Brian Everstine

They don't call us "Aviation Leak" for nothing.

I didn't sign. Our job isn't to solely write what the government wants us to. Proud to stand with my colleagues on the Pentagon beat

Skunk Works Unveils Stealthy Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design | Aviation Week Network Skunk Works is taking work it did to compete for the USAF's sixth-gen fighter and applying it to a new stealthy, survivable Collaborative Combat Aircraft design.

Skunk Works Unveils Stealthy Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

- Announce policy that reporters chasing CUI will be barred from the Pentagon

- Send CUI info to all reporters

- Boom, no reporters at the Pentagon

Under the new DOD policy announced last night, every reporter who received this email could lose their credentials

Three-Stars, Retirees Among Options For Top U.S. Air Force Job | Aviation Week Network The U.S. Air Force search for a new military leader broadened to more retirees and lieutenant generals after a leading contender faced new criticism on social media, sources say.

Drama continues in the search for the next Air Force Chief of Staff, with the net widening

aviationweek.com/defense/budg...

New Boeing F/A-XX Rendering Hints At Possible Similarities To F-47 | Aviation Week Network A new rendering of Boeing’s proposed F/A-XX design provided to Aviation Week indicates the company may be incorporating parts of its design for the U.S. Air Force’s F-47.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

New Competitor Looks To Upend U.S. Navy Trainer Competition | Aviation Week Network SNC’s Freedom proposal looks to revive a carrier-representative landing practice requirement for the T-45 replacement.

SCOOP: A new entrant aims to shake up the competition for the US Navy's future trainer.

SNC brings back its Freedom trainer, and calls on the Navy to get back to field carrier landing practice for the T-45 replacement.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

Inside The Air National Guard Unit Bringing The F-15EX Online | Aviation Week Network The U.S. Air Force’s first F-15EX unit pushes through the fighter variant’s growing pains.

In the next issue of Aviation Week I take a deep dive into how the relatively small but mighty Air National Guard unit at PDX is establishing USAF's F-15EX future.

With some scoopy details on unreported issues facing the nascent fleet.

aviationweek.com/aerospace/em...

USAF Chief On Lessons From B-2 Strike: ‘Stealth Still Matters’ | Aviation Week Network Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin has told Aviation Week what the U.S. Air Force learned from the unprecedented strikes from seven B-2s on Iranian targets in June.

The unprecedented strikes from seven B-2s that flew deep into Iran last month has direct lessons for what the U.S. Air Force might need to do in a future, longer-range, more threat-intense environment, the service’s leader says. aviationweek.com/defense/budg... via @beverstine.bsky.social

Shortly after SecDef Hegseth posted this video announcement, DOD released and then quickly deleted a CUI memorandum on the drone policy changes.

DARPA Ends Liberty Lifter Program | Aviation Week Network DARPA has ended its Liberty Lifter effort to build a full-scale seaplane demonstrator earlier than originally expected,

DARPA has ended the Liberty Lifter program, years before the expected first flight of the seaplane demonstrator

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

Debrief: ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Includes New Long-Range Strike Funding | Aviation Week Network President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” barely passed the Senate on July 1.

Hidden in the Senate-passed reconciliation langugage: $600 million for the development, procurement and integration of Air Force long-range strike aircraft and $500 million for Navy long-range strike aircraft.
aviationweek.com/defense/budg... via @beverstine.bsky.social

The most transparent DOD in history making me get an escort to and from my car. And to Taco Bell

GA-ASI Shows New Counter-UAS Role For MQ-1Cs | Aviation Week Network General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is showcasing a new counter-uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) role for its MQ-1C Gray Eagle

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) is showcasing a new counter-uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) role for its MQ-1C Gray Eagle as the mission is increasing in importance across the world. aviationweek.com/aerospace/ai... via @beverstine.bsky.social

U.S. Army’s HADES Faces Potential Fleet Size Cut | Aviation Week Network The U.S. Army intends to slash the total fleet of ME-11B aircraft that will fly high-altitude surveillance and targeting.

The U.S. Army intends to slash planned fleet size of ME-11B high-altitude surveillance and targeting aircraft, though program officials hope that might be reversed as the aircraft begin operations. aviationweek.com/defense/airc... @beverstine.bsky.social

Anduril posts new photos of its YFQ-44A, as the Air Force announced it and the General Atomics YFQ-42A are in ground testing. And a unit will stand up for CCA operations at Beale AFB.

RAF officer leading concepts/req for Tempest sixth-gen plane at UK MoD: "at the top of our list is the payload." Irrelevant how it gets to target, he says, but analysis shows fast jet better than cargo plane or sub. "Payload is what we're all about...we're talking roughly double an F-35A's worth..."

Northrop Grumman building total loss after explosion Authorities are investigating an explosion at Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems that happened Wednesday morning.

Likely a significant industrial base setback for the Sentinel ICBM program here: "Chief Deputy Sheriff, Cade Palmer with Box Elder County confirmed that a building at the Northrop Grumman Facility at Promontory Point is a total loss." ksltv.com/local-news/n...

USAF Solicitation Raises Possibility Of Looking Beyond E-7A Wedgetail | Aviation Week Network A notice to industry calls for new technologies to integrate on USAF's upcoming Boeing E-7A Wedgetail fleet, while allowing for the possibility that the service could field another platform to serve t...

Beyond the Wedgetail?

USAF raises possibility of fielding an "equivalent" aircraft, along with big changes to the E-7A itself such as potentially replacing the top-hat MESA radar.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

First missionized OA-1K delivered: www.afsoc.af.mil/News/Article...

Boeing Gets USAF Award To Mature Autonomous Refueling | Aviation Week Network Boeing has been awarded an $18.2 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to mature autonomous refueling.

The Air Force has awarded Boeing a contract to mature autonomous refueling, as the push for NGAS looks away from a clean-sheet 'stealth' tanker and toward a 'team-of-systems' type approach.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

I know this was the Navy aircraft program news everyone was waiting for

U.S. Navy To Forego Carrier Landing Practice For New Trainer | Aviation Week Network The U.S. Navy wants to field a new trainer by 2030 and is planning to rely on virtual carrier landing practice to avoid a long aircraft development cycle.

Future Naval aviators won't have to go to the boat or even conduct field carrier landing practice to touch down, with advancements in simulators and landing aids, according to a new solicitation

The approach will avoid costly development for UJTS

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

Dachshund Lost on Australian Island Is Still Alive, but Elusive A year after getting loose on Kangaroo Island, Valerie is still out there.

A dachshund named Valerie was reported lost on a remote Australian island in November 2023. She has just been spotted, and an effort is underway to rescue her.

Embarked on the Ford today.

They have a dog. She is good

Boeing Wins U.S. Air Force's NGAD F-47 Fighter Contract | Aviation Week Network Boeing has won a contract to develop the F-47 next-generation combat aircraft for the U.S. Air Force which throws a lifeline to the company’s struggling military aviation business.

Waited about 13 years to write this story.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

Boeing P-26 Peashooter - Wikipedia

The last clean-sheet fighter design that entered service under the Boeing brand was this baby.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_...

U.S. Air Force, Navy Brief Trump On Future Fighter Plans | Aviation Week Network USAF and Navy leaders have pitched their future fighter plans to Trump, as the Pentagon and the administration prepare to decide how to fund procurement.

President Trump is showing an active interest in USAF and Navy future fighter plans, summoning leaders for a brief last week.

aviationweek.com/defense/budg...

USAF Eyes Executive Fleet Updates, First Military MAX Stalls | Aviation Week Network The service’s long-term goal is to replace both the C-32A and C-40B/C executive transports with a single platform.

The Air Force hopes to replace the C-32 and C-40 fleet with one platform, and had targeted fielding the first military variant of the Boeing 737 MAX in the short term---though Congress didn't support it this time around.

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...