Washington, June 24 (IANS) The Pentagon’s flagship F-35 fighter jet programme is facing growing pressure to improve readiness and sustainment as the fleet expands rapidly across the United States and allied nations, a senior defence official told lawmakers on Wednesday. Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Airland Subcommittee, Lieutenant General Gregory Masiello, Programme Executive Officer of the F-35 Joint Programme Office, described the aircraft as the “cornerstone” of US and allied ai…
Latest US Air Force News & Updates
Washington, June 20 (IANS) US President Donald Trump unveiled the US Air Force’s new VC-25B Bridge aircraft, describing it as a symbol of American power and a long-awaited replacement for the ageing presidential fleet.Speaking at Joint Base Andrews after touring the aircraft and addressing servicemembers, Trump said the modified Boeing 747 would serve as an interim presidential aircraft while the permanent next-generation Air Force One programme is completed.”The other plane was about 35 years o…
Washington, June 14 (IANS) A US military fighter jet crashed in Washington state and sparked a wildfire, while the pilot ejected before the crash and suffered minor injuries, local media reported.The aircraft crashed near Rimrock Lake, prompting an emergency firefighting response in the forested area, Xinhua news agency reported.The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was conducting routine training when it went down, NBC News reported, citing authori…
Washington, May 22 (IANS) The US Air Force’s MQ-9 Reaper drones emerged as one of the most heavily used platforms during recent operations linked to Iran, senior Air Force officials told lawmakers this week, describing the unmanned aircraft as a critical force multiplier in combat missions across the Middle East.Speaking before Congressional committees this week, Air Force Chief of Staff General Kenneth Wilsbach said the MQ-9 had played a major operational role during Operation Epic Fury, underl…
Washington, May 22 (IANS) The US Air Force is rapidly accelerating development of autonomous combat aircraft designed to fight alongside manned fighter jets, as Pentagon leaders warned that future wars against adversaries like China would demand larger, cheaper and more survivable air fleets. Senior Air Force officials told lawmakers this week that Collaborative Combat Aircraft, or CCA, had become central to America’s future air combat strategy, marking one of the clearest signs yet of the Penta…
Washington, May 14 (IANS) Senior US Air Force officials told lawmakers that the rapidly evolving threat from China is forcing the Pentagon to reassess whether the planned fleet of 100 B-21 bombers will be enough, as Congress pressed the military on ageing aircraft, tanker vulnerabilities and drone threats.Testifying before the House Armed Services subcommittee on projection forces, Lieutenant General David Tabor said the Air Force now believes it may need more than the currently planned fleet of…
Washington, May 14 (IANS) A top US Air Force official warned lawmakers that autonomous fighter aircraft could eventually outperform human pilots, reflecting growing Pentagon concerns over the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence-driven warfare. “There will come a point where a robot fighter is better than a manned fighter,” Lieutenant General Christopher Niemi told a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing on Airland on Wednesday (local time). “It would be a tragic shame if the Un…
Washington, May 14 (IANS) US Air Force officials have told lawmakers that they are urgently studying a successor to the MQ-9 Reaper drone after recent combat operations exposed both the platform’s battlefield value and its vulnerabilities, a development closely watched by India, which has purchased MQ-9B drones from the United States. Senior Air Force officials told lawmakers during a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday (local time) that the changing nature of warfare in th…
Washington, April 21 (IANS) Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi held a meeting with the Commanding General of United States Army Pacific, General Ronald P Clark and senior officials in Honolulu with discussions focused on strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries and advancing a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. As he arrived at the US military base in Hawaii, General Dwivedi was accorded a Guard of Honour at Fort Shafter and also undertook an …
Washington, April 11 (IANS) The US and India reaffirmed their strategic defence partnership during high-level talks between their air force chiefs, focusing on interoperability, training and regional deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, a media release said.US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach hosted Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh for an official counterpart visit on April 8.Singh received a full honours arrival at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and later held me…