U.S. Air Force Archives

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The XB-70 Valkyrie was a Mach 3 nuclear bomber built to fly so high and fast that nothing the Soviet Union launched could ever reach it — and one of the only two ever built was destroyed not in combat but in a midair collision during a publicity photo shoot for an engine company

Summary and Key Points: The North American XB-70 Valkyrie was built to cruise at three times the speed of sound — so high and...

Harry J. KazianisMay 31, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Over a service life from 1966 to 1998 more than 4,000 missiles were fired at the SR-71 Blackbird and not one ever hit it — because the unarmed spy plane’s entire defense against a surface-to-air missile was a single instruction to the pilot: go faster

Summary and Key Points: The SR-71 Blackbird flew the Cold War’s most dangerous reconnaissance missions — over the Soviet periphery, North Vietnam and North...

Harry J. KazianisMay 31, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

A Chinese defense firm claims its AI tracked four US B-2 stealth bombers over Iran by their radio signals and reconstructed the flight path of an aircraft built to be all but invisible — but it has produced no recordings, no transcripts, no proof

Summary and Key Points: A Hangzhou defense firm, Jingan Technology, says its “Jingqi” AI system intercepted radio signals from four B-2 Spirit bombers —...

Christian D. OrrMay 31, 2026

U.S. Air Force Maj. Paul Lopez, F-22 Demo Team commander, performs an aerial demonstration during the Thunder over Georgia Air Show at Robins Air Force Base, Sept. 28, 2019. Founded in 2007, the F-22 Raptor Demo Team showcases the unique capabilities of the world's premier 5th-generation fighter aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Sam Eckholm)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Stealth Fighter Goes Down: $334,000,000 F-22 Raptor Was ‘Shot Down’ By U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare Plane

The F-22 Raptor is considered by many to be one of the most advanced aircraft currently in service. Despite being built in the 1980s...

Isaac SeitzMay 22, 2026

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

It’s Official: The U.S. Air Force Needs Far More Than 100 B-21 Raider Stealth Bombers

For years, analysts and even Air Force officials have argued that plans to procure 100 B-21 Raiders are insufficient, and that a fleet of...

Jack BuckbyMay 15, 2026

A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress aircraft, assigned to the 96th Bomb Squadron from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, flies over spectators at the Dubai Airshow 2025, Nov. 17, 2025, at the Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The B-52 flew from Rota, Spain, to participate in the event, showcasing U.S. airpower on a global stage. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Tylin Rust)

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

A 4-Megaton Hydrogen Bomb Almost Detonated Over Goldsboro, North Carolina — 250 Times More Powerful Than the Hiroshima Bomb

A U.S. Air Force B-52G Stratofortress strategic bomber crashed near Goldsboro, North Carolina, in 1961 — dropping 2 Mark 39 Mod Two hydrogen bombs...

Brandon WeichertMay 15, 2026

On October 5, 1993, Langley's F-16XL High Lift jet was rolled out with a dynamic yellow and black paint job for Aero-Dynamic Flow Studies in High Speed Research.

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

F-16XL Had 27 Hardpoints and Could Carry Twice the Payload of a Standard F-16 But Lost the Competition to the F-15E

General Dynamics built the F-16XL fighter prototype with 27 hardpoints. The standard F-16 has 9 hardpoints. The F-16XL had 120% more wing area than...

Harrison KassMay 13, 2026

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Air Force Originally Planned Hundreds of F-22 Raptors — It Built Only 187 at $356,000,000 Per Plane

The U.S. Air Force originally planned to build hundreds of F-22 Raptor stealth fighters. The Air Force built only 187 F-22s before shutting down...

Kris OsbornMay 13, 2026

An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., sits in a hangar ahead of operations for the F-35 Lightning II TDY, Oct. 28, 2021, at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field, Texas. The 62nd FS will be training with F-16s from the 149th Fighter Wing and the 301st Fighter Wing, along with T-38s from the 301st Fighter Wing. The multi-role capabilities of the F-35 allows them to perform missions which traditionally required numerous specialized aircraft. The complimentary air superiority capabilities of the F-35 will augment our air superiority fleet and ensure we continue to "own the skies" over future battlefields. (U.S. Air Force photo by Brian G. Rhodes)

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Canada Was Going to Buy 88 F-35s — Today It’s Only Committed to 16 and Hedging on 14 More as Saab Pitches the Gripen Alternative

Canada committed in 2023 to buy 88 Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters to replace its CF-18 fleet — today it has firmly committed to...

Georgia GilholyMay 8, 2026

A U.S. Airman assigned to the 7th Bomb Wing marshals a U.S. Air Force B-1B

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Air Force Just Pulled a B-1B Bomber Out of the Boneyard — ‘The Rage’ Took 200 Personnel Two Years to Return to Flying

In a sign that the B-1B bomber may not be done just yet from the Air Force’s inventory, the service just added one to...

Steve BalestrieriMay 7, 2026

19FortyFive

All posts tagged "U.S. Air Force"

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The XB-70 Valkyrie was a Mach 3 nuclear bomber built to fly so high and fast that nothing the Soviet Union launched could ever reach it — and one of the only two ever built was destroyed not in combat but in a midair collision during a publicity photo shoot for an engine company

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Over a service life from 1966 to 1998 more than 4,000 missiles were fired at the SR-71 Blackbird and not one ever hit it — because the unarmed spy plane’s entire defense against a surface-to-air missile was a single instruction to the pilot: go faster

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

A Chinese defense firm claims its AI tracked four US B-2 stealth bombers over Iran by their radio signals and reconstructed the flight path of an aircraft built to be all but invisible — but it has produced no recordings, no transcripts, no proof

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

Stealth Fighter Goes Down: $334,000,000 F-22 Raptor Was ‘Shot Down’ By U.S. Navy Electronic Warfare Plane

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

It’s Official: The U.S. Air Force Needs Far More Than 100 B-21 Raider Stealth Bombers

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

A 4-Megaton Hydrogen Bomb Almost Detonated Over Goldsboro, North Carolina — 250 Times More Powerful Than the Hiroshima Bomb

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

F-16XL Had 27 Hardpoints and Could Carry Twice the Payload of a Standard F-16 But Lost the Competition to the F-15E

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Air Force Originally Planned Hundreds of F-22 Raptors — It Built Only 187 at $356,000,000 Per Plane

Trillions - 19FortyFive

Canada Was Going to Buy 88 F-35s — Today It’s Only Committed to 16 and Hedging on 14 More as Saab Pitches the Gripen Alternative

Smart Bombs: Military, Defense and National Security

The U.S. Air Force Just Pulled a B-1B Bomber Out of the Boneyard — ‘The Rage’ Took 200 Personnel Two Years to Return to Flying

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