Beyond Pixie Dust
A framework for understanding and developing autonomy in unmanned aircraft. Nearly every vision, strategy, and flight plan the U.S. Air Force has released over the past decade identified next-generation unmanned…
Here’s why a no-fly zone over Ukraine is out of the question for the US and NATO
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West responded with devastating sanctions and a swift condemnation and isolation of Russia, as well as sending weapons and other support to…
Here’s why a no-fly zone over Ukraine is off the table
WASHINGTON — In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the West has responded with devastating sanctions and a swift condemnation and isolation of Russia as well as by sending arms and…
What Is Autonomy? This Framework Aims to Help Warfighters and Engineers Figure It Out
Autonomous aircraft (and land/sea vehicles) are already flying and on the cusp of operations. But as the military forges ahead, those who will team with these systems in the…
Unclear Definitions Risk to Success in Fielding Autonomous Aircraft
Successfully introducing new, unmanned aircraft in the Air Force, with varying degrees of autonomy, is at risk as long as there’s widespread disagreement about what an “autonomous” aircraft actually is,…
Crisis in the Fighter Force
USAF is ill-prepared to absorb combat losses in a peer fight. The U.S. Air Force fighter force is in crisis. Three decades of canceled, curtailed, and delayed investment in aircraft…
Skies’ Top 10 stories of 2021
It’s that time of year again. As 2021 wraps up, we’ve rounded up the 10 most popular articles on skiesmag.com this year. Here’s a brief recap of each story, with…
Smart Idea: Dump the F-15EX for More F-35 Stealth Fighters
The Mitchell Institute report reaffirms the mounting bipartisan consensus of top military experts: to curtail F-35 production in the present domestic and geopolitical context is to court an unmitigated national…
Veteran F-16 Fighter Pilot Lambasts USAF F-15EX Air Superiority Jets; Calls It Obsolete, Outdated & Near ‘Dead End’
The F-15EX is an upgraded version of the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter jet. The US Air Force received two F-15EX warplanes from US aerospace giant Boeing earlier this year.…
Alternate Fighter Plan: Cut F-15EX, Extend F-22, Buy New Stealth Jets, More F-35s
The Air Force’s “4+1” fighter plan for the 2020s, unveiled in recent months, will leave the service with a fleet that’s too small and improperly configured to deal with peer threats.…