U.S. Air Force (USAF)

New gearboxes and safety upgrades are rolling out following an in-depth investigation of crashes.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Autonomous flight system developer Merlin has raised $80 million in new funding through the sale of shares to an existing institution investor.

Firestorm Labs raised $82 million to scale up production and fielding of its xCell containerized manufacturing system, which enables 3D printing of drones

The U.S. Air Force will start replacing its C-37A/B executive airlift fleet with a newer variant starting in fiscal 2027.

A long-endurance uncrewed aircraft has been powered in flight via laser beam while conducting a surveillance mission during a demo on a U.S. Air Force range.

The U.S. Air Force plans to field 263 KC-46 refueling tankers to fully replace its KC-135 fleet, .

News In Brief

Several new programs have arisen to drive low-cost munitions into service more quickly and at higher volumes than ever before.

U.S. startup VerdeGo Aero has begun shipping its VH-4T turbine-based hybrid-electric powerplant to undisclosed customers to support ground and flight testing.

Reliable Robotics has raised $160 million in new funding as it pushes toward certification of its autonomous flight system.

Northrop Grumman says a previously undisclosed company-owned test aircraft has been sold to the USAF as part of a B-21 Raider production acceleration pact.

The U.S. Air Force will keep two Fairchild Republic A-10 squadrons in service until 2030 to “preserve combat power.”

Official photos reveal a distinct similarity to the Zone 5 Technologies Rusty Dagger.

The Boeing 747 donated by the government of Qatar to serve as a future Air Force One for President Trump has begun flight testing, the U.S. Air Force confirms.

The U.S. Air Force kicked off testing for the Anduril YFQ-44A prototypes assigned to the Experimental Operations Unit to help learn tactics and procedures for a new class of Collaborative Combat Aircraft now in development.

Air Force leaders say on-orbit data proves space-based moving target indication works amid new contracts and a $7 billion push to field new satellites rapidly.

The U.S. Air Force seeks a multiyear procurement framework for air- and spacecraft similar to recent munitions agreements.

The Department of the Air Force has awarded the base contract for new space-based air moving target indication systems.

The U.S. Air Force is now looking at options for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance uncrewed aircraft in the “attritable” cost category.

Air refueling testing has begun for the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, the U.S. Air Force said late April 14.

Aevex expands with 4,800 UAS orders under the Deep Strike program, fueling growth as Phoenix Ghost deliveries continue in EUCOM area.

USAF ferries MQ-9s across the Atlantic bypassing dismantling to save time, revealing stretched airlift capacity and operational urgency.

Sierra Nevada Co. begins modification and testing on 747s that will fly nuclear command and control for the next 50 years.

The U.S. Air Force is exploring the addition of one-way attack drones to its arsenal, seeking domestically sourced designs that comply with U.S. technology policies and avoid reliance on Chinese components.