Defense

BAE Systems launched a family of passive radio frequency devices on Sept. 15 in a move that could spread sensing and targeting capabilities to thousands of munitions and drones.

The current structure for U.S. Air Force base defense is simply not enough to protect bases and aircraft. So the service announced it is taking multiple steps to address it.

South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration has launched a requirement for a vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed aircraft system.

A longevity, thrust and fuel efficiency upgrade for the Lockheed Martin F-35 has passed a risk reduction design review milestone, Pratt & Whitney says.

Aviation Week Pentagon Editor Brian Everstine outlines the key features of Sierra Nevada Corp.’s (SNC) Battery Revolving Adaptive Weapons Launcher-Reconfigurable (Brawlr) system.

A mock-up of the Anduril FQ-44 Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) is on show at AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2026.

Aviation Week editors Christine Boynton, Vivienne Machi and Steve Trimble discuss the highlights from the first day of AFA Air, Space & Cyber Conference.

Concerns over IRIS² deployment timelines have prompted European officials to institute monthly progress reviews for the secure satellite communications system.

German startup Reflex Aerospace plans to launch an RPO satellite next year to position itself for emerging European requirements for such systems.

Japanese synthetic aperture radar constellation operator Synspective plans to deploy a second constellation through a program that would pool demand and share assets among different users.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force has launched a search for a Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk after losing contact with the uncrewed aircraft over the Sea of Japan on Sept. 15.

Blended wing body (BWB) developer JetZero is starting upgrade work on the Pratt & Whitney engines that will power its “Jet 1” demonstrator aircraft.

Leonardo has signed an agreement to augment its planned space-based intelligence collection capabilities with HawkEye 360’s signals intelligence services.

As the Golden Dome’s command-and-control system takes form, senior U.S. military leaders see a key role for artificial intelligence.

The U.S. Air Force expects to power on the first new Air Force One this calendar year ahead of first flight next year.

The U.S. Air Force has set a goal to field 1,000 new autonomous aircraft by 2032 along with tens of thousands of low-cost, long-range munitions.

The U.S. has weapons in space, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced Sept. 14, without disclosing whether they are kinetic or non-kinetic.

U.S. Air Force special operators confirmed on Sept. 14 that a new low-cost cruise missile launched from a Lockheed Martin AC-130J met operational requirements during a recent test.

Northrop Grumman has dropped out of its partnership to help build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation jet trainer as it awaits a decision by the service.

Swarm Aero unveiled the Gamera UAS on the opening day of the Air, Space and Cyber conference, revealing the product of a nearly five-year, largely secret effort to offer the U.S. Air Force a replacement for the MQ-9A Reaper.

Textron and Merlin announced an autonomous Cessna SkyCourier concept to fulfill the military's requirement for airlifters capable of operating in contested airspace.

Satellogic has signed an agreement to expand the Earth-imaging work it does for the U.S. Office of Naval Research, adding six satellites for maritime surveillance.

The race to plug the gap in solid rocket motor production has been evolving, with the finish line moving farther and farther away and new questions emerging.

Lockheed Martin now plans to build five prototypes of its Skunk Works-designed Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Hypersonic test specialist Stratolaunch has begun a six-month study with NASA into the development of a next-generation, air-breathing version of its Mach 5 Talon-A test vehicle.