Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · 1d

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

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · 24d

Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · 25d

Skunk Works Unveils Stealthy Collaborative Combat Aircraft Design

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · 25d

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

- Send CUI info to all reporters

- Boom, no reporters at the Pentagon

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · 25d

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

Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Sep 10

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

aviationweek.com/defense/budg...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Aug 29

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

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

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Aug 21

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...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Aug 1

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...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Robert Wall @r-wall.bsky.social · Jul 17

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

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Jul 10

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

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Jul 7

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

aviationweek.com/defense/airc...

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,

aviationweek.com

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Robert Wall @r-wall.bsky.social · Jul 2

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

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · May 23

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

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Robert Wall @r-wall.bsky.social · May 16

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

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

aviationweek.com

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Robert Wall @r-wall.bsky.social · May 16

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

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · May 1

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.

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Shashank Joshi @shashj.bsky.social · Apr 25

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..."

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

Ankit Panda @nktpnd.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

Northrop Grumman building total loss after explosion

Authorities are investigating an explosion at Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems that happened Wednesday morning.

ksltv.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Apr 16

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...

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...

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Apr 3

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

www.afsoc.af.mil

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Apr 3

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...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Mar 31

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

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Brian Everstine @beverstine.bsky.social · Mar 31

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...

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.

aviationweek.com

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Reposted by Brian Everstine

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Mar 28

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.

Dachshund Lost on Australian Island Is Still Alive, but Elusive

A year after getting loose on Kangaroo Island, Valerie is still out there.

www.nytimes.com

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