The United States Confirms the Existence of Weapons in Earth Orbit
Washington has confirmed it possesses weapons deployed in orbit. This announcement reignites the space arms race and alarms China and Russia. Executive Summary On September […]
USA
USAF: Fighter Jet Availability Drops to Critical Levels
Despite record budgets, American fighter jet availability is declining—a vulnerability that has become critical amid prolonged operations against Iran. Summary American airpower rests upon a […]
USAF: 1,000 CCA drones to transform air combat
With the FQ-42 Vengeance and FQ-44 Fury, the USAF is preparing 1,000 CCA drones to increase the mass, range and survivability of its fighter aircraft. […]
The US Air Force Prepares for the Post-MQ-9 Era with a Modular Drone Designed for Mass Losses
Following heavy MQ-9 losses in Iran, the US Air Force is accelerating the MMA: a lower-cost, modular drone built to fight in large numbers. In […]
F-47, F-15EX and CCA: How the USAF Is Recomposing Its Airpower
AIM-424 missile, F-15EX, F-47, and CCA drones: The USAF is assembling a distributed, autonomous force designed specifically for the Indo-Pacific theater. In Summary The U.S. […]
The U-2 and the “Coffin Corner” at 70,000 Feet
At over 21,000 meters, the U-2 operates between stall and Mach buffet. A margin sometimes limited to 11 km/h on early aircraft. In summary At […]
MQ-9 Next Prepares for Post-Reaper Era with Cheaper Platform Under Strain of Losses
Still indispensable but vulnerable, the MQ-9 Reaper is pushing the U.S. Air Force to seek a modular, cheaper successor that is acceptable to lose. In […]
Ban on F-22 Raptor Retirements Extended Until 2032
The House Armed Services Committee has extended the ban on retiring F-22 Raptors through fiscal year 2032. This decision keeps all 184 aircraft in service […]
The F-47 and CCAs Reveal the Strategic Price of the Sixth Generation
The American NGAD and its CCA drones pose a central question: how to maintain air superiority without bankrupting the armed forces? Summary The American NGAD […]
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) enters the industrial phase
With the CCA, the US Air Force aims to move from prototype to mass production. Budget, supply chain, exports: the industrial challenge is as risky […]