All articles tagged with #air force
A Bolivian Air Force Hercules cargo plane carrying new banknotes crashed near La Paz, damaging about a dozen vehicles on a highway and scattering money on the ground; at least 15 people were killed, with authorities suspending all flights to and from the terminal as rescue teams responded.
Amid rising tensions with Iran, the U.S. is repositioning and expanding its forces in the Middle East, moving air-refueling assets from Al Udeid and deploying carriers, fighters, and support aircraft across the region and Europe; Washington has also urged U.S. citizens to depart Israel as diplomacy continues and a potential military action against Tehran looms, with ongoing mediation in Geneva and substantial-progress claims but no final deal yet.
The Washington Post reports that after a second round of Iran talks ended without a deal, the U.S. rapidly shifted more than 150 aircraft to bases in Europe and the Middle East, a buildup corroborated by publicly available flight-tracking data and satellite imagery, highlighted by F-22s at bases such as Lakenheath.
The Air Force and Northrop Grumman agreed to boost annual B-21 Raider production by 25% using $4.5 billion from FY2025 reconciliation to accelerate delivery of the stealth bomber fleet, preserving cost and performance discipline. With 2025 deliveries on schedule and a planned 2027 ramp at Ellsworth AFB, the B-21 remains central to nuclear modernization and long-range strike, enabling faster fielding of combat capability to deter and defeat emerging threats.
The US Air Force is repainting Air Force One and other presidential aircraft in a new gold, deep red and navy blue scheme—colors associated with Trump—, and the Qatar-donated Boeing 747-8i to serve as Air Force One will receive the same livery; Biden halted a larger makeover in the past, but officials say this update won’t delay or add costs, with painting already completed on some C-32 jets.
A Mitchell Institute policy paper argues the U.S. Air Force must field at least 500 sixth-generation fighters and bombers—300 F-47 fighters and 200 B-21 bombers—beyond the current plan of 185 F-47s and 100 B-21s. The analysis warns China could establish a western Pacific sanctuary, risking attritional warfare unless the U.S. can project long-range air power in force. It calls for interim steps: keep legacy B-1/B-2 until at least 100 B-21s are available, accelerate B-21 funding, boost F-35A and F-15EX purchases, and expand autonomous drone wingmen. To reach 300 bombers, the Air Force would need about 224 B-21s, given its 76 B-52s, alongside a one-for-one fighter recapitalization strategy.
A court in Ecuador sentenced 11 air force personnel to prison for the forced disappearance and murder of four Afro-Ecuadorian boys during security operations in Guayaquil, highlighting issues of human rights abuses and racial vulnerability under the current security policies.
Anduril's prototype drone, YFQ-44A, achieved its first flight as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, marking a significant step in developing autonomous drone wingmen to operate alongside fighter aircraft, with further testing and integration planned for 2026.
Three deaths at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are under investigation by Ohio authorities and the Air Force, with ongoing efforts to determine the cause and provide support to affected families and the community.
Finland's Air Force is phasing out swastika symbols on its flags to avoid international controversy and better align with NATO allies, despite the symbol's historical use in Finland since 1918, which predates Nazi Germany.
Finland's Air Force plans to remove swastikas from its flags to avoid awkwardness with Western allies and better reflect its current identity, despite the symbol's historical use dating back to 1918 and its non-association with Nazi Germany.
Finland's air force is phasing out the swastika from its flags due to its negative associations in international contexts and to better align with NATO allies, despite its historical use since 1918 and its non-Nazi origins.
Finland’s Air Force will cease using the swastika on its flags, replacing it with a golden eagle to better reflect its current identity and avoid awkward situations with foreign visitors, despite the symbol predating Nazism.
The Air Force has decided to offer military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt, a Capitol riot victim and Air Force veteran, after reviewing her death circumstances, reversing a previous denial, amidst ongoing political debates about her role and the events of January 6, 2021.
The U.S. Air Force is considering offering an official military funeral with honors to Ashli Babbitt, who was shot during the Capitol attack, reversing a previous decision, amid controversy over her status and the appropriateness of honoring her with military honors.