AFA Warfare Symposium 2026

The U.S. Space Force is sharpening plans to monitor and defend the region between Earth and the Moon as global competition extends deeper into space.

Increased on-orbit activity by the U.S. and its adversaries is prompting an insatiable appetite for new space domain awareness sensors.

The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman are investing in a B-21 capacity increase as the Sentinel program faces decision points.

Sierra Nevada Corporation and startup Specter Aerospace plan to develop and flight test a supersonic ramjet-powered cruise missile.

Listen in as editors reflect on program updates and other highlights from the AFA Warfare Symposium.

Hermeus has successfully completed the first flight of its Pratt & Whitney F100-229-powered Quarterhorse Mk. 2.1 supersonic flight demonstrator.

The Air National Guard is facing uncertainty in how it will meet some of its homeland defense requirements as the Air Force retires aging aircraft.

Separating aerospace and defense businesses from broader industrial production is becoming the only credible route to competing with focused champions.

The Air Force secretary wants to fuse data gathered from a vast array of military and intelligence sensors for battle management.

A new U.S. military satellite built to track objects in cislunar space could fly by the end of 2026.

The U.S. Space Force has launched a prototype maneuverable satellite to train for on-orbit offensive and defensive activities.

Sierra Space has named former Ursa Major leader Dan Jablonsky as its first permanent CEO in more than one year, the company announced Feb. 26.

U.S. Army units accustomed to operating with a small number of drones are grappling with the logistical demand of fielding thousands.

USSF halts Vulcan launches amid anomaly review, weighs options for GPS III satellite deployment.

Both of the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototypes are flying with mission autonomy as the service is preparing both for more intensive tests and production decisions.

The U.S. Air Force is focused on near-term tanker recapitalization—extending purchases of the Boeing KC-46 and planning minor situational awareness upgrades.

The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that four engine-makers have been awarded initial conceptual design awards for the second increment of CCA.

Lockheed Martin plans to demonstrate a number of on-orbit capabilities related to missile defense over the next three year, a company executive said Feb. 23.

The USAF needs to press forward on modernizing its airlift fleet after being too slow on progress to replace its C-17 and C-5 fleet, a top official argues.

The Department of the Air Force wants to test its ability to fuse sensor data from across the Defense Department via a series of exercises.

Ursa Major has unveiled a new hypersonic missile designed to be produced at a large scale and with the potential to be used as both a weapon and a target.

The U.S. Air Force will continue the two Boeing E-7A Wedgetail rapid prototypes.

Rolls-Royce is advancing F130 engine testing for the B-52J program, refining design and preparing production for strategic missions starting in 2027.

Heeding lessons from modern battlefields, the U.S. Army is transforming the aviation branch with autonomous technology at all levels.

The U.S. Air Force has begun a new phase in testing its Collaborative Combat Aircraft.