Stephen Losey
Senior Reporter
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
All Stories By Stephen
Air Force aircraft readiness plunges to new low, alarming chief
As budget cuts loom, U.S. Air Force leaders lament a fleet in which all aircraft types don't pass muster.
MacDill dodges major storm damage as people, planes remain evacuated
MacDill officials consider the base fortunate to have avoided the worst of the storm, but ordered personnel not to return for now while roads are cleared.
Lockheed names software specialist as new head of F-35 jet program
The change comes as software troubles with the F-35's Technology Refresh 3 program led to a year-long delivery halt for the Joint Strike Fighter.
MacDill AFB evacuates planes and people as Hurricane Milton approaches
Hurricane Milton intensified to a Category 5 storm Monday as it passed through the Gulf of Mexico, and follows a strike from Hurricane Helene last month.
Can the Air Force make its next-gen fighter jet cheaper than the F-35?
The Air Force wants to keep its next-generation fighter jet affordable without sacrificing capability. Some analysts warn it can't be done.
Here’s what caused an Air Force F-16 jet crash off South Korea
Without a working attitude indicator and mired in thick cloud cover, the F-16 pilot found it difficult to ensure he was flying away from the ocean.
MacDill Air Force Base without power after Hurricane Helene
Air Force bases throughout Florida evacuated aircraft and stored others in hangers this week as Hurricane Helene approached.
Did a US F-22 shoot down a UFO? Photo of aerial object adds to mystery
A grainy image (it’s always a grainy image) of an object downed by an F-22 over Canada's Yukon territory has aviation (and UFO) enthusiasts chattering.
Recruits need real rifles at boot camp, top enlisted airman says
Recruits carrying weapons during boot camp "is another reminder that you’re in the profession of arms,” the chief master sergeant of the Air Force said.
Air Force to deploy Ospreys in weeks as post-crash groundings lift
The military grounded Ospreys after a fatal crash in November 2023, and Air Force Special Operations Command is gradually returning them to the air.
