Boeing expects the Air Force will order its first set of operational T-7A Red Hawk aircraft in 2024. “Ultimately, the [Lightning Technician Program] concept did not meet the needs of the Air Force enterprise,” the service said. Investigators blamed the pilot for his jet’s demise, saying the airman could have regained control over the F-16. Officials are investigating what caused the landing gear to fail. The Air Force plans to start training new pilots to fly the OA-1K armed overwatch planes in fall 2025. About half of the aircraft studied never reached their annual readiness goal between fiscal 2011 and 2021, despite billions of dollars in investments. Goodbye, T-1 Jayhawk. Hello, simulators. The Air Force believes it will cost at least $2.5 million to repair the KC-46. The idea has raised eyebrows among military watchers who question its motives and safety. The Air Force is reimagining the role of the A-10C attack plane, a counterterrorism mainstay, for a new kind of fight. Load More