U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

By Steve Trimble
The time for the XQ-58 Valkyrie has almost come.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
Technology company Varda Space Industries wants the U.S. military to use its reentry capsule for Golden Dome-related reps and sets.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Mark Carreau
Intuitive Machines Inc. will acquire Lanteris Space Systems, previously known as Maxar Space Systems, from Advent International LLC.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
iRocket reports a successful flight test of the company’s 2.75-in. IRX-100 version of the Hydra 70 rocket system.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
U.S. Air Force researchers revealed plans to fire an affordable hypersonic missile in early December under the newly unveiled Angry Tortoise project.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Guy Norris
Propulsion startup Beehive Industries is preparing to ship its first additively manufactured Frenzy engine for altitude tests at the AFRL.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Colorado-based rocket engine developer Ursa Major is entering a new growth phase.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

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

By Garrett Reim
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is interested in getting a closer look at ships from satellites in very low Earth orbit (VLEO).
Satellites

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has issued two study contracts this month related to its Rocket Cargo vision to speedily transport equipment around the globe using commercial launch vehicles.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
U.S. Air Force researchers want proposals for new automation technologies that would allow boom-equipped uncrewed aircraft to refuel crewed aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
As the U.S. Marine Corps aviation branch shuffles its tactical aviation force structure, the XQ-58 suddenly looms large in force structure plans.
Aircraft & Propulsion

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