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The story of John Chapman is officially coming to the big screen. Chapman is one of the biggest legends in the history of the United States military. The Air Force 24th STS (a Tier One unit) CCT was killed during the Battle of Takur Ghar in March 2002. All hell broke loose on a mountain during Operation Anaconda, and the SEAL Team 6 team Chapman was attached to retreated under heavy enemy fire. Chapman was left alone without backup or help. He fought to the brutal and bloody end, engaging enemy fighters before eventually dying from his wounds. The elite...

A top Air Force commander, Gen. Thomas Bussiere, announced his retirement Tuesday for “personal and family reasons.” “After much reflection and with a full heart, Barb and I have made a difficult decision to request retirement from the United States Air Force for personal and family reasons,” Bussiere, the head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said in a post on Facebook. “While I’m stepping away from active duty, my commitment to service remains. I look forward to finding new ways to support our Air Force, our national defense and the incredible people who make it all possible,” wrote Bussiere,...

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A U.S. Air Force reservist's lawsuit alleging he was punished for giving a speech in which he said "men can't birth babies" can move forward, a court has ruled.U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant of the Eastern District of Texas, Sherman Division issued a memorandum opinion and order last week in the case of Jace Yarbough v. United States Space Force, et al.Mazzant, an Obama appointee, denied a motion to dismiss reservist Jace Yarbough's lawsuit, who has argued that he was unlawfully punished for giving a speech in uniform at a retirement ceremony in 2021 that some considered too political."Here, all...

The US Air Force is looking to acquire two Tesla Cybertrucks — not for transportation, but to use as missile targets during precision testing and training. According to contracting documents reviewed by The War Zone, the Air Force Test Centre (AFTC) wants the vehicles because of the possibility that “unspecified adversaries” could deploy similar models in the near future. The Cybertrucks are part of a larger order of 33 target vehicles to be delivered to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, alongside sedans, pickups, SUVs, and bongo trucks, though without specific brand requirements for other types. “Market research...

Photogrammetric reconstruction of the submarine USS F-1 on the seafloor west of San Diego, Calif. Credit: Zoe Daheron/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Deep-sea vehicles revealed detailed images of the USS F-1 submarine wreck. The expedition also honored lost sailors and trained future scientists. A recent deep-sea training and engineering mission off the coast of San Diego allowed researchers to capture unprecedented images of the U.S. Navy submarine USS F-1. The vessel sank on December 17, 1917, after a fatal accident that claimed the lives of 19 crew members. Thanks to interagency collaboration and state-of-the-art imaging tools, the century-old submarine’s resting place...

“Worst” can mean many things: a jet that killed too many of its own pilots, missed its moment technologically, or never matched the mission it was bought to fly. Context matters—some of these aircraft taught valuable lessons or worked better in one air force than another. But taken on the whole—design intent vs. delivered performance, safety, combat effectiveness, and sustainment—these five stand out for the wrong reasons.

The Finnish air force was created in March 1918 following independence from Russia and actually predates the founding of Britain’s RAF. Its first military aircraft was donated to the fledgling air force that same year by Swedish aristocrat Count Eric von Rosen whose personal symbol just happened to be a swastika. This image, which was later to become a symbol of Nazi Germany was at the time considered to be quite acceptable and became part of the livery of Finnish air force planes for decades. Perhaps ironically, von Rosen supported the concept of National Socialism and was the brother-in-law of...

John "Lucky" Luckadoo, of Dallas, the last surviving B-17 bomber pilot from the 100th Bomb Group during World War II, has died at the age of 103. Presbyterian Village North in Dallas, where Luckadoo's lived since 2006, confirmed in a statement that he died Sept. 1. "He was admired for his courage and the kindness he shared so generously with our community. Lucky’s legacy of service and inspiration will continue to live on through the celebration of Home Front Heroes Day on May 9th, a local holiday that he one day hoped would become a national holiday honoring those who...

In a future conflict with China, technological superiority alone will not be enough; “mass matters.” The vast distances of the Indo-Pacific and the limitations of sea-launched airpower create a critical need for a large, land-based fleet of long-range, 6th-generation F-47 fighters. A substantial number of F-47s would be essential to overwhelm enemy defenses, deliver the necessary volume of ordnance, and create a resilient, networked force capable of shortening the sensor-to-shooter timeline. Without a large F-47 fleet, the U.S. risks being unable to effectively project power and prevail in a great-power conflict.

Russia’s PAK DA sixth-generation strategic bomber is more of a “flying fantasy” than a credible future threat. Despite its legendary status and ambitious on-paper specifications, the program is crippled by Russia’s weak industrial base, which has consistently failed to deliver on far less complex projects like the Su-57 fighter.

The Air Force has charged an airman with making false statements, obstructing justice and involuntary manslaughter in the July 20 shooting death of a security forces airman at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming, the service announced Friday. The suspect was arrested recently as the investigations into the shooting and the safety of the military's M18 pistols launched in the wake of Airman Brayden Lovan's death progressed, the Air Force said in a brief statement. The suspect was not named in the statement.

Eighty years ago this week, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on Japan, forcing the end of World War II. On August 6, 1945, the B-29 Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” uranium bomb on Hiroshima, killing up to 166,000 people. Three days later, on August 9, the B-29 Bockscar was diverted from its primary target of Kokura due to bad weather and instead dropped the more powerful “Fat Man” plutonium bomb on the secondary target of Nagasaki, killing up to 80,000 and compelling Japan’s surrender.

Air superiority is no longer just a matter of the capabilities of individual aircraft. It’s a question of posture, doctrine, and overall warfighting infrastructure. And in that domain, the contest is no longer so lopsided. The West can no longer take comfort in its F-35 fleet. The J-20 has evolved into its operational equal—if not its superior.

The Defense Department today gained a new leader as Matthew Lohmeier was confirmed by the Senate to be undersecretary of the Air Force. Nominated for the position by President Donald J. Trump, Lohmeier is a 2006 graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and served in both the United States Air Force and the United States Space Force. While in uniform, he racked up over 1,200 hours in both the T-38 Talon and F-15C Eagle aircraft and also commanded a space-based missile warning system squadron. "I'd like to welcome Matt to the team. His prior service makes him an excellent...

Russia’s Su-35 “Super Flanker” is touted as the pinnacle of its 4th-generation fighters, a highly maneuverable jet meant to rival the best in the West. However, the aircraft is based on a Cold War design and suffers from a fatal flaw: its outdated radar system is comparable to 1980s U.S. tech and lacks key modern features.

Incredible SOUND & NO announcer! USE HEADPHONES. Set Youtube to "1080p60 HD". P-51D Mustang "Quick Silver" at Oshkosh 2017 performs hesitation rolls, Cuban 8 and other maneuvers. Pilot Scott "Scooter" Yoak puts the Mustang through an aggressive and impressive routine. A "must see video" for Mustang lovers!

A Delta Connection Embraer E175 regional jet, operated by SkyWest Airlines as Flight 3788 from Minneapolis–Saint Paul to Minot International Airport, executed a sudden “aggressive maneuver” during its final approach to avoid a near-fatal mid‑air collision with a U.S. Air Force B‑52 bomber from nearby Minot Air Force Base. While on final approach from Minneapolis–Saint Paul, the Delta Connection crew received a last-second instruction from air traffic control to turn due to “inadequate separation.” During the turn, the pilot spotted the B‑52 rapidly converging and hauled the jet sharply behind it for safety. Once landed safely, the pilot addressed passengers...

Key Points and Summary – The Trump administration has officially confirmed it is prioritizing the U.S. Air Force’s F-47 sixth-generation fighter over the Navy’s F/A-XX program, creating a major rift between the White House and naval leadership. -In a formal statement, the Office of Management and Budget cited “industrial base concerns” about running two major stealth fighter programs at once and opposed a congressional effort to add nearly $1 billion in funding for the Navy’s jet. -The decision effectively puts the F/A-XX on ice, jeopardizing the future of the carrier air wing and drawing protests from Navy officials.

Key Points and Summary on Canada and F-35 – After a quarter-century of debate, Canada is in the final, critical phase of deciding the future of its F-35 fighter jet program. A comprehensive government review, expected by the end of summer 2025, will determine whether the nation proceeds with the full purchase of 88 stealth fighters.