John A. Tirpak
John A. Tirpak is Editorial Director of Air & Space Forces Magazine, with more than 25 years at the publication and more than 34 years in defense journalism. He has written for Aviation Week & Space Technology, Aerospace Daily, and Jane’s, reporting from all 50 U.S. states and 25 countries. He has been recognized with awards for journalistic excellence from the Society of Professional Journalists, the Aviation and Space Writer’s Association, the Association of Business Publications International, and was the recipient of the 2018 Gill Robb Wilson Award in Arts and Letters from the Air & Space Forces Association. He has lectured at the National War College and did postgraduate research at the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum.
Recent stories by John A. Tirpak
Boeing Claims Progress on T-7 and Other Challenged Programs
Boeing appears to have become to overcome the problems that led to billions in losses on fixed-price defense contracts in recent years, point the company back toward profitabily, says Boeing president and CEO Kelly Ortberg.
Air Force Futures Boss Leans Toward ‘Low End’ CCA in Next Increment
The Air Force is leaning toward a less-sophisticated autonomous aircraft in the second increment of the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the services chief futurist said. He also suggested that the next increment of CCA may be air-launched, a la the "Rapid Dragon" experiments conducted by the ...
What a ‘Ferrari’ Version of the F-35 Might Look Like—and What the Pentagon Thinks
Lockheed Martin's suggestion to upgrade the F-35 with technologies developed for the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter could come in a number of areas, several of which are already in hand.
Northrop Takes $477 Million Charge to Allow for Faster B-21 Production
Northrop Grumman took a $477 million loss on the B-21 bomber program in the first quarter; executives said the expense will both cover unexpected materials costs and make it possible to accelerate production of the aircraft, if that’s something the Air Force wants to do.
Lockheed Will Not Protest NGAD Award to Boeing, Looks to ‘Supercharge’ F-35 Instead
Lockheed Martin won’t protest the award of the Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter to Boeing but is instead looking to port the technologies it developed for the program to the F-35 and the F-22.
Lockheed Gets $180 Million to Convert Three F-35 Jets to Test Aircraft
Lockheed Martin has received a $180 million contract modification to convert three production-version jets to flight sciences test aircraft, in order to bolster the F-35 test force and ensure no future delays, the Pentagon announced.
NGAD Images Doctored to Hide Most, If Not All, True Design Features
As with previous stealth aircraft unveilings, the Air Force’s imagery of the F-47 Next-Generation Air Dominance fighter has been doctored to keep adversaries guessing about its true shaping and design philosophy.
Northrop Grumman Says Sentinel Program Not Affected by Promontory Blast
The Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program will not be delayed by the explosion of a building at Northrop Grumman’s Promontory, Utah, complex which makes solid rocket motors, the company said.
Explosion Destroys Building at Northrop Grumman Solid Rocket Motor Facility
An April 16 explosion destroyed a building at Northrop Grumman’s Innovation Systems plant in Promontory, Utah, where the company makes solid rocket motors for the U.S. government and commercial rocket companies.
Air Force Seeking ‘Emerging Technologies’ for E-7 Wedgetail—or Successors
The Air Force is still a few years away from getting its hands on its first E-7 aircraft for airborne early warning and control, but the service is already seeking industry input on new systems to either enhance or replace the sensor capabilities of the ...
F-35 Cues Ground Artillery in ‘Minutes’ with New Data Gateway at Major NATO Exercise
F-35s passed targeting information to ground artillery in a demonstration of a new open-systems communications gateway, during the recent Ramstein Flag 2025 exercise, Lockheed Martin said. It’s the first time the secure system has been demonstrated outside the U.S.
Paparo: Airlift and Tanker Fleets ‘Below What We Need’ in Pacific
The Air Force and Navy’s logistics capabilities—including airlift and aerial tanking—are insufficient for the needs of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, its commander told lawmakers last week, and the requirement needs to be addressed by more than just commercial stopgaps. He also endorsed the idea of small, ...
INDOPACOM Boss Stresses Value of, Risk to Air Superiority in the Pacific
Neither China nor the U.S. can achieve air superiority in the Pacific, but China is increasing it fighter capabilities in the region rapidly, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
F-35 Office Seeks to Clarify $2.1 Trillion Cost Ahead of Budget Release
As the Trump administration puts the finishing touches on its 2026 defense budget, the F-35 Joint Program Office has issued a statement explaining what all is included in its $2.1 trillion, 94-year program cost estimate.
Could the Air Force Add More EA-37 Electronic Attack Jets to Its ‘Wish List’?
The industry team that builds the EA-37B Compass Call II is looking to extend production beyond the 10 airplanes in the program of record, possibly by including two jets on the Air Force's next Unfunded Priorities List.