Troy Meink Archives

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason T. Hinds, U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa commander presides over a Silver Star ceremony at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 3, 2026. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandra M. Longfellow)

USAFE boss shares ‘vignettes’ for CCA drone employment in Europe

“I'm excited about what CCAs have in store for the Air Force,” Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds told reporters.

14 hours ago By Jon Harper

Troy Meink appears before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his nomination to be secretary of the Air Force in Washington, D.C., March 27, 2025. (DoD photo by EJ Hersom)

Meink: Space Force has deployed space control weapons to orbit

The announcement is the first time a Pentagon official has confirmed the existence of U.S. space-based weapons.

2 days ago By Mikayla Easley

YFQ-42 aircraft sit on the flightline at a California test location as part of the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft flight test campaign. (Courtesy Air Force photo)

Air Force plans to field 500 CCA drones by 2032

General Atomics’ platform is now known as the FQ-42A Vengeance, while Anduril’s has been officially designated the FQ-44A Fury, SECAF Troy Meink said Monday.

2 days ago By Mikayla Easley

Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Schiess faces a Senate Armed Services Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill, July 16, 2026. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Congress confirms Schiess as third-ever chief of space operations

Lt. Gen. Doug Schiess will take over from Gen. Chance Saltzman as head of the Space Force.

Aug 7, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Christopher J. Niemi, U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, delivers opening remarks at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) change of command ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jennifer Nesbitt)

Trump nominates Niemi as Air Force’s inaugural chief modernization officer

If confirmed, Maj. Gen. Christopher Niemi will serve as both the Air Force's A5/7 deputy and the chief modernization officer.

Apr 17, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force Maj. Oliver Ngayan, 2 Squadron E-7A Wedgetail air battle manager, performs a system check at Royal Australian Air Force Base Darwin, Australia, July 18, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jimmie D. Pike)

DAF fuels up for ‘Ringleader’ exercises to test all-domain sensor fusion capabilities, tactics

"Over the last few years, we’ve built out the necessary software, hardware and network infrastructure — now it’s time to test it,” Secretary of the Air Force…

Feb 26, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles and an F-22 Raptor assigned to the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron participate in exercise Bamboo Eagle 24-3 with 32nd Air Refueling Squadron air crews over the Pacific Ocean, Aug. 9, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Monica Roybal)

Air Force, Space Force announce acquisition changes amid Hegseth’s reform push

The Department of the Air Force has established seven new portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) offices that will oversee capability development moving forward.

Jan 8, 2026 By Mikayla Easley

A YFQ-44 Collaborative Combat Aircraft takes off during flight testing at a California test location. (Courtesy photo)

Anduril conducts first flight test of Air Force CCA drone prototype

Both Anduril and General Atomics have now moved into the live flight test stage of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program.

Oct 31, 2025 By Mikayla Easley

A second B-21 Raider, the nation’s sixth-generation stealth bomber, joins flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Sept. 11, 2025. (Courtesy photo)

The new airpower advantage

The U.S. Air Force cannot solve its problems by expanding today’s force or chasing game-changing technologies. It needs to return to the core of military advantage —…

Sep 29, 2025 By Bryan Clark Dan Patt

A YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft takes off during flight testing at a California test location. (Courtesy photo)

General Atomics begins flight tests for Air Force CCA drone program

General Atomics recently began flight testing of its prototype, dubbed the YFQ-42A, at an unnamed location in California.

Aug 27, 2025 By Mikayla Easley