US Department of Defense News

CNBC • Kevin Breuninger

US Defense Department Accepts Qatar-Donated Boeing 747-8I for Air Force One Conversion

The Pentagon, led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has formally accepted a Boeing 747-8I Business Jet gifted by Qatar to serve as Air Force One, pending extensive mission- and security-system modifications. The ex-Qatar Airways jet will enter a conversion programme under a forthcoming contract, amid scrutiny over cost and oversight.

2025-05-21T10:14:19.781389-07:00

Associated Press

Loss of Contact with Army Helicopter Triggers Go-Arounds at Reagan National

2025-05-23T13:48:25.642271-07:00

DefenseNews.com

USAF Test-Launches Unarmed Minuteman III ICBM to Reinforce Nuclear Deterrent

2025-05-21T09:32:44.214578-07:00

Washington Post

FAA Unaware of Three-Year Military–Civil ATC Hotline Outage Before DCA Near Miss

2025-05-14T08:19:36.422453-07:00

US Department of Defense News Timeline

The Aviationist

US Air Force’s MH-139A Grey Wolf Participates in First Nuclear Convoy Course After initial Operational Test and Evaluation, the Air Force’s MH-139A Grey Wolf helicopter joined its first dedicated Nuclear Convoy Course at Camp Guernsey. The exercise validated the aircraft’s mission systems and airlift coordination for safe, rapid response to strategic missile convoy security operations.

2025-05-25T08:06:12.101530-07:00

US Air Force’s MH-139A Grey Wolf Participates in First Nuclear Convoy Course

defence-industry.eu

USAF breaks ground on Battle Management Combined Operations Complex at Robins AFB The US Air Force officially broke ground on the Battle Management Combined Operations Complex at Robins AFB, Georgia on 19 May. The new BMCOC facility will consolidate command-and-control operations for air battle management and intelligence, supporting modernization of networked warfighting across the service.

2025-05-24T14:04:04.643102-07:00

USAF breaks ground on Battle Management Combined Operations Complex at Robins AFB

Business Insider

Inside the E-4B Nightwatch ‘Doomsday Plane’: The USAF’s Flying War Room The E-4B Nightwatch, a heavily modified Boeing 747-200B fleet, serves as the National Airborne Operations Center, outfitted with EMP shielding, in-flight refueling and secure communications to maintain presidential command continuity during a nuclear crisis.

2025-05-24T09:50:37.900975-07:00

Inside the E-4B Nightwatch ‘Doomsday Plane’: The USAF’s Flying War Room

Aviacionline

Chile to Lead Estrella Austral 2025 with 24 Nations Backed by USAF Strategic Airlift Chile will lead Estrella Austral 2025, a major multinational air exercise involving 24 countries, with key airlift support provided by US Air Force strategic cargo aircraft. The drills aim to strengthen regional interoperability and sustainment logistics across complex operational scenarios.

2025-05-23T18:14:13.647446-07:00

Chile to Lead Estrella Austral 2025 with 24 Nations Backed by USAF Strategic Airlift

The Aviationist

Netflix’s 'Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds' Puts Viewers Inside USAF Demo Pilots’ Cockpits Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, “Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds” debuts on Netflix May 23, 2025, offering an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds as their F-16 pilots train in high-stakes drills, flying within three feet of each other at nearly 550 mph to perfect their aerial demonstrations.

2025-05-23T14:58:14.423500-07:00

Netflix’s 'Air Force Elite: Thunderbirds' Puts Viewers Inside USAF Demo Pilots’ Cockpits

Associated Press

Loss of Contact with Army Helicopter Triggers Go-Arounds at Reagan National Military air traffic controllers lost contact with an Army Black Hawk helicopter for about 20 seconds near the Pentagon on May 1, forcing two commercial jets to abort their landings at Reagan National Airport and amplifying safety concerns since January’s fatal midair collision.

2025-05-23T13:48:25.642271-07:00

Loss of Contact with Army Helicopter Triggers Go-Arounds at Reagan National

The War Zone

F-15E Strike Eagles Test 42-Round APKWS Pods for Counter-Drone Missions At Eglin AFB, two F-15E Strike Eagles fired laser-guided Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets using four- and six-pod LAU-131 racks in recent trials. Each jet can now carry up to 42 combat-proven rockets, boosting its drone-hunting effectiveness.

2025-05-23T13:20:00.411133-07:00

F-15E Strike Eagles Test 42-Round APKWS Pods for Counter-Drone Missions

Bloomberg

Pentagon Grants Tom Cruise Use of US Aircraft Carrier in New Mission: Impossible Film The US Department of Defense has authorized use of an operational aircraft carrier for the upcoming installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, a rare deployment of live naval assets in a commercial film. The decision highlights continued collaboration between the Pentagon and Hollywood to incorporate military platforms into major productions.

2025-05-22T23:04:37.186037-07:00

Pentagon Grants Tom Cruise Use of US Aircraft Carrier in New Mission: Impossible Film

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Our coverage of the U.S. Department of Defense delivers critical analysis of the policies, military procurements, and defense strategies shaping national security. With a focus on informed reporting, we track the DoD's initiatives and developments as they unfold, providing a valuable resource for understanding the defense landscape in the United States and its global implications.