Vanessa Montalbano

Washington, D.C., United States

Air Force Reporter at Inside Defense

Air Force reporter @insidedefense 👩‍💻🌎 | past: climate @washingtonpost | double @AU_SOC alum | news tips to [email protected]

Articles

Costello: T-7 sticking to November 2027 IOC timeline, delivery of first ground-based simulator set for October

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

The Air Force and Boeing are making significant progress to keep the troubled T-7A Red Hawk training jet in line with Air Education and Training Command's stated target to reach initial operational capability by 2027, the service's top acquisition official told lawmakers yesterday.
Boeing says it can deliver new presidential jet by 2027 if USAF changes robust requirements

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

Boeing has told the Air Force it can deliver the first VC-25B jet -- the eventual replacement for presidential aircraft Air Force One -- by 2027, if some of the program's requirements are altered, a top service official said today. “We are looking at the requirements that are being potentially traded off to get to that date, and so I do not necessarily guarantee that date, but they're proposing to bring it into [fiscal year 20]27,” Darlene Costello, principal deputy... Not a subscriber?
Air Force to restart KC-46 deliveries next week; cracking issue resolved

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

The Air Force and Boeing have found a fix for cracking found on the structure of the KC-46 Pegasus, a top service official said today, following a Feb. 27 decision to temporarily pause all tanker deliveries until the issue was resolved. “We have begun the process to resume deliveries from Boeing and the first delivery is expected next week,” Darlene Costello, principal deputy assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, said today during a House...
KC-46 Remote Vision System fix delayed to summer 2027

1 week ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

The planned upgrade for the KC-46 Pegasus' Remote Vision System is now expected to field 18 months behind an already delayed schedule, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin said yesterday, resulting in a new delivery date about three years behind the initial plan. “The latest estimate on the pacing item is the remote vision system, which, again, is operating just not operating as we would expect it to. We’re probably looking at another 18 months,” Allvin said Tuesday...
Air Force looks to expand F-35 foreign pilot training at Ebbing ANG Base

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

The pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, AR could soon host another 12 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters from foreign partners, increasing operations there and requiring a supplemental environmental impact statement, according to an April 24 notice in the federal register.
Trump: 21 F-15EX fighters will replace retiring A-10s at Selfridge ANG Base

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

Selfridge Air National Guard Base, MI is poised to receive a replacement fighter squadron after its fleet of A-10 Warthogs retire over the next few years, President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced yesterday. “Today I’ve come in person to lay to rest any doubts about Selfridge’s future and the vital role it will play in our national defense,” Trump said in remarks during a visit to the base.
Air Force excluding nuclear programs, enterprise IT from all ongoing ICC work

2 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

All mission thread integration and requirements work now underway within the Air Force’s new Integrated Capabilities Command will not initially account for the service’s portion of nuclear modernization or enterprise IT, Inside Defense has learned. ICC, which was provisionally activated in September, has for months been conducting analysis as part of the Program Objective Memorandum for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
Minimum investment for facilities sustainment again draws ire from top Air Force officer

3 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin today doubled down on his opposition to a new law that increases the amount military services invest annually in infrastructure restoration and sustainment accounts, telling an audience of industry and service members: "We got to fight that." “We need to have that agility to make sure that we're getting more out of every dollar we're spending,” Allvin said today during remarks at the Apex Defense Conference. “We also have excessive infrastructure. I...
Boeing to sell elements of digital aviation solutions business for $10.55 billion

3 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

Aerospace giantBoeing today announced an agreement to sell off parts of its digital aviation solutions business to the software-focused private equity firm Thoma Bravo for $10.55 billion. The all-cash transaction includes digital tools that pilots and maintainers often use to manage checklists, engage with briefings or navigation and conduct other necessary flight-planning steps. The assets being sold to Thoma Bravo include Jeppesen, ForeFlight, AerData and OzRunways.
Lockheed Martin will not protest NGAD decision, will focus instead on enhancing F-35

3 weeks ago | insidedefense.com | Vanessa Montalbano

Lockheed Martin will not protest the Air Force's recent decision to award Boeing a contract to build the F-47 Next Generation Air Dominance platform, CEO Jim Taiclet told investors today. The company will instead focus on adding sixth-generation capability improvements to its fifth-generation offerings, like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and F-22 Raptor.