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U.S. Air Force Articles | Developments Today

F-22's ‘Catfish’ 757 Testbed Spotted Carrying Raptor's New Infrared Sensor Pod

F-22 infrared sensor pod appears on Boeing test jet

Boeing’s Catfish 757 was seen carrying a stealthy infrared sensor pod.
The pod is described as part of the F-22’s Raptor 2.0 upgrade package.
Catfish has served as a major systems integration test bed for the F-22 since the 1990s.

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DT Editorial Team·Jun 12, 2026·via twz.com

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Another Battle Damaged KC-135 Tanker Seen Passing Through RAF Mildenhall

Battle-Damaged KC-135 Seen in Britain Highlights Strain on U.S. Tanker Fleet

The photographed KC-135 showed shrapnel repairs across multiple surfaces and was missing its refueling boom.
The aircraft belongs to the Alaska Air National Guard’s 168th Wing.
The report says it is at least the second damaged tanker seen transiting RAF Mildenhall.

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DT Editorial Team·May 26, 2026·via twz.com

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Austrian jets intercept US military planes two days in a row

Austria scrambles Eurofighters twice after U.S. military aircraft approach and overfly its airspace

Austria scrambled Eurofighter Typhoons on May 10 and May 11 in response to U.S. military aircraft movements tied to overflight clearance questions.
Austria said the first aircraft turned back before crossing the border, while the second day involved a permitted overflight that still required visual verification.
The episode highlights how tightly neutral Austria controls foreign military transit through its airspace.

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DT Editorial Team·May 14, 2026·via defensenews.com

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US Air Force Sets Its Sights On Space Solar Power

U.S. Air Force interest gives another push to space solar power ambitions

Overview Energy says it is building a space solar system that can piggyback on existing solar plants.
The company attracted $20 million in funding in late 2025, according to the report.
The U.S. Air Force is described as continuing to pursue space solar among next-generation decarbonization solutions.

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DT Editorial Team·May 8, 2026·via cleantechnica.com

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Camouflaged F-15E Painted To Mark F-111’s Libya Raid Blasts Through Mach Loop On First Flight

Commemorative F-15E makes first flight in anniversary paint scheme honoring Libya raid

A commemorative F-15E at RAF Lakenheath has made its first recorded flight in a special anniversary paint scheme.
The livery honors 40 years since Operation Eldorado Canyon and visually recalls the F-111F.
The aircraft flew the Mach Loop and later dropped inert GBU-12s at the Holbeach range.

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DT Editorial Team·May 7, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·May 6, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·May 6, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·May 2, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·Apr 30, 2026·via defensenews.com

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DT Editorial Team·Apr 29, 2026·via breakingdefense.com

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DT Editorial Team·Apr 18, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·Apr 7, 2026·via breakingdefense.com

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DT Editorial Team·Mar 29, 2026·via twz.com

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DT Editorial Team·Mar 16, 2026·5 min read·via twz.com

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B-1B “Apocalypse II” Out Of The Boneyard And Back In Service

A Retired B-1B Has Returned to Service as the Air Force Extends the Bomber’s Relevance

A B-1B retired in 2021 has returned to operational status after nearly two years of work.
The aircraft had been kept in Type 2000 storage at Davis-Monthan, preserving the option for reactivation.
Its return highlights the continuing value of the B-1B fleet during the transition to the B-21.

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DARPA's XRQ-73 Hybrid-Electric Flying Wing Drone Has Flown

DARPA’s XRQ-73 Takes Flight and Advances Quiet Hybrid-Electric Military Aviation

DARPA says the XRQ-73 completed a test flight in April from Edwards Air Force Base.
The aircraft is part of the SHEPARD hybrid-electric propulsion program.
DARPA and AFRL are testing a design focused on quiet, efficient autonomous flight.
The flight gives the concept real-world validation but leaves broader military adoption as a later question.

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B-1B Seen Carrying ARRW Hypersonic Missile For The First Time

B-1B shown carrying ARRW as Air Force revives hypersonic weapon path

The Air Force has publicly shown a B-1B carrying ARRW for the first time.
The B-1B is now slated to remain in service until 2037 and serve as a hypersonic test platform.
ARRW has regained momentum in the latest budget request after earlier uncertainty.

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From prototypes to production: US Air Force seeks nearly $1B for initial CCA procurement

The Air Force has put real procurement money behind loyal wingman drones

The Air Force wants $996.5 million in FY27 procurement funding for Increment 1 CCA aircraft.
The request also includes $150 million in advance procurement and about $1.37 billion in R&D.
The move signals that loyal wingman drones are shifting from testing into planned force structure.

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One big FAMMily: Air Force eyes huge boost for low-cost cruise missile - Breaking Defense

The Air Force Wants a Massive Stockpile of Low-Cost Cruise Missiles

The Air Force could buy nearly 27,000 Family of Affordable Mass Missiles in coming years.
Budget documents show a ramp from 1,000 missiles in FY2027 to 7,990 in FY2031.
The program emphasizes affordable volume and includes vendors Anduril, CoAspire, and Zone 5.

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YFQ-44 Fury Fighter Drone Wraps Contested Operations Test That Could Accelerate Its Fielding

Air Force tests YFQ-44 Fury in contested-operations exercise aimed at faster fielding

The Air Force completed a contested-operations exercise with the YFQ-44 Fury prototype.
The test examined deployment and sustainment concepts, not just flight performance.
Officials are using the effort to support faster fielding of collaborative combat aircraft.

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General Atomics CCA drone wingman prototype crashes in California - Breaking Defense

General Atomics pauses YFQ-42A testing after CCA prototype crash in California

A General Atomics YFQ-42A prototype crashed after takeoff near Palmdale, California.
No injuries were reported and flight tests have been paused temporarily.
The cause is not yet known and both the company and Air Force are following mishap protocols.
The incident affects one of the Air Force’s key Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype efforts.

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Veteran KC-135 Base Commander's View Of Epic Fury's Strain On The Tanker Force

Operation Epic Fury is exposing the pressure points in the U.S. tanker fleet

The War Zone says Operation Epic Fury has driven thousands of tanker sorties supporting rapid global military movement.
Retired Colonel Troy Pananon said the operation is stressing aging KC-135s along with maintainers and aircrews.
The interview frames tanker capacity as a broader readiness issue with implications beyond the current conflict.

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KC-135 Tanker Crashes In Iraq During Operation Epic Fury Sortie (Updated)

KC-135 Tanker Crashes in Iraq During Operation Epic Fury

A KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in Iraq during an aerial refueling sortie supporting Operation Epic Fury
The KC-135 is the Air Force's primary tanker, with its loss degrading refueling capacity for multiple missions
Cause of the crash had not been confirmed; investigation is underway covering mechanical, hostile action, and crew factors
Tanker losses carry strategic weight beyond single aircraft as they reduce combat reach for fighters and strike aircraft

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