Air Force

As the KC-46 continues to move through operational test this summer, the service is working closely with prime contractor Boeing to develop plans to address two key tanker deficiencies.

President Trump has said he will "most likely" nominate Army Secretary Mark Esper to take over permanently for acting Defense Secretary Pat Shananan, whose nomination collapsed this week amid media reports of past violent incidents involving his family.

Gen. Paul Selva, the second-highest-ranking U.S. military officer, weighed in on a controversial proposal to fold the Strategic Capabilities Office into the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, arguing combatant commands are concerned the change would add a layer of bureaucracy and impede a pipeline now effectively fostering new ideas and rapid delivery of innovative combat capabilities.

The Senate Armed Services Committee is putting increased pressure on the Air Force's plans to modernize its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Mike Griffin, the Pentagon's top weapons development official, ousted Strategic Capabilities Office Director Chris Shank on Friday, escalating a bureaucratic fight over the fate of the SCO. Griffin wants to fold the organization into the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- a change opposed by key combatant commands and now congressional committees.

Just eight months ago, the Pentagon was planning for two defense budgets -- and both were lower than the $750 billion now being advocated by congressional Republicans.

The Air Force achieved a major milestone yesterday when it completed the first flight test of a new hypersonic weapon at Edwards Air Force Base, CA.

The Pentagon is working with the F-35 prime contractors to identify alternative sources for the parts Turkish industry produces for the Joint Strike Fighter, as the Defense Department’s acquisition chief says there will be “no major disruptions” if DOD can stick to its plan to remove Turkish industry from the program by early next year.

House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mac Thornberry (R-TX) said today he and his GOP colleagues have yet to decide whether they will support the fiscal year 2020 defense authorization bill slated for consideration tomorrow, but he does have plans to offer amendments that would increase total defense spending and block Democratic efforts to cut nuclear weapons programs.