Air Force

News from across the U.S. Air Force.

Latest in Air Force

Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing refuel and rearm an F-35 Lightning II during a Distributed Integrated Combat Turn (D-ICT) exercise, June 12, 2025, at Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee, Mass. The D-ICT allows for rapid refueling and rearming of fighter aircraft to increase sortie generation and mission readiness. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Jay Hewitt)

Air Force bans smart glasses for troops in uniform

By Patty Nieberg

Posted Yesterday

A Nevada Air National Guard C-130H flies above Lake Tahoe during a "spouse lift" while Master Sgt. Billy Johnson, loadmaster with the 192nd Airlift Squadron, sits on the ramp, October 30, 2024. The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, held the spouse lift to explain the mission of the Nevada Air National Guard and to recognize spouses for supporting their military members (Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michelle Brooks).

An Air Guard wing touched down on all 7 continents in 2-year span

Posted Yesterday

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Wolfe

Top enlisted leader in the Air Force explains why he wears his father’s service pin

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Feb 3, 2026

Image: Airmen from the 155th Air Refueling Wing listen to leadership in preparation for an upcoming Combat Readiness Inspection during his commander’s call at Nebraska Air National Guard Airbase, Lincoln, Nebraska, January 11, 2026. The CRI will test 155th Wing’s rapid deployment capabilities and crisis response while operating in a degraded environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Jeremiah Johnson)

Air Force to bring back ‘no-notice’ combat readiness inspections

By Nicholas Slayton

Updated on Feb 1, 2026

Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen conduct maintenance on a KC-135 Stratotanker at dawn prior to an aerial refueling mission at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Dec. 1, 2025. The 203rd Air Refueling Squadron provides critical aerial refueling capabilities in support of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command operations and global mobility missions worldwide. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Mysti Bicoy

Air Force plans to include simulated airfields in basic training

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 29, 2026

Image: U.S. Air Force Capt. Josiah Bierle, 75th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, awaits takeoff in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, Dec. 30, 2025. Stationing A-10s in the CENTCOM AOR reinforces U.S. commitment to regional stability and strengthens deterrence against potential threats. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonah Bliss)

An A-10 Warthog named ‘Diddy Kong’ is operating in the Middle East

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 26, 2026

Japan Air Self-Defense Force members from the Naha Air Rescue Squadron ride on a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, in support of exercise Cope Angel 25-1 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 26, 2025. Cope Angel is an annual bilateral personnel recovery exercise conducted with U.S. Air Force and JASDF personnel, providing the opportunity for both services to integrate, plan and train together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melany Bermudez)

Air Force helicopter landed too close to crowd in death of school teacher, report finds

By Nicholas Slayton, Matt White

Updated on Jan 25, 2026

F-15s in Middle East

F-15 squadron that took out Iranian drones returns to the Middle East

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 21, 2026

CV-22 Ospreys assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron (SOS) approach an MC-130J Commando II for aerial refueling over the Sea of Japan, Mar. 17th, 2023. The 21st SOS utilizes the unique capabilities of the Osprey to conduct long range infiltration, exfiltration, and resupply missions for special operation forces. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Trevor Gordnier)

Air Force crew reacted rapidly to sudden power failure in Osprey mishap

Posted on Jan 13, 2026

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jordan Wesemann, left, 909th Air Refueling Squadron instructor pilot, and Capt. Jared Wesemann, 4th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron pilot, deployed to Kadena Air Base, pose for a photo at Kadena AB, Japan, Dec. 4, 2025. The twin brothers shared the same sky and mission during Jordan Wesemann’s final flight at Kadena, a rare opportunity that united tanker and fighter aircrews over the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Melany Bermudez)

Twin Air Force pilots connect in refueling flight over the Pacific

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 13, 2026

Image: The Air Force Warfare center D.C. Air National Guard pilots with the 121st Fighter Squadron launch out on Aug. 8, 2025 in Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Bamboo Eagle is a U.S. Air Force Warfare Center exercise that builds upon the tactical expertise exercised in Red Flag and presents participants with opportunities to overcome challenges associated with mission generation and command and control in a contested environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Natalie Filzen)

Air Force plans for new electronic warfare squadron to aid combat training

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Jan 10, 2026

An Air Force uniform with the job tab "CYBER."

Air Force brings back job patches, which were banned for some reason

Posted on Jan 9, 2026

Women who have served in combat arms jobs say a new Pentagon review of their "effectiveness" is the latest example of doubts they've faced their whole careers.

Women in ground combat jobs say they prove their ‘effectiveness’ every day

By Patty Nieberg

Posted on Jan 9, 2026

Exercise Sourdough 2025

‘Exercise Sourdough’ — How the Air Force turned San Francisco into an urban evasion course

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 8, 2026

U.S. Air Force Capt. Robert Friedman with the Air Force Legal Operations Agency, left, Tech. Sgt. Joshua Skinner with the 601st Air Operations Center, and Capt. Kyle Imhoff with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, right, run on the fitness track at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 8, 2020. The Tyndall Focus 5/6 group organized a running event where runners tracked miles during the month of August. The top three runners were recognized and included Skinner with 348 miles, Friedman with 356 miles, and Imhoff with 366 miles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Magen M. Reeves)

Airmen can now swap out the 2-mile run on both yearly fitness tests

By Jeff Schogol

Posted on Jan 6, 2026

Airman 1st Class Charles Crumlett, 335th Aircraft Maintenance Unit weapons load crew member, prepares a weapon to be loaded during the 4th Quarter Load Crew of the Quarter competition, Jan. 26, 2018, at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. The purpose of the weapons load competition is to showcase the weapons crews highly developed skills with precise loading capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kenneth Boyton)

Lack of supervision contributed to Alaska airman’s death, report finds

By Nicholas Slayton

Posted on Dec 31, 2025