March 30, 2026 F-35A Lightning IIs arrive at Misawa Air Base The arrival supports the Department of the Air Force’s modernization efforts and demonstrates the United States’ ironclad commitment to the defense of Japan and sustaining peace through strength in the Indo-Pacific.
March 18, 2026 Architects of the exercise: Bringing the space domain to life for Freedom Shield 26 Freedom Shield 26 is a recurring exercise between the South Korea and the United States, in collaboration with the United Nations Command, ensuring continuous preparedness for military forces on the Korean Peninsula.
Feb. 24, 2026 Wilsbach outlines strategy for confronting adversaries, Air Force success In his first major address since becoming Air Force Chief of Staff, Gen. Ken Wilsbach highlighted readiness and how the service is responding to a complex and ambiguous strategic environment.
Feb. 24, 2026 SECAF opens 2026 AFA Warfare Symposium with ‘Innovating Faster: Acquisition Transformation’ During his keynote at the 2026 Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink laid out his vision for the Department of the Air Force’s acquisition transformation effort.
Feb. 23, 2026 Collaborative Combat Aircraft program progresses through deliberate weapons integration testing The Air Force has entered the next phase of developmental testing for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.
Feb. 12, 2026 Air Force validates open architecture, expands Collaborative Combat Aircraft ecosystem The CCA program validates a modular, open-systems approach, allowing the Air Force to rapidly integrate the best technology from any vendor to equip the warfighter faster.
Jan. 28, 2026 US, Japan refine interoperability during exercise North Wind 26 The 374th Airlift Wing integrated with the U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to execute a joint forcible entry operation during exercise North Wind 26, a joint arctic field training designed to strengthen winter operational capabilities.
Dec. 19, 2025 CENTCOM launches Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS in Syria U.S. and partner forces commenced Operation Hawkeye Strike against ISIS in Syria in response to the attack on U.S. and partner forces.
Dec. 2, 2025 Update on recent DAF efforts In a memorandum to commanders, the SecAF and CSAF said: “The Air Force must be prepared to fly and fix so we can fight and win. We will maintain this posture through increased focus on readiness and modernization in a commander-focused service.”
Sept. 29, 2025 Bushido Guardian 25: Trilateral exercise kicks off in the Pacific The U.S. Air Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Air Force commenced the first trilateral Exercise Bushido Guardian 25 at Misawa Air Base.