The summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson kicked off under the roar of military aircraft designed to oppose Russia during the Cold War. Joe Peterburs, who flew escort missions for bombers over Germany in World War II, was flying high with his granddaughter as his wingman. By Dave Kindy
5 months ago “We’re thinking probably closer to two years — like degraded their program by two years,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said Wednesday. The Air Force typically buys four or five dozen F-35s each year. The plan to purchase only 24 would represent a major scaling back. After losing the Air Force's next-generation fighter contract to Boeing, Lockheed Martin hopes to fold sixth-generation tech into the F-35. Advanced jets like the F-35 have stealth coatings, unique materials and cutting-edge technologies that take more work to maintain, driving up costs. Air Force officials regret not getting data rights to the F-35, which has slowed repairs, and promised not to make the same mistake on the F-47. “President Trump appears to have been speculating out loud about future airplanes that, as far as I know, don’t exist," said former SECAF Frank Kendall. Like Saudi Arabia did a day earlier, Qatar gave Trump's Air Force One a ceremonial escort from its F-15 fighter jets — an exceptionally rare sight. The Selfridge Air National Guard Base's aging fleet of A-10 aircraft will be replaced by 21 F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets. Load More
