Emerging Technologies

GE Aerospace is conducting dust ingestion tests on a Leap-1A engine configured with high-pressure turbine blades developed from CFM's RISE technology initiative.

NASA's Psyche mission successfully completes Mars gravity assist, capturing rare high-phase-angle images while calibrating instruments for asteroid approach.

AltoVolo begins full-scale Sigma VTOL demonstrator production targeting 2026 first flight with hybrid-electric propulsion and open-rotor design.

Vast expands into satellite bus manufacturing with 15-kW spacecraft for Earth observation and AI applications.

Mach Industries expands defense tech portfolio with Exquadrum acquisition to boost propulsion capabilities.

The UK-based ATI has published a technology strategy which, if followed, would quadruple the value of the British aerospace sector by 2050, the non-profit says.

Lufthansa Technik and Airbus are collaborating to extend the planned application of Aeroshark riblet films to the A330ceo’s wing and empennage.

Grace Gratton, a junior studying space physics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, shares her groundbreaking research and advice on dedication as a 2026 20 Twenties winner.

Aviation Week editors discuss the state of X-planes, how they have historically performed and what challenge the next X-plane program should take on.

Laminar-flow business jet; hybrid-electric tiltwing; Solar Impulse 2 lost; and jet fuel from ethanol.

Zuri progresses hybrid tiltrotor demonstrator testing for regional air mobility applications.

PteroDynamics develops hybrid-electric VTOL UAS with Cobra Aero for military applications.

EDA advances automated refueling tests to include unmanned aircraft and tankers.

A major electronic warfare (EW) upgrade for the Royal Saudi Air Force fleet of Boeing F-15SA fighters has entered the early stages of the acquisition process within the U.S. Foreign Military Sales system.

Vern Raburn’s attempt to mass-produce low-cost airplanes was a flop. Was Eclipse the forerunner to today’s air mobility ventures?

Broadening the scope of potential NGAP applications beyond the F-47 may boost the chances of a final breakthrough for variable-cycle engines after four decades.

Scaled Composites built the flying-wing UAS under a DARPA project to demonstrate hybrid propulsion.

Next-generation proprotor blade and advanced tiltrotor concept show promise.

Otto Aerospace has moved into detail design of the Phantom 3500 business aircraft, advancing its plans to exploit drag-reducing laminar flow technology.

InAir prepares first drone deliveries for South Korea Army.

Australia selects PteroDynamics Transwing P4 for naval logistics, marking its first export and advancing autonomous systems for maritime operations.

L3Harris modernizes FAA telecom network, replacing outdated TDM technology with IP-based systems to support next-gen air traffic control by 2028.

Egypt’s first SAF plant secures $142.9m financing, aiming to produce 200,000 metric tons of biofuels annually with Shell as a key partner.

GE Aerospace has taken another step toward building the first XA102 adaptive-cycle engine under the Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion program.

The latest flights advance United Therapeutics’ hydrogen-electric helicopter program beyond hover testing into more complex flight operations.