Michael Scanlon
Contributor
Michael Scanlon is a defense journalist covering air and space warfare. A former U.S. Air Force A-10 crew chief, he has supported land and sea programs for the U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.
All Stories By Michael
Pentagon, Lockheed sign framework deal to boost AIM-260 production
The agreement was signed to expand production of the AIM-260 JATM, laying the groundwork for a future multiyear buy of the long-range air-to-air weapon.
House backs $1.55 billion to revive E-7 Wedgetail, spares Navy Hawkeye
The White House budget office wants to raid a Navy radar-plane account and a classified Air Force line to pull the E-7 Wedgetail back from the dead.
F-35 program chief warns fleet has outgrown its support system amid record-low readiness
The hearing comes on the heels of a Government Accountability Office report this month that found just one in four F-35s were fully mission capable.
US Air Force awards first CCA production contracts to General Atomics, Anduril
The U.S. Air Force has cleared its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft to enter production.
Only 1 in 4 F-35s is fully mission capable, GAO finds
The F-35’s readiness rates continued to decline through fiscal 2025, with the fleet’s full mission capable rate falling to 25%, according to a GAO report.
House panel backs A-10 Warthog through 2030, eyes autonomous successors
House lawmakers approved provisions allowing the A-10 Warthog to stay in service through its planned 2030 retirement.
Lockheed’s GRIZZLY C-UAS system downs attack drone in live-fire demo
The live-fire demonstration paired the radars, Sanctum software and launcher to destroy the target at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona.
Congressional report tallies 42 US aircraft lost or damaged in Operation Epic Fury
Drones took the heaviest hit, accounting for 25 of the 42 aircraft losses listed in the report.
