U.S. Air Force Archives

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Air Force’s B-52 Stratofortress Bomber ‘Nightmare’ Is Real

Key Points and Summary – The B-52 is aging, but upgrades aim to keep it relevant. New F130 engines, an AESA radar, and standoff...

Steve BalestrieriNovember 4, 2025

A 96th Test Wing F-15E Strike Eagle flies during a test mission May 22, 2025 over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The 96 TW and the 53rd Wing teamed up to test AGR-20F Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II laser-guided rockets on the F-15E in May in an effort to get the capability to the warfighter as quickly as possible. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Thomas Barley)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The U.S. Air Force Has a Plan to Escape the ‘Doom Loop’

Key Points and Summary – U.S. Air Force leaders briefed Congress on a 10-year fighter recapitalization to escape a readiness “doom loop” created by...

Mackenzie EaglenNovember 4, 2025

U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and an HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 355th Wing taxi in formation on the runway at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Feb. 9, 2022. The 355th Wing maintains and operates A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, HH-60G Pave Hawks and HC-130J Combat King IIs ensuring its Airmen and aircraft are ready to fly, fight and win. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Alex Miller)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Air Force Sent A-10 Warthogs to China’s Doorstep

Key Points and Summary – The A-10 Warthog, a “tank plinker” hero of the War on Terror, is a “relic” with no role in...

Brent M. EastwoodNovember 4, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

China’s New Stealth Fighters Have 1 Big Advantage over the U.S. Air Force

Key Points and Summary – China’s rapid, iterative development of its J-36 6th-gen fighter—with a second, drastically redesigned prototype appearing in less than a...

Jack BuckbyNovember 4, 2025

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Mach 3 SR-71 Blackbird Spy Plane ‘Broke All the Rules’ Thanks to Titanium

Key Points and Summary – In one of the greatest ironies of the Cold War, the U.S. had to secretly buy the titanium needed...

Stephen SilverNovember 3, 2025

DAYTON, Oh.--An F-22A Raptor from the 1st Fighter Wing conducts flying operations during a solar eclipse, April 8, 2024. The aircraft is from the 27th Fighter Squadron stationed at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. The squadron was conducting dissimilar formation training in unfamiliar airspace.(U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Coleman-Foster)

Military Hardware: Tanks, Bombers, Submarines and More

The Air Force Has a Secret Weapon

Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Air Force prefers upgrades over clean-sheet designs because they’re faster, cheaper, and preserve fleet size—think B-52J engines/radar,...

Brent M. EastwoodNovember 3, 2025