US Air Force

The US has launched a new air and missile defense coordination cell at Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, amid tensions with Iran. CENTCOM Commander Adm.

A US Air Force RQ-170 Sentinel was reportedly deployed as part of Operation Absolute Resolve, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026. According to General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, months of intelligence preparation led to the successful mission.

A US Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during a training mission over California's Mojave Desert on December 3, 2025, with the pilot ejecting safely and sustaining non-life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred near Trona, approximately 27 miles from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

The US Air Force is preparing to award multiple contracts for developing and fielding satellites that can track aircraft and drones, according to Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. The program aims to deliver capability quickly and will involve multiple contractors.

A second near midair collision involving a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker was reported near Venezuelan airspace on December 13, 2025. The incident occurred when a Falcon 900EX business jet flying from Aruba to Miami encountered the tanker without an active transponder.

NASA has acquired two F-15 fighter jets to support its supersonic flight research program. The aircraft were previously retired from service by the US Air Force and are now being transferred to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California.

A JetBlue flight from Curaçao to New York narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force tanker shortly after takeoff, according to Flightradar24. The incident took place on December 12, 2025, when the aircraft was climbing to 34,000 feet.

The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a critical notice to airmen warning pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace through February 2026, citing escalating military activity, GPS interference, and threats to civil aircraft. The advisory follows reports of increased US military operations in the Caribbean and comes as senior officials indicate the Trump administration is preparing a new phase of operations targeting Venezuela's government.

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation into whether major US airlines complied with its emergency order requiring carriers to cut flights at 40 of the nation's busiest airports during the 43-day federal government shutdown. The agency has contacted airlines that operate more than 10 daily flights at any affected airport and is seeking documentation showing compliance.

Electra has established a dedicated defense division following successful hybrid-electric flight tests with the US Air Force, marking a significant milestone in military aviation innovation. The startup's EL9 ultra-short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft demonstrated operational capabilities including quiet operations, logistics command and control, and expeditionary power generation during AFRL testing in September 2025.

The US Air Force is reviving the Looking Glass mission, which was previously assigned to the Navy's E-6B Mercury. According to an industry notice, the new program aims to recapitalize missions currently executed on the E-6B.

The US Air Force has selected nine companies for an early stage of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, awarding contracts worth an unspecified amount. The successful firms will now compete for a prototyping deal, which could be offered to more than one company.