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Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, Sept. 15, 2025

VOL. 187 NO. 36 September 15, 2025
Cover of Aviation Week for Sept. 15, 2025

Atropos Group intends its Tacit Spear autonomous airlifter to make its first flight by 2028, and the two-month-old startup also plans to develop more products, including commercial variants of the uncrewed airlifter.

Credit: Atropos Group

DEFENSE

Atropos Group Tacit Spear concept image
article

Startup Aims To Deliver An Autonomous Airlifter For USAF By 2028

Sep 12, 2025
Atropos Group unveils the Tacit Spear concept for an autonomous airlifter and a blueprint for delivering the large aircraft in a few years.
Air White Whale aircraft rendering
article

China Leads Uncrewed Logistics Race

Sep 12, 2025
China is rapidly advancing its uncrewed cargo aircraft capabilities—ostensibly for commercial use but with potential military applications.
A second B-21 Raider test aircraft takes off, Sept. 11, from Palmdale, Calif., to join the Air Force’s flight-test campaign at Edwards AFB, Calif.
article

Second B-21 Enters Flight Test In Palmdale

Sep 11, 2025
The B-21 Raider program completed the first flight of a second airborne test aircraft in Palmdale, California, on Sept. 11, clearing a key milestone a month before the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. Air Force contract award to Northrop Grumman.
airlifter and tanker
article

U.S. Air Force Stress-Tests Itself As It Plunges Into A Time Of Change

Sep 08, 2025
Coming out of the service’s biggest exercise in recent history, the Air Force looks to make changes, but uncertainty is bubbling up.
Boeing MQ-28 taking off
article

Australia Boasts Most Advanced CCA Design On The Market

Sep 11, 2025
A recent series of demonstration flights shows that the Boeing MQ-28 now leads an international pack of Collaborative Combat Aircraft projects.
soldier in foreground with YJ-17 and YJ-19 missiles mounted on Chinese military vehicles in background
article

Chinese Victory Day Parade Spotlights New Weapon Priorities

Sep 10, 2025
The parade in Beijing was the most significant in nearly a decade, and the breadth of equipment unveiled was striking.
Rendering of French next-generation carrier PANG on the water
article

France Envisions Larger Future Aircraft Carrier With More UAS

Sep 09, 2025
The French Navy chief of staff says the program must be launched soon in order to transition from the Charles de Gaulle carrier in 2035-38.

FIRST TAKE

artillery round
article

First Take, Sept. 15, 2025

Sep 12, 2025
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

SPACE

Vast Haven-1 commercial space station
article

Startup Vast Aims To Leapfrog Competition To Host NASA Crews After ISS

Sep 10, 2025
Aspiring space station operator Vast plans to launch its Haven-1 demo station next year.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

Steven Udvar-Hazy
article

SMBC Aviation Capital Makes Big Bet With Air Lease Corp. Acquisition

Sep 09, 2025
Steven Udvar-Házy, famous for creating aircraft leasing, has made important moves at the right time twice. In selling ALC, he may have the timing right again.

SAFETY

Boeing Cessna 208B Caravan on runway at NASA Moffett Field
article

Boeing Assesses AI Certifiability In Automated Taxiing, Runway Safety

Sep 11, 2025
Boeing is wrapping up a project with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to test certification guidance for using artificial intelligence in the cockpit.

MILITARY SPACE

SpaceX Falcon 9 launching
article

SDA Liftoff Marks New Phase in Space-Based Tactical Communications

Sep 12, 2025
With its first Tranche 1 launch complete, the Space Development Agency has begun deploying a regional mesh network to enhance data relay from low Earth orbit.

TECHNOLOGY

Alia A250 eVTOL
article

The Week In Technology, Sept. 8-12, 2025

Sep 08, 2025
GE-Beta team on turbogenerator; megawatt milestone for DLR’s Balis; fuel cell put through paces; and flying car meets other traffic.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

Pegasus Airlines jet flying over city
article

The Boeing 737 Returns To European Low-Cost Carriers

Sep 12, 2025
Boeing managed to sell its 737 MAX to three major Airbus operators, helped by pricing, availability and some strategic considerations.
Gen. Ken Wilsbach
article

Leadership Crisis Risks Paralyzing U.S. Air Force

Sep 12, 2025
Both top positions in the U.S. Air Force remain unfilled amid modernization challenges and growing threats from China and beyond.
Vintage yellow-and-black Boeing 737-100 flying
article

Opinion: Is The Commercial Aerospace Business Model Broken?

Sep 12, 2025
Airframers are struggling to develop an aircraft that is unopposed in its benefits.

DEPARTMENTS

side view of an iceberg
article

Letters From Our Readers, Sept. 15, 2025

Sep 12, 2025
Readers write about the limits of artificial intelligence, fixing Washington National Airport, and the attempt to relocate space shuttle Discovery.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, Sept. 15, 2025

Sep 12, 2025
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aviation Week Events, Sept. 15, 2025

Sep 12, 2025
A roundup of upcoming conferences and exhibitions.