Thursday, October 8, 2026
Air Force Plans to Keep B-1s Through 2037, Fly B-2s Longer
Aviation

Air Force Plans to Keep B-1s Through 2037, Fly B-2s Longer

The Air Force is planning to invest nearly $1.7 billion to continue modernizing the B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers over the next five years, revising earlier plans to retire those aircraft before the B-21 Raider is fielded in bulk. Extending the bombers ensures USAF retains the speed, range, and stealth unique to those two…

We’ll Bring You Home: USAF’s Unwritten Contract with Every Combat Pilot  
Aviation

We’ll Bring You Home: USAF’s Unwritten Contract with Every Combat Pilot  

When a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran and its pilot and weapons systems officer ejected into unfriendly territory in early April, rescue personnel immediately sprang into action. Crews focused on where the Airmen went down, listening for signals and looking for evidence that they had survived, and rescue helicopters swarmed and scanned for their possible landing sites.  …

Air Base Defense Would Get $1.4 Billion in ’27 USAF Budget

The Air Force wants to funnel $1.4 billion into air base defense with new weapon systems designed to protect homeland installations and forward-deployed airfields against drones and missile threats, Air Force budget officials said April 21. The service’s $267.7 billion fiscal 2027 budget plan earmarks a $1.3 billion procurement increase over approved 2026 spending for…

Space Force Seeks Bigger Operational Footprint With 4 New Ops Centers

The Space Force is requesting $1 billion in fiscal 2027 to build four space operations centers around the country, part of a broader push to build up the service to match growing demand for space capabilities. The expansion is intended to support resilient operations for space control, space-based sensing and targeting, and data transport, said…

Budget Calls for More Airmen, More Guardians in 2027

The Air Force and Space Force would both expand their ranks next year under the Pentagon’s proposed $1.5 trillion 2027 budget. The Active-Duty Air Force would add 8,900 maintainers and security forces Airmen, shoring up shortfalls, with the primary focus on improving operational readiness. The Space Force is projected to increase by 2,800 Guardians, a first…

Air Force Budget Plan Seeks to Boost Munitions
Aviation

Air Force Budget Plan Seeks to Boost Munitions

The Air Force’s fiscal 2027 budget request would invest $15 billion in its munitions portfolio, with $10.8 billion earmarked for weapons purchases and another $4.3 billion for research, development, test, and evaluation of new arms. Leading the investments are sizable plus-ups to procure more of certain key munitions, an extra $1.1 billion for the secretive…

Pentagon Cancels $6B GPS Ground System Contract

The Pentagon canceled its contract with RTX for a ground system intended to manage the newest, most capable GPS satellites. Some 15 years after the project’s launch, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey pulled the plug on the Next-Generation GPS Operational Control Segment on April 17. “The program was unable to…