The U.S. Air Force (USAF) plays a significant role in the space industry, historically serving as the Department of Defense's executive agent for space, and developing early military space programs and launch vehicles. Although the U.S. Space Force was established as an independent branch in 2019, the Air Force continues to contribute to space operations, including training personnel, research and development, and maintaining partnerships. The USAF's space-related activities encompass satellite operations, missile warning, communication support, and collaboration with allies to ensure regional stability. Key partners include the U.S. Space Force, other branches of the military, and international allies.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
The Index gave the U.S. Space Force a marginal score on capability and found it unprepared to take over missions shifting to orbit that were historically conducted by the U.S. Air Force.
Matthew Anderson is an Air Force veteran who works for the Space Force Association.
A retired Air Force colonel admitted that in the 1980s he had taken doctored photos of flying saucers to a Nevada bar to help obscure nearby Air Force stealth aircraft tests.
In 1994 the Air Force identified the Roswell crash debris as wreckage from Project Mogul, a top secret balloon program.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center granted Ki Ho Military Acquisition Consulting Inc. a $32.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.
The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center granted Ki Ho Military Acquisition Consulting Inc. a $32.4 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract.
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Susan J. Helms is the chair of the Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel.
The Ringleader initiative is a pillar of the Department of the Air Force’s acquisition transformation to move away from legacy airborne platforms such as the E-8C JSTARS.
The first phase of Ringleader exercises will commence within the next several months and will involve participation from both the U.S. Space Force and the U.S. Air Force.
Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy E. Meink unveiled the Ringleader technical initiative on February 23, 2026 during his keynote at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium.
Results from the Ringleader exercises will inform final requirements for the Department of the Air Force’s next-generation tactical data links.
The Department of the Air Force will employ the A5/7 Next modernization investment priority for the Air Force component of Ringleader.
The KC-390 currently primarily uses hose-and-drogue refuelling systems that are compatible with many allied aircraft but not all USAF platforms.
The proposed KC-390 enhancements aim to expand the aircraft’s role in boom-based refuelling used by the US Air Force for many fixed-wing aircraft.
Kristin Burke is Senior Space and Counterspace Researcher at the China Aerospace Studies Institute, Air University, U.S. Air Force.
The Embraer–Northrop Grumman collaboration targets potential future requirements of the United States Air Force and allied nations.
Kim Crider is a founding partner of Elara Nova and a retired U.S. Air Force Major General with more than 35 years of experience in space and cyber national security.
Aetherflux received a multi-million dollar grant from the Department of Defense’s operational energy capability improvement fund in partnership with the U.S. Air Force to develop a proof of concept demonstrating wireless power transmission from LEO to Earth.
Zhang Lu served in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force and achieved the rank of Senior Colonel.
Once DSCS II satellites became operational the Air Force primarily relied upon large geosynchronous satellites for its primary communications requirements.