AUSA 2026

As developments in Ukraine highlight new issues for army aviation, editors share what they heard from leaders at AUSA 2026 and discuss how the service is looking to evolve.

The public history of Rafael’s newest and most advanced missile interceptor is short and incomplete, but the concept is starting to come into clearer focus.

The Space Force’s new ground-based satellite jammers are rolling into production, with an initial batch of 24 already deployed worldwide.

The U.S. Army is reassessing its intelligence fleet as it clarifies plans for contractor-owned surveillance jets and advances the ME-11B HADES program.

With more than 80 satellites aloft, the U.S. Space Development Agency faces an integration challenge as future users count on the forthcoming mesh network.

The Army creates a permanent Space Operations Branch, expanding its role in space integration and interdiction as satellite-reliant warfare grows.

As the defense sector sees a wave of activity, Aviation Week speaks with Alderman & Company to hear their perspective.

The U.S. Army prioritizes AH-64E Apache helicopters for transmission inspections based on mission needs following an October fleet grounding.

The U.S. Army plans to test high-altitude balloons and stratospheric payloads next year as officials look to exploit the transition between air and space domains.

The U.S. Army prepares to release an RFP for a VSTOL-capable replacement to the MQ-1C Gray Eagle that emphasizes a broader uncrewed architecture over a single airframe.

CMC Electronics talks new mission capabilities and helping operators here and now with TacView.

Airbus Helicopters CEO Matthieu Louvot says the U.S. Army's decision to adopt the Robinson R66 trainer does not signal a broader shift away from twin-engine military training helicopters.

Rafael CEO Yoav Tourgeman warns that a phaseout of U.S. military aid to Israel after 2028 could weaken defense industry ties between both countries.

The Army details its upgrade road map for the AeroVironment E-HEL laser, including a decision on a new version by fiscal 2031.

The U.S. Army announces a new autonomous warfare command and orders the creation of autonomous units as industry floods AUSA with drones and robotic systems.

Lockheed Martin and Avio announce an agreement to produce solid rocket motors for the U.S. Army's ER GMLRS and PrSM long-range munitions.

Airbus and the U.S. Army discuss four options for 215 UH-72A Lakota trainers including autonomous conversion for logistics and strike missions.

The U.S. Army recently stress-tested the use of Amazon’s nascent proliferated communications network to provide high-speed connectivity to soldiers in the field.

U.S. Army and AeroVironment officials will re-open the supply chain for components and subsystems within the Enduring-High Energy Laser (E-HEL) program to competition.

Sikorsky unveils Black Hawk Next upgrades including a modular nose, new engine and autonomy software to extend the helicopter's service life past 2050.

The Pentagon backfills $200 million for the Bell MV-75 tiltrotor program as Textron spends internal funds to keep U.S. Army development and testing on schedule.

A U.S. company has ordered a $20 million counter-drone system to protect its Middle East oil and gas facility, a Powerus executive told Aviation Week Oct. 12.

RTX-owned Raytheon unveiled a fully rocket-powered variant of the Coyote drone interceptor.

European munitions maker MBDA has agreed to sell counter-drone systems made by Washington-based Fortem Technologies and jointly offer a new interceptor.

Anduril revealed the Steelfin family of missile interceptors on Oct. 12.