U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

By Steve Trimble
The BAE Systems PHASA-35 high-altitude, solar-electric, uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) will carry an Aloft Sensing X-band synthetic aperture radar.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A pair of Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed aircraft flew a combat training mission controlled by pilots flying a single-seat F-16C and a two-seat Boeing F-15E.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
NASA’s proposed fiscal 2026 budget would cancel technology development related to nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Steve Trimble
GE Aerospace believes the fielding of the first adaptive cycle engine for fighter aircraft could be accelerated.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. will develop a stealthy uncrewed aircraft system powered by a novel hybrid-electric propulsion system.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
Portal Space Systems promises the rapid maneuverability of nuclear propulsion, but using thermal energy collected from the Sun.
Space Exploration

By Steve Trimble
A Pentagon-funded demonstration is on track next month to launch a series of experimental cargo delivery flights in North Dakota.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The second U.S. Air Force prototype of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) has moved into the ground testing phase.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Recent Chinese demonstrations of “dogfighting in space” have added extra urgency to calls for dynamic U.S. space operations capability sooner rather than later.
Operations & Safety

By Vivienne Machi
A capsule built by Varda Space Industries touched down successfully after reentering Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 25.
Commercial Space

By Robert Wall
The U.S. Space Force says it has completed a critical propulsion test of the Oracle-M space situational awareness system.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Dzyne Technologies says it has delivered multiple Grasshopper autonomous air-launched expendable cargo gliders to the U.S. Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Startup Beehive Industries is on track to start ground tests of its additively manufactured Frenzy engine next month, ahead of planned altitude tests with AFRL.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Three companies will kick off the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Ephemeral Paragon program, winning separate contracts to develop adaptive EW technologies.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Tony Osborne
UK and U.S. scientists have completed a series of trials in support of the UK’s domestic development of a hypersonic cruise missile demonstrator.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
Boeing has been awarded an $18.2 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to mature autonomous refueling.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
The demonstrator consists of two 6U cubesats designed by NRO’s advanced systems and tech directorate to support an “experimental technology research mission.”
Satellites

By Vivienne Machi
While the Space Force invests billions of dollars into modernizing its sites, providers are intrigued by an alternate model: mobile launchpads at sea.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The three-year initiative will develop an automated boom that uses relative navigation for airborne refueling missions.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Pratt & Whitney is planning further development of rotating detonation engine (RDE) technology following “positive test results” from a series of ground tests.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
AFSOC is looking to go big with a new autonomy effort, moving from solely focusing on using MQ-9 Reapers as host to its C-130 variants.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
The Pioneer spacecraft integrates with Varda’s W-Series reentry capsule, which brings back goods made in space.
Commercial Space

By Guy Norris
The award follows the completion of tests of the fully integrated VR35K-A propulsion system.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Boeing F-15s are getting anti-ship standoff weapons as the Air Force looks to use machine learning to improve tracking of targets at sea.
Missile Defense & Weapons