
Former Air Force Secretary James Roche Dies at 86
James Roche, who led the U.S. Air Force amid sexual assault reports and procurement scandals, has died at age 86.
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James Roche, who led the U.S. Air Force amid sexual assault reports and procurement scandals, has died at age 86.

Drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine, U.S. Air Force medical units are implementing protective measures like blast nets and underground shelters to mitigate drone attack risks.
The U.S. Air Force has selected LGNDX for the Phase III deployment of its defense acquisition platform. This decision marks a significant step in modernizing military procurement processes.
Xos, a technology company, has been awarded a prototype contract by the U.S. Air Force to develop mobile charging solutions, indicating a new partnership in defense technology.
A unit of Powerus has been awarded an IDIQ contract by the U.S. Air Force, with a maximum value of $90 million.
Palladyne AI has successfully secured a $2.9 million expansion to its existing contract with the U.S. Air Force.
The U.S. Air Force has chosen Salesforce Inc (CRM) to manage its fleet, indicating a significant contract for the cloud-based software company.

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber successfully launched an anti-ship missile for the first time, showcasing a new capability.

The new Air Force One, designated VC-25B Bridge, has completed its first test flight from Andrews Air Force Base in Washington. The official presidential aircraft was unveiled last Friday by the U.S. Air Force and is undergoing certification flights.

Teradyne has secured a $139.9 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for the update of test station kits.
General Dynamics has secured a $106 million task order to provide support for the U.S. Air Force's Mobile User Objective System (MUOS).
AEVEX Aerospace has been awarded contracts totaling $15.6 million by the U.S. Air Force.

The U.S. Air Force announced that a Boeing 747, formerly owned by Qatar and now designated the VC-25B Bridge, has completed its modifications and flight testing and is now ready for its USA paint scheme.
A unit of Northrop Grumman has been awarded a $488 million contract to provide radar support for the U.S. Air Force's F-16 fighter jets.
Ben-Gurion Airport has reopened following a period of wartime paralysis, with the U.S. Air Force reportedly resuming operations.
AeroVironment, Inc. has been awarded a $25 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to advance human performance technologies from research to operational use.
Second U.S. Air Force Plane Reportedly Crashes In Persian Gulf (Live) Forbes
AAR has been awarded contracts worth up to $450 million by the U.S. Air Force for the supply of pallets.

A former U.S. Air Force missile launch officer alleges that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) once disabled several nuclear missiles at a Montana base during the Cold War.
Raytheon has been awarded a significant contract modification worth $2.01 billion from the U.S. Air Force, indicating continued defense spending and Raytheon's role in military contracts.
Boeing has been awarded a $2.34 billion contract modification by the U.S. Air Force for the E-7A aircraft program.

A former U.S. Air Force officer has been accused by the Justice Department of traveling to China to train pilots for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force without State Department approval.

Northrop Grumman received a $71.9 million contract modification from the U.S. Air Force to support ongoing defense programs.

A US Air Force military transport plane made a rare and unannounced landing in Moscow, with the Kremlin stating it had no knowledge of its purpose. This event occurred amidst new US sanctions aimed at pressuring Iran's economy.

A charter plane crashed near a remote military radar site in western Alaska, killing all eight people on board. The U.S. Air Force confirmed the fatalities in the incident.

Voyager Technologies has won a contract from the U.S. Space Force to build satellite communication systems, while 3D Systems secured a $9 million contract award from the U.S. Air Force. These contracts highlight significant advancements in defense technology.

The U.S. Air Force is conducting battle exercises where human fighter pilots are partnering with unmanned aircraft, marking a significant step in autonomous warfare with a robot aircraft successfully firing a self-guided missile.
Companies are accelerating efforts to deliver autonomous uncrewed fighter jets, with the U.S. Air Force expecting these aircraft to cost significantly less than traditional fighter jets like the F-35.
CPI Aerostructures has been awarded new orders totaling $8.3 million from the U.S. Air Force, bolstering its defense contracts.
Tehran Times published an article featuring Karen U. Kwiatkowski, a former U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel and political commentator.

An American B-52 bomber crashed in Southern California, killing all eight crew members aboard. The incident occurred after the aircraft took off from a US Air Force base.
Boeing is required to fix problems with its midair refueling tankers before the U.S. Air Force will proceed with further purchases. This mandate addresses critical issues affecting the aircraft's operational readiness.

The FBI is offering a $200,000 reward for the capture of Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force member wanted for allegedly providing classified information to Iran, issuing a new poster in Farsi.
The FBI is actively pursuing Monica Witt, a former U.S. Air Force intelligence specialist accused of espionage for Iran, and is offering a million-dollar reward for information leading to her capture.

A U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft reportedly declared an emergency while flying over Qatar, with flight tracking data showing it circling before making a descent for landing. The specific nature of the emergency was not immediately disclosed.
The U.S. Air Force plans to keep its B-1B Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers in service well into the late 2030s, extending the operational life of these strategic aircraft.

An Indian Air Force aircraft experienced a hard landing or undercarriage failure at Pune airport, leading to the temporary closure of the runway and diversion of flights. Flight operations later resumed at the critical base.
AeroVironment has received a $25 million contract from the U.S. Air Force for technology development, indicating continued investment in advanced defense solutions.
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force have conducted tests on a new missile silo design, a critical step for the Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) program. This development aims to modernize the nation's nuclear deterrent capabilities.

Canada's Department of National Defence has confirmed that nearly three dozen Canadian military members on exchange with a U.S. Air Force division have not been deployed to the Persian Gulf region.
The U.S. Air Force conducted an exercise to test the capabilities of autonomous combat aircraft, specifically involving the MQ-20.

Iran has rejected US President Trump's warnings about the safety of its team at the World Cup, with the team labeling the US as unfit to host the tournament. This follows Iran's shock announcement of its refusal to participate in the 2026 World Cup, escalating the geopolitical dispute into the realm of global athletics.
Leidos Holdings (LDOS) plans to offer its small cruise missile to the U.S. Air Force.

Obama Says Aliens Exist But Are Not Kept In Area 51 Authored by Rachel Roberts via The Epoch Times, Former U.S. President Barack Obama said in a Feb. 14 podcast interview that aliens are real but that none are kept at the secretive Area 51 military base in the Nevada desert, later adding that he didn’t see any evidence indicating that extraterrestrials have contacted Earth during his presidency. In the interview, when asked, “Are aliens real?” Obama replied, “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them—and they’re not being kept in [Area 51]. There’s no underground facility, unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.” Obama became the first leader of the United States to affirm the existence of extraterrestrial life when questioned by progressive podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen in a video posted on YouTube. After the interview went viral, Obama said on Instagram that he wanted to “clarify” his comments to Cohen, writing that he was “trying to stick with the spirit of the speed round” while speaking on the podcast. “Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there,” he wrote. “But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!” In 2013, Obama was possibly the first U.S. leader to acknowledge the existence of Area 51, an Air Force base built during the Cold War, which has long been rumored to house extraterrestrials and unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Cohen did not ask Obama a follow-up question on the issue. Instead, he asked the former president what his first question had been upon entering the White House. “Where are the aliens?” Obama joked in response. Some critics, including British political commentator Calvin Robinson, said Cohen should have asked Obama for more information about aliens. “When a former President of the United States says on the record there are aliens, YOU FOLLOW UP WITH RELEVANT QUESTIONS. You do not continue reading from your script,” he wrote on X. The U.S. government first acknowledged Area 51’s existence in 2013 through a Freedom of Information request and has declassified documents detailing its history and purpose. The base has been a testing ground for a host of top-secret aircraft, including the U-2 in the 1950s and later the F-117 stealth fighter. Trump Admin on Aliens President Donald Trump has expressed skepticism about the existence of aliens, while acknowledging that “anything is possible.” Trump addressed the subject in several media appearances during the 2024 presidential campaign. On a podcast with Lex Fridman, Trump said he would consider pushing the Pentagon to release additional UFO footage that many believe is classified. “Oh yeah, sure, I’ll do that. I would do that. I’d love to do that,” Trump said, noting that public pressure to disclose records relating to UFOs is similar to that surrounding the John F. Kennedy assassination. On Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast in June 2025, Trump said, “Am I a believer? No, I can’t say I am." “But I have met with people, serious people, that say there’s some really strange things flying around out there.” Trump added that given the size of the universe, “Why wouldn’t there be something, somebody?” Vice President JD Vance has expressed his personal enthusiasm, telling the “Ruthless” podcast in August 2025 that he is “obsessed with the whole UFO thing.” “What’s actually going on? What were those videos all about? What’s actually happening?” Vance probed. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said last August that she believes aliens may exist and that the U.S. government holds classified information on the subject. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in Washington on Dec. 2, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images Gabbard pledged to share disclosures from ongoing investigations into UFOs amid growing discussion of the phenomena at the highest levels of government. Pentagon Cases Unresolved The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) continues to investigate more than 1,600 reports of “unidentified aerial phenomena,” an official term that has largely replaced “UFOs.” At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in November 2024, AARO’s director, Jon T. Kosloski, detailed cases the military believes it has solved—such as the widely circulated 2016 “GOFAST” video, now thought to show an object flying at 13,000 feet rather than right above the water—as well as other incidents which have so far defied explanation. Previous presidents, including Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, have discussed their curiosity about alien life without confirming a belief in it. Carter reported that he saw an unidentified bright object in the sky when he was governor of Georgia in 1969, although he later said it was likely a natural phenomenon. A view of Area 51. Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times Clinton said that he was curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial life and that he had asked aides to look into both Area 51 and the Roswell incident of 1947, which gave rise to much speculation about a government cover-up. After Air Force personnel recovered metallic and rubber debris near Roswell, New Mexico, the U.S. Army Air Forces announced that they were in possession of a “flying disc” before retracting the statement within a day. Clinton said he was told there was no evidence of alien life in connection with the incident. In 1995, he joked about the Roswell incident, saying, “If the U.S. Air Force did recover any alien bodies, they didn’t tell me about it.” The American public is increasingly convinced that aliens exist and have visited Earth, according to recent polls. More than half (56 percent) of Americans believe extraterrestrials definitely or probably exist, according to a 2025 YouGov poll. Democrat (61 percent) and Independent (59 percent) voters are more likely than Republicans (46 percent) to believe aliens exist, with 73 percent of Americans believing the government would hide evidence of UFOs if it had any, and just 13 percent thinking it would be transparent, according to the same survey. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 17:00
Boeing has received a $163 million delivery order for the B-52 radar modernization program, while RTX secured a $603 million U.S. Air Force contract to produce the new B-52 radar systems. These contracts aim to upgrade the radar capabilities of the B-52 bomber fleet.
Flight tracking data confirms a U.S. Air Force military transport plane flew from Latvia to Moscow's Vnukovo airport on August 25.

Xos International shares surged by 120% after the company announced it secured its first contract with the U.S. Air Force, signaling a significant new venture for the electric vehicle manufacturer.

A U.S. Air Force A-10 Warthog close air support aircraft provided armed airborne escort to the U.S. Navy's USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) Ohio-class submarine in the Pacific Ocean.
Teal Drones, a subsidiary of Red Cat Holdings, has been awarded a $2.5 million contract to supply drones to the U.S. Air Force. This contract highlights the company's role in providing advanced drone technology for defense applications.

The U.S. Air Force successfully conducted its first autonomous flight of an F-16 fighter jet, with a pilot present in the cockpit for safety, as defense companies develop fully autonomous combat aircraft.

A U.S. Air Force engineer charged with allegedly destroying a series of AI-powered license plate surveillance cameras has garnered significant public support, raising thousands for his legal defense and becoming an unlikely hero.

Raytheon has been awarded a $398.7 million contract by the U.S. Air Force for AMRAAM Missiles.
A unit of MDA has successfully secured a contract renewal with the U.S. Air Force, potentially worth up to $43 million, for ongoing services.
Parsons has been awarded a $28 million defense contract by the U.S. Air Force.

Newly unsealed files and an explosive video from the Department of War suggest the U.S. Air Force shot down a UFO, according to expert interpretations.
Salesforce has been awarded a new $72 million contract from the U.S. Air Force, a development that is seen as positive but not transformative for CRM stock. While exciting, the contract is not expected to be a game-changer for the company's overall financial performance.

The U.S. Air Force announced that the new presidential aircraft, gifted by Qatar last year, has completed flight testing and is being prepared for rollout this summer.

The U.S. Air Force has announced its decision to extend the operational life of the A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, commonly known as the "Warthog," until 2030.
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are progressing with the Sentinel ICBM program, aiming for a test in 2027.
RTX Corporation (RTX) has been awarded a significant $3.8 billion contract modification for Lots 18-19 of the F135 engine, bolstering its defense sector involvement.

Actress Sydney Sweeney shared a photo of her brother, a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant, and expressed gratitude to all service members stationed overseas.
A unit of AAR has been awarded a substantial $289.7 million contract by the U.S. Air Force for the provision of cargo pallets.

One person was killed and another wounded in a shooting incident at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The base was placed on lockdown before security officials confirmed it was safe and the lockdown lifted.
A unit of AAR has secured a significant $159.7 million contract with the U.S. Air Force for undisclosed services.

The U.S. Air Force launched a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from Vandenberg Space Force Base in a scheduled test of the nation’s nuclear deterrent. The United States Air Force… (The post U.S. Air Force test launches Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base is from Doha News | Qatar.)