Breaking Defense – The US entered the conflict with a detailed plan for a war of destruction, but no serious plan for Iran’s war of disruption.

Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Bill Sweetman writes that F-35 program leader Lieutenant General Greg Masiello delivered something of a lite-beer testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee last week, with many questions deferred to a closed session. But the discussion pointed to a big and little-discussed change to air warfare technology – fighter radars so powerful that they can act as high-power microwave (HPM) weapons. And this involves not just the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning but also British Eurofighter Typhoons and the multinational Global Combat Aircraft Program (GCAP).

The War Zone – Pairing LRASM with the B-2 creates a powerful, penetrating, fleet-killing combination, especially in the broad expanses of the Pacific.

USNI News – The Air Force wants a family of next-generation long-range missiles to strike targets out to ranges of at least 1,000 nautical miles to support the service’s plans to counter Chinese air and naval forces in a potential conflict.

The Strategist – Bill Sweetman opines on a unique solution for replacing the B-52, particularly in its anti-shipping role.

War on the Rocks – On March 27, Iranian drones and missiles struck Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, destroying an E-3 Sentry, an airborne command center for U.S. operations in the region, and damaging multiple KC-135 tankers. It was not the first strike. Earlier in the month, an Iranian attack had already damaged five KC-135s at the same base. In the history of these aircraft, no enemy had ever achieved such a hit until Iran did both — within two weeks.

The War Zone – David Shank, former commandant of the Army’s Air Defense Artillery School, offers a frank assessment of how air defenses are performing against Iran.

The War Zone – A-10s are executing one of the lesser-known missions they’ve trained to do for decades, hunting down Iranian fast attack boats and mine layers in the strait.

The Strategist – Bill Sweetman writes that another element in the US Air Force’s plans for long-range operations, essential for Asia-Pacific deterrence, may have emerged from under cover of secrecy.

Newsweek – Across sleepy and remote islands in the Pacific, U.S. military engineers are working around the clock to revive strategically important airstrips that American troops first built under fire over 70 years ago during World War II.

RUSI – Russian and, particularly, Chinese capabilities now pose greater threats to Western air power than in 2020.

ASPI – Bill Sweetman’s military aviation predictions for 2026.

The War Zone – The USAF has offered new views of the Quicksink anti-ship bomb after a B-2 stealth bomber deployed the weapon off Norway in a test.

The War Zone – F-16s will get stealthy AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles, giving them the ability to attack highly defended ships over great distances.

RUSI – Outsized combat aircraft built for stealthy long-range supersonic flight may be worth the cost for the US and China, but countries in Europe may be better off pursuing other capabilities.

Naval News – The use of Harpoon anti-ship missile on foreign customers of the F-16 is not uncommon. Integrating them on American F-16s is.

The War Zone – The Quicksink seeker could turn the Extended Range Attack Munition into a new low-cost anti-ship weapon that could be bought quickly in large numbers.

War on the Rocks – Executing an effective campaign to enhance the resilience of U.S. airfield operations will require informed decisions to prioritize projects and sustained funding. What is clear, however, is that U.S. airfields do face the threat of attack, and the current approach of largely ignoring this menace invites Chinese aggression and risks losing a war. Passive defenses, including hardening, are essential, and other countries have invested heavily in them to sustain airfield operations amidst attack. It is past time for the United States to do so again.

The War Zone – Arming the F-15E and EX with AGM-158Cs will give the Air Force a major boost in its ability to target enemy ships over long distances.

Reuters – The United States said on Friday it will deploy B-52 bombers, fighter jets, refueling aircraft and Navy destroyers to the Middle East, in a readjustment of military assets as the Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group prepares to leave the region.

CNN – A very specialized part of the world’s largest naval drills off the northern Hawaiian island of Kauai is gaining attention on both sides of the Pacific. Earlier this month, the US and allies practiced taking out a large surface ship with long-range weapons, including, for the first time, a US Air Force B-2 bomber.

The War Zone – The USAF is also moving ahead with plans to forward-deploy F-15EXs to Japan as the Marines make changes to their F-35 units in the country.

CIMSEC – The rapid proliferation of military drones in the Indo-Pacific region has become a crucial feature of contemporary maritime security dynamics. Unmanned aerial systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, have revolutionized the way naval operations are conducted, presenting both challenges and opportunities for regional security. Understanding the strategic impact of this technological advancement is essential for shaping effective policies, strategies, and operational concepts in the Indo-Pacific region.

War Zone – MC-130s operating from beaches could provide critical logistics in the Pacific where runways are few in number and under threat.

1945 – James Holmes writes that if successful, in short, the B-21 will present U.S. and allied commanders the opportunity to exploit command of the air before winning it.