 Raider guide explains how the next-generation bomber is designed to penetrate defenses and deliver precision strikes.

8 April

Land

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 39th Security Forces Squadron pose for a group photo following the completion of a Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station certification course at Cellina Meduna Range, Italy, March 26, 2025. The course certified 10 Airmen from the 39th SFS on the CROWS, expanding base defense capabilities in the U.S. European Command area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Sjoberg)

Rojoef Manuel

US Base in Turkey Boosts Defense With CROWS Squad Certification

The US Air Force has certified personnel at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey on the Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, expanding the pool of qualified operators for installation security.

7 April

Technology

Ethan M. Encarnacion

US Eyes ‘Tactical Moving Map’ to Supercharge Aircrew Awareness

The US is on the hunt for a prototype solution that could help its aircrews adapt to modern warfare threats.

7 April

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

Christine Casimiro

General Atomics’ Dark Merlin Drone Crashes During CCA Flight Test

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.’s drone prototype for the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program has crashed following a mishap after takeoff.

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