Air Force

News from across the U.S. Air Force.

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Members of the 163d Attack Wing pilot an MQ-9 Reaper taxing down the runway after returning home from a milestone mission to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, February 15th, 2024. The mission marked the first ever MQ-9 to grace the runway at Shaw AFB. This one of many examples of how the 163d ATKW is pushing innovation and the MQ-9 platform to new heights.

The Iran war took a toll on the Air Force’s Reaper fleet

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Apr 13, 2026

Image: A U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules is reflected in shallow water on the flightline at Shannon, Ireland, March 2, 2026. The 302d AW deployed two C-130 Hercules aircraft and multiple personnel to Ramstein AB, Germany, to support the U.S. Air Forces in Europe Silver Arrow mission. The wing has provided tactical airlift, airdrop, and medical evacuation support in theater since March 2. The Silver Arrow program leverages volunteer Air Reserve Component (ARC) Airmen and their unique skills to enhance the mobility aircraft capabilities of U.S. Air Forces stationed in the European theater. (U.S. Air Force Courtesy Photo)

Man arrested after climbing up on and damaging an Air Force C-130 in Ireland

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 12, 2026

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron prepare to conduct combat search-and-rescue from an MH-6M Little Bird that was offloaded from a MC-130J Commando II during Exercise Agile Chariot near Riverton, Wyoming, May 2, 2023. Agile Chariot tested Agile Combat Employment capabilities, including using smaller, more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft, pilots and other personnel wherever they’re needed. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)

A 2023 special ops exercise in Wyoming was a preview of the Iran rescue mission

Posted on Apr 10, 2026

Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey travels with a next-generation nuclear reactor airlifted from March Air Reserve Base, Calif. to Hill Air Force Base, Utah by a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, Feb. 15, 2026. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

Air Force names 2 bases that could host nuclear ‘microreactors’

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 9, 2026

Air Force bonus

Air Force offers up to $50,000 annual bonuses to keep aviators in the service

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 8, 2026

Team Fairchild Airmen congratulate U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Gabrielle Stallings, 93rd Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker boom operator, during a decoration ceremony at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington, March 31, 2026. The receiving line following an official ceremony allows family, friends and supervisors to personally express their pride and congratulations for honorees. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Emilee Seiler)

A boom operator on an Air Force tanker earned two DFCs for combat flights

By Nicholas Slayton, Matt White

Posted on Apr 8, 2026

U.S. Army MH-60M Black Hawks assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) fly in formation during a helicopter air-to-air refueling exercise above the Southeastern United States, Jan. 23, 2026. Air to air refueling extends a helicopter’s non-stop flight distance, a capability necessary for joint special operations missions far from established airfields and logistical support. These exercises demonstrate the 1 SOW’s ability to project specialized airpower whenever and wherever needed. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabel Tanner)

What we know about the commando raid to recover the F-15 crew member in Iran

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 5, 2026

Four U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs from the 466th Fighter Squadron and two French Dassault Rafales fly over the Balau Games, Palau, July 9, 2023. The fighter jets, in Palau for Northern Edge 23-2, a Pacific Air Forces led multilateral, joint field training exercise, showed their commitment to the Indo-Pacific region by performing this movement at the closing game of the annual local olympic tournament in which all 13 states of Palau participate. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt. Michelle Chang)

Former airman pleads guilty to defrauding Air Force of $37 million

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Apr 4, 2026

F-15s in Middle East

What we know about a downed US F-15 and its crew in Iran

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Apr 3, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, New York Air National Guard, conduct pre-flight operations on an MQ-9 Reaper aircraft during exercise Sentry South 26-2 in Gulfport, Mississippi, March 3, 2026. Sentry South 26-2 is a large force employment exercise focused on major combat operations and joint maritime opportunities in a contested or degraded operational environment. Sentry South 26-2 applies joint and combined warfighting doctrine against realistic and robust enemy integrated threat systems, all while under safe and controlled conditions. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Dylan McCrink)

Air Force reactivates Reaper drone squadron at Nevada base

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Mar 31, 2026

A New Hampshire Air National Guard KC-46 tanker following the engine test that left the airport's tarmac littered with chunks of asphalt.

Air Force jet tore up asphalt at Alaska airport during engine test

Posted on Mar 25, 2026

More than 500 Airmen assigned to the 324th Training Squadron graduated from Basic Military Training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, Sept 7-8, 2022. Maj. Gen. Craig Wills, 19th Air Force commander, reviewed the ceremony. (U.S. Air Force photo by C Arce)

Air Force training instructor faces court-martial for sleeping with trainees

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 20, 2026

Top row: Maj. John A. Klinner, Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, Capt. Ariana G. Savino. Bottom row: Capt. Seth Koval, Capt. Curtis J. Angst, and Tech Sgt. Tyler H. Simmons. Air Force/courtesy photos.

These are the 6 airmen killed in the KC-135 crash in Iraq

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Mar 16, 2026

NELLIS AFB, NV - APRIL 25: A United States Air Force pilot (L) and weapons system officer look out the cockpit of their F-15E Strike Eagle as the jet is prepared for takeoff at Nellis Air Force Base while participating in the Joint Expeditionary Force Experiment 2006 (JEFX 06) April 25, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. JEFX is a biannual test of new systems and technologies by every branch of the military in an attempt to speed their introduction into the modern battlefield. This year's tests involve about 1,400 personnel from the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia studying new technologies during mock combat over the Nevada desert and center on finding better ways to communicate critical information between armed forces. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Former fighter pilots explain what it’s like to eject, following Kuwait shoot downs

Posted on Mar 3, 2026

From left, U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Levi Grant and Senior Airman Ivan Chen, 137th Airlift Squadron flying crew chiefs, 105th Airlift Wing, Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York, sit and kneel on the ramp of a C-17 Globemaster III, assigned to the 105th AW, while preparing to transport 177th Medical Group (MDG) airmen, 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, at the 177FW, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, Sept. 13, 2024. More than 30 airmen with the 177th MDG will attend clinical rotations at Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, as part of Medical Facility Annual Training, Operation Pacific Surge. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Connor Taggart)

Air Guard and Reserve troops say new Air Force rules add to confusion over benefits

Posted on Feb 27, 2026

U.S. Air Force Airmen work at the 18 Wing medical building pharmacy on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 13, 2025. The 18th MDSS team supports deployed personnel and ensures mission readiness by providing essential medications to Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Karina Lopez)

Davis-Monthan airman indicted in plot to defraud the military of millions in medical equipment

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Feb 22, 2026