Michael Marrow

Michael Marrow covers air warfare for Breaking Defense. He holds a BA in history from the University of Virginia and started out as a freelance reporter covering local news in Fairfax County, Virginia and policing in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michael previously reported on the Air Force and Space Force for Inside Defense, where he tracked major acquisitions, policy changes and modernization efforts.

Posts by Michael Marrow

Air Warfare

It’s official: The F-35 will not get a new engine anytime soon

After rancorous debate, a new engine for the stealth fighter was already in doubt, but legislation released by congressional appropriators today seemingly puts the issue to rest.

Air Warfare

Air Force conducts final test of ARRW hypersonic missile, won’t discuss ‘specific’ results

The test’s results could determine the ultimate fate of the Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon, or at least help "further a range of hypersonic programs."

Naval Warfare

Navy’s new 30-year shipbuilding plan sketches 2 paths for future manned ship fleet

Both plans would shrink the fleet to 280 ships by fiscal 2027, then grow them back from there to a high of 387 ships if one of the options is followed.

Air Warfare

Air Force RFI targets engine options for NGAS tankers

Responses will help shape analysis for the tanker program, known as the Next Generation Air refueling System.

Air Warfare

Air Force moves out on hypersonic cruise missile flight testing in FY25

Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall last year said the service was “more committed” to the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile than the service’s other fast-flying design, the Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon.

Air Warfare

Boeing’s KC-46A refueler, T-7A trainer face more delays

Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter noted potential troubles ahead for the KC-46A and said T-7A production could start "a little later" than previously anticipated, but he remained confident about the way forward for the two aircraft.

Air Warfare

Air Force halves MH-139A Grey Wolf helo buy in FY25 budget request

“It's just about the overall budget of the Air Force and what we're able to afford and what we're not able to afford,” explained Air Force acquisition chief Andrew Hunter of the decision to cut the birds.

Air Warfare

Honeywell unveils new F-35 thermal management fix as Pentagon hunts for better cooling

“Now that we understand that 80 kilowatts is a must-have, it was the mission of: how do we get there, with the lowest impact to the overall airframe?” Honeywell Aerospace’s Matt Milas told Breaking Defense in an exclusive interview.

Air Warfare

Pentagon scales back F-35, F-15EX fighter buys in FY25 budget request

Across the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps, the Pentagon will purchase 21 fewer fighter jets than originally expected for the 2025 fiscal year, dropping a planned buy of 107 to 86.

Air Warfare

Air Force wants to retire 250 aircraft as part of $188B FY25 budget request

“We're very, very fixated on being competitive with the pacing challenge [of China],” said Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. “I think the budget that we've submitted moves us forward — not quite as fast as we would like to, but it moves us forward in the right direction while maintaining current capabilities that are essential to the nation.”

Air Warfare