Stephen Losey

The bombers also flew over Sweden's parliament to mark the anniversary of the country joining NATO.

As budget cuts loom, U.S. Air Force leaders lament a fleet in which all aircraft types don't pass muster.

The service is also shipping more new recruits off to basic military training on a weekly basis than it did two years ago, officials said.

“It may just be symbolic, but we are telling the world we are leaning into a new chapter of aerial warfare," said Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Allvin.

Future Block 4 capabilities are intended to bring the F-35 better sensors, improved sensor integration, and the ability to carry more and deadlier weapons.

“There’s not many places that we can go for” such cuts, Maj. Gen. Joseph Kunkel said, with the Air Force smaller and older than it's ever been.

Experts say it's unlikely the Air Force could save $15 billion only targeting the kind of diversity and climate change programs Sec. Hegseth has derided.

Trump plans to nominate retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Caine as the nation’s next chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

Work continues on the engines that might one day power the Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, though the fate of NGAD itself is still undetermined.

The Air Force must continue maintaining Minuteman III nuclear missiles longer than expected, with the Sentinel successor requiring a major restructuring.