U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) and Honeywell Aerospace have completed a flight test of a magnetic navigation system designed to provide aircraft with positioning information without relying on GPS. The test involved an Embraer 170 aircraft flying a round-trip route from the Seattle-area Puget Sound toward southern Alaska and back across the Pacific Ocean. According to a DIU announcement dated September 4, the aircraft operated without GPS for 4 hours and 23 minutes. The system, known as MagNav, uses quantum sensors to detect small variations in Earth's magnetic field. These variations are associated with geological structures in Earth's crust and can form location-specific magnetic patterns. The system compares measurements collected during flight with magnetic maps to determine the aircraft's position. DIU said the system improved position accuracy by 89 percent compared with traditional backup navigation methods, including radar mapping and visual references. Navigation information was provided to the pilots in real time on standard tablets, without requiring major changes to the aircraft's cockpit instruments. Honeywell confirmed that the flights were conducted during the week of June 22. Testing over the Pacific was significant because magnetic signals over ocean areas can be weaker and available magnetic maps can contain less detailed information than those covering land. The technology is intended to provide an alternative source of positioning when satellite navigation is unavailable or disrupted. Unlike satellite-based navigation, MagNav uses measurements of the Earth's natural magnetic field rather than relying on an external navigation signal.   From Quantum Research to Flight Testing The MagNav effort developed from DIU's Transition of Quantum Sensing (TQS) program, which began in 2024. DIU's program is intended to move quantum-sensing technologies from development toward operational applications, including positioning, navigation and timing. According to the information released for the MagNav effort, 72 companies responded to the commercial solutions opening, with Honeywell Aerospace selected to develop the prototype. Honeywell contributed navigation algorithms, signal-processing techniques designed to reduce magnetic interference produced by the aircraft, and high-accuracy magnetic mapping. The Pacific flight follows earlier work aimed at demonstrating quantum sensing in operationally relevant environments. DIU has described magnetic navigation as one of the field-testing areas under its broader quantum-sensing effort.   Further Military Testing Planned DIU and Honeywell plan additional tests later this year, including testing the system on a U.S. military C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft. The move to a military aircraft will provide another opportunity to evaluate the technology on a larger operational platform and under different conditions. DIU also launched Project Farseer in June 2026, with the stated aim of accelerating the transition of mature quantum-sensing and timing technologies into operational use with the Joint Force. The initiative includes technologies such as magnetometers, gravimeters and tactical clocks and is focused on dual-use commercial capabilities that can support missions in contested environments. The latest Pacific flight represents another step in DIU's effort to develop navigation technologies that can continue providing position information when GPS is unavailable or affected by interference. Further testing on military platforms is expected to continue through the remainder of the year.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 15:44:16

 U.S 

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The United States has publicly confirmed for the first time that it has deployed on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the Joint Force against hostile adversary action. Secretary of the Air Force Dr. Troy Meink made the disclosure during his opening keynote at the Air & Space Forces Association’s annual Air, Space & Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. “Today, we continue to ensure we remain ready to meet the challenges of evolving threats wherever they exist. This is why the United States now has on-orbit space control weapons capable of defending the joint force against hostile adversary action,” Meink said. Meink said the wording was intentional and “very well thought out.” However, he did not reveal the type of weapons, how many are in orbit, when they were deployed, their technical specifications, testing status or the targets they could engage. He said maintaining U.S. dominance in both air and space is important for military and economic security. Meink also pointed to space capabilities developed by China and Russia over more than a decade and said the United States must be able to operate freely in space and respond when threatened.   Space Force Explains Space Control The U.S. Space Force confirmed the operational status of the systems and explained that space control includes missions designed to contest and control the space domain. These missions can use kinetic and non-kinetic means to affect adversary capabilities and can support both offensive and defensive operations under the direction of combatant commands. Kinetic systems physically affect a target, while non-kinetic capabilities can include electronic warfare, cyber operations or directed-energy effects. The U.S. government has not confirmed which type of system is included in the newly acknowledged deployment. Officials have stated that the systems comply with international law, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty and the Law of Armed Conflict.   What the Outer Space Treaty Allows The Outer Space Treaty prohibits countries from placing nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction in Earth orbit, on celestial bodies or elsewhere in outer space. It also prohibits military bases, installations, weapons testing and military maneuvers on the Moon and other celestial bodies. The treaty does not specifically prohibit conventional weapons in Earth orbit, including conventional space-control systems. The announcement has nevertheless renewed debate over the legal and strategic implications of deploying weapons in orbit. Russia has stated that space should remain free of weapons, while China has opposed the weaponization of outer space.   Other Space Force Programs Meink also provided updates on Space Force programs connected to the Golden Dome missile-defense effort. The Space-Based Interceptor program has moved from initial contracts toward flight-ready hardware in less than one year. The Space Force is using a prize competition to examine affordability and scalability, with a potential initial capability by 2028. The first launches of satellites for the Space-Based Air-Moving Target Indication (AMTI) constellation are scheduled for September. The systems are intended to track air-moving targets and support broader missile-defense and long-range targeting requirements. SpaceX holds contracts supporting related national-security space launches. The disclosure follows years of U.S. efforts to develop capabilities for protecting space assets against growing threats. Previous U.S. officials have discussed low-debris counterspace capabilities, while Space Force leaders have increasingly described space as a warfighting domain. Meink presented the latest developments as part of a broader effort to modernize the Air Force and Space Force and increase combat power more quickly and affordably in response to changing threats, including artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. The announcement ends a period of deliberate public ambiguity over whether the United States had operational weapons deployed in orbit, although the exact capabilities and number of the systems remain undisclosed.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 15:02:39

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy has awarded Boeing a $562 million fixed-price incentive contract to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the MQ-25A Stingray, the service’s first carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling aircraft. The contract covers three Lot 1 aircraft and advance procurement funding for long-lead components for three additional Lot 2 aircraft. Initial Lot 1 deliveries are expected to begin in 2029. “Awarding this first LRIP contract marks a pivotal transition from development to operational reality and is a testament to the focused effort of our joint government and industry teams,” said Capt. Daniel Fucito, program manager for Unmanned Carrier Aviation at PMA-268. He said the MQ-25A will provide the reach, lethality and survivability needed for future operations.   From Development to Production The production award follows the Navy’s Milestone C decision in May 2026, approved by Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, which cleared the MQ-25A to enter production and deployment. The decision followed the first flight of a production-representative MQ-25A on April 25, 2026, at Boeing’s facility in Mascoutah, Illinois. The MQ-25A program began with Boeing’s initial development contract in August 2018. The Lot 1 award brings the total number of MQ-25A aircraft under contract with Boeing to 14, including development, test and initial production aircraft. Lot 2 is planned for award in 2027, with Lot 1 production also supporting validation of the design, manufacturing processes and supply-chain readiness. The Navy’s program of record calls for 76 aircraft, including 67 production aircraft and nine test platforms. The test fleet consists of four Engineering Development and Manufacturing (EDM) aircraft and five System Demonstration Test Articles (SDTA). Seven test aircraft are currently in production. Boeing is conducting MQ-25A production at its St. Louis operations and a dedicated 300,000-square-foot facility at MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois.   Unmanned Tanker for Carrier Air Wings The MQ-25A’s primary mission is aerial refueling. The role is currently performed in part by manned F/A-18E/F Super Hornets using external fuel tanks and refueling pods in the “buddy-tanking” configuration. The Navy says Super Hornets assigned to tanker duties use 20 to 30 percent of their flight hours, increasing airframe wear and reducing the number of aircraft available for training and strike missions. The MQ-25A uses the Cobham Aerial Refueling Store, the same probe-and-drogue refueling system used by Super Hornets. It is designed to refuel F/A-18s, F-35C Lightning IIs and E-2D Advanced Hawkeyes. The Stingray is designed to deliver at least 14,000 pounds of fuel at 500 nautical miles and can also conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The aircraft has a 75-foot wingspan when unfolded and 31.3 feet when folded for carrier deck stowage. It is powered by a Rolls-Royce AE 3007N turbofan.   Preparing Carriers for Unmanned Aircraft The MQ-25A is intended to routinely launch, recover and operate from aircraft carriers alongside manned aircraft. To support unmanned aviation, the Navy has been installing Unmanned Air Warfare Centers (UAWCs) aboard its Nimitz-class carriers. These facilities house the MD-5 Ground Control Station, used to control MQ-25A missions. The USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) received the first test installation in 2024, while the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) became the first carrier equipped with an operational, deployable UAWC earlier in 2026. The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) is among the carriers scheduled to receive the same upgrade. The Navy views the MQ-25A as a template for integrating unmanned aircraft into carrier aviation. The control networks, deck-handling procedures and communications infrastructure developed for the Stingray are intended to support future unmanned systems, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). The new contract marks the MQ-25A’s transition from development and testing into initial production, with the Navy targeting 2029 for the first Lot 1 deliveries.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 14:35:40

 U.S 

SAN DIEGO  — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has unveiled Wildfire, a new medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) uncrewed aircraft designed for lower-cost, high-volume surveillance and strike missions. Wildfire is a clean-sheet design intended to offer greater payload capacity and longer range than the MQ-9A Reaper, while being cheaper to produce and suitable for operations where combat losses are possible. GA-ASI has focused the aircraft on core intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), strike and related missions rather than matching the wider capabilities of the MQ-9B. “This is exactly the right design for high-demand missions and cost-conscious customers,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. The aircraft has a modular payload architecture with strengthened wing hardpoints. GA-ASI says it can carry two AGM-158C Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASMs) or four Joint Strike Missiles (JSMs), as well as other combinations of munitions, launched effects, sensors and mission equipment. It is designed for a ferry range exceeding 8,000 nautical miles, a combat radius of at least 2,300 nautical miles with payload, and a payload of more than 2,800 pounds. Wildfire can also accommodate multispectral targeting sensors, radar and electronic warfare equipment. Its reinforced design and payload capacity provide potential support for logistics missions such as heavy cargo delivery.   Autonomous and Collaborative Operations Wildfire uses mission-autonomy technology based on the approach developed for GA-ASI’s FQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft, which is now in production for the U.S. Air Force. Human operators will use U.S. government-provided autonomy software rather than a conventional ground control station. The system is designed to allow one operator to supervise multiple aircraft, while onboard autonomy manages functions such as flight paths, formation operations and sensor allocation. GA-ASI also says proliferated low-Earth-orbit satellite communications can support operations when conventional communications are disrupted.   Proposed for Massed Modular Aircraft Program GA-ASI is proposing Wildfire for the U.S. Air Force’s Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) effort, overseen by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU). The program seeks an affordable and adaptable alternative to existing Reaper inventories. The MMA requirements include at least 2,800 pounds of payload, a 2,300-nautical-mile combat radius with payload and an 8,000-nautical-mile ferry range. The target air-vehicle cost is around $10 million before sensors and mission equipment. GA-ASI says Wildfire meets or exceeds these requirements and could be delivered years ahead of the program’s projected fiscal year 2031 schedule. The company also says it could produce more than twice the number of aircraft specified in preliminary production requirements by using its existing manufacturing infrastructure, which includes more than 5 million square feet, along with its established supplier network. The aircraft builds on GA-ASI’s more than three decades of uncrewed aviation experience. The company says it has delivered more than 1,600 Predator, Reaper, SkyGuardian, Avenger and FQ-42A aircraft, which have accumulated nearly 10 million flight hours, mostly in combat. Wildfire is currently GA-ASI’s proposal for the MMA effort and has not been selected as the program’s final aircraft.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 14:09:43

 U.S 

WASHINGTON —  A Pentagon inspector general report has found that four months of intense U.S. combat operations against Iran created strategic ammunition shortfalls and exposed bottlenecks across the U.S. defense industrial base. The first mandatory quarterly report to Congress on Operation Epic Fury, covering February 28 through June 30, 2026, estimates the Department of Defense spent $33.4 billion on the operation. Of that amount, $22.3 billion went to expended munitions, $7.4 billion to operating costs and $3.7 billion to equipment losses. The figure does not include infrastructure repair costs.   Munitions Shortfalls and Production Bottlenecks The report states that “the munitions expenditure on OEF has resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply.” Officials from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment told investigators that heavy weapons use created gaps in strategic stockpiles and exposed limits in the supply chain and defense industry's ability to replenish weapons quickly. The Pentagon is working to shorten procurement and production timelines and increase stocks of critical materials, components and selected munitions. However, the report identifies continuing bottlenecks involving solid rocket motors, high-grade explosives and propellants, and skilled manufacturing labor.   Aircraft Losses and Air-Defense Demand The report records several U.S. aircraft losses and damage during the period. These include four F-15s destroyed, one F-35 damaged, seven KC-135 tankers damaged and up to 30 MQ-9 Reaper drones destroyed. Other accounts of the operation reported an A-10 destroyed, an E-3 Sentry damaged on the ground in Saudi Arabia, an AH-64 Apache downed near the Strait of Hormuz, and four AH-6 helicopters destroyed by U.S. forces to prevent their capture. U.S. air-defense systems also faced heavy demand, intercepting more than 6,000 one-way attack drones and 1,500 ballistic missiles targeting U.S. forces, regional allies and commercial shipping lanes.   Patriot Production Under Pressure The campaign highlighted the difficulty of rapidly replacing air-defense missiles. Lockheed Martin's Camden, Arkansas, facility produces about 750 Patriot missiles per year, while approximately 1,500 Patriots were reportedly launched during the conflict. Each Patriot interceptor costs around $4 million. Lockheed Martin is working to increase annual production from about 750 to 2,000 missiles. Missile division head Tim Cahill described the effort as “controlled chaos.”   Debate Over U.S. Weapons Stocks The inspector general's findings contrast with statements from President Donald Trump, who has said the United States has “virtually unlimited amounts of Mid to High Grade Ammunition” and is producing munitions at levels never seen before. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has also urged the defense industry to increase production. Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said the United States has enough weapons for a war with Iran but warned that sustaining a longer conflict with China would present a much greater challenge. He said the United States might have enough munitions for a month but could face difficulty sustaining operations into the second, third and fourth months.   Damage and Additional Costs The conflict also created costs outside direct military operations. The State Department spent $79.2 million on conflict-related contingencies, including evacuation operations. Iranian strikes caused approximately $184 million in damage to U.S. diplomatic facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Iranian missile and drone attacks also damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. military installations in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Oman and Jordan. The inspector general did not provide a total repair estimate and said it remains unclear which facilities will be rebuilt or who will pay for the work. Earlier estimates of Operation Epic Fury's cost were lower. A Pentagon official told Congress in April that the operation had cost about $25 billion, while U.S. officials familiar with internal assessments put the figure closer to $50 billion at that time. Later estimates increased as the conflict continued. The inspector general's report, based on information from the Defense Department, State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development inspectors general, provides the first quarterly assessment of the operation and highlights the challenge of replenishing U.S. weapons inventories after sustained combat operations.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 12:55:13

 U.S 

CINCINNATI, — GE Aerospace is preparing to assemble the first physical test asset of its XA102 adaptive cycle engine under the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program. The engine is intended for future combat aircraft.   XA102 Moves Toward Physical Testing GE Aerospace is working with suppliers to procure hardware and is testing subcomponents ahead of assembly. The work marks a transition from digital design and development toward physical engine hardware and testing. “Our team is working with suppliers to procure hardware and test subcomponents as we prepare for assembly of the first XA102 test asset,” said Jorge Perez, general manager of Edison Works Advanced Combat Engines at GE Aerospace. Perez said the company is using lessons from the XA100 program as a foundation for advancing adaptive cycle engine technology and supporting the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation propulsion goals.   Building on the XA100 The XA102 uses a three-stream adaptive cycle architecture designed to address the propulsion, fuel-efficiency and thermal-management requirements of future combat aircraft. GE Aerospace is applying experience from the earlier XA100, which was developed under the Air Force’s Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP). The XA100 completed multiple test campaigns that advanced three-stream adaptive technology. The company is also applying lessons from the XA100 in adaptive propulsion, thermal management, fuel efficiency and advanced engine design.   Model-Based Manufacturing The XA102 was designed from the beginning using model-based engineering practices. GE Aerospace is now extending these methods into manufacturing, inspection and assembly. The company says the XA102 will be its first engine built using Model-Based Definition (MBD) throughout the process, replacing traditional two-dimensional drawings with a machine-readable digital product definition. The digital framework links design, manufacturing and inspection through integrated models. GE Aerospace expects the approach to improve accuracy and shorten the transition from engineering to manufacturing. Suppliers are also being prepared to use the model-based data in their manufacturing and inspection operations. GE Aerospace completed demonstrations of its model-based engineering practices during the first phase of the program.   Key Program Milestones The XA102 completed its Detailed Design Review in February 2025, followed by an Assembly Readiness Review in May 2026. The reviews confirmed progress in the engine design, manufacturing processes and supply chain. As of early September 2026, around a quarter of the hardware components were reported to be on order as assembly preparations continued.   NGAP Competition The XA102 is being developed under the NGAP program alongside Pratt & Whitney’s XA103. NGAP supports propulsion options for next-generation aircraft, including the F-47 as part of the Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems. The XA102’s three-stream adaptive design allows airflow to be managed for different requirements, including fuel efficiency, cooling and thrust. GE Aerospace has not officially disclosed the engine’s thrust class. Some reports have placed it in the 35,000-pound-thrust range with afterburner, but that figure remains unconfirmed by the company. With hardware procurement and subcomponent testing underway, GE Aerospace is now preparing to assemble and test the first XA102 physical test asset as the NGAP propulsion program progresses.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 12:45:58

 U.S 

TORRANCE, Calif. — The U.S. Navy has awarded defense startup Castelion a production delivery order valued at up to $200 million for an initial production lot of Blackbeard hypersonic strike weapons. The order covers the manufacturing, assembly, testing and delivery of the weapons to the fleet.   Production Order Follows Earlier EOC Purchase The award was issued by Portfolio Acquisition Executive Aviation (PAE(A)) through its Future Capability Development and Integration Aviation Rapid Capabilities Cell. It follows the Navy’s June 2026 purchase of 50 Blackbeard Early Operational Capability (EOC) weapons under a separate $23.4 million firm-fixed-price order, which also included 50 storage and shipping containers. The latest order moves Blackbeard from prototype and EOC activities into an initial production lot for fleet delivery.   Blackbeard Hypersonic Weapon Blackbeard is an air-launched hypersonic strike weapon designed to provide naval aviation with a high-speed, long-range option against maritime and land targets. Castelion said the system is intended to increase magazine depth and extend the strike reach of naval aviation, including aircraft such as the F/A-18 Super Hornet. The program has been developed with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, supported by hundreds of millions of dollars in private investment.   Earlier Navy Contracts The latest production order follows several earlier Blackbeard contracts: February 2026: Nearly $50 million to advance Blackbeard toward Early Operational Capability. April 2026: About $105 million for F/A-18 integration and related testing. June 2026: $23.4 million for 50 EOC weapons and 50 storage and shipping containers. August 2026: Nearly $90 million for engineering, technical, logistics and manufacturing services supporting the 50 EOC weapons and the system’s transition toward a formal Navy program.   Production Facilities Castelion plans to carry out production work at Project Ranger, its 1,000-acre manufacturing campus in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and at its facility in Torrance, California. The company has invested more than $220 million of its own capital in Project Ranger. The site supports solid rocket motor manufacturing, testing and final assembly. Castelion is using vertical integration and commercial manufacturing methods for Blackbeard production, giving the company greater control over costs, quality and production schedules from raw materials through finished weapons.   Castelion CEO on Production Bryon Hargis, co-founder and chief executive officer of Castelion, said the Navy’s decision to move into production reflects confidence in the Blackbeard program and the progress made so far. He also said the weapon was designed from the beginning for serial manufacturing and that Castelion looks forward to delivering the capability to the fleet. The latest order represents the next production phase for Blackbeard as the Navy moves toward fielding the air-launched hypersonic strike weapon.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-15 12:35:25

 U.S 

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. / OXNARD, Calif. — Swarm Aero has unveiled Gamera, a new Group 5 uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed for long-range strike, sensing and other missions. The California-based company introduced the aircraft at the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference 2026. Gamera is a clean-sheet aircraft designed around mass production, high-rate manufacturing and a lower cost structure than traditional high-value military aircraft. Swarm Aero said the platform is intended to provide long-range effects while allowing larger numbers of aircraft to be produced and operated. The aircraft has an approximate 72-foot wingspan and an unrefueled range exceeding 9,000 nautical miles. Its payload capacity is more than 2,800 pounds, distributed across seven available store locations.   Meet Gamera, a new category of Group 5 strike and sensing UAS that we unveiled at @AFA_Air_Space's Air, Space & Cyber Conference today.Mass-producible, significantly lower cost than legacy platforms, and the first UAS specifically designed to employ bomber-class strike… pic.twitter.com/UhT9bgcTPn — Swarm Aero (@SwarmAero) September 14, 2026 Designed for Heavy Long-Range Weapons A key feature of Gamera is its ability to carry heavyweight, long-range weapons. Swarm Aero describes it as the first UAS specifically designed to deploy bomber-class strike weapons, including the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) and JASSM-ER. The aircraft can also carry newer classes of low-cost cruise and hypersonic missiles. Its modular design allows different payloads to be carried depending on the mission, including air-to-air, air-to-surface and advanced sensing payloads. Swarm Aero said Gamera can perform surveillance and strike missions currently associated with the MQ-9 Reaper, while carrying weapons and payloads that the MQ-9 cannot accommodate. The company also says its approach can provide standoff strike effects at approximately one-tenth the cost-per-effect of legacy approaches.   Twin-Boom Aircraft Design Gamera uses a twin-boom configuration rather than a conventional single central fuselage arrangement. The aircraft is powered by a tractor-configured Honeywell TPE331 turboprop engine, with the propeller positioned ahead of the wing. A full-scale Gamera model displayed at the conference included a representation of an LRASM-class munition, highlighting the aircraft's intended heavy-payload role. The combination of long range, payload capacity and modularity is central to Swarm Aero's approach to the aircraft.   Development Began in 2022 Swarm Aero began developing Gamera in 2022, using what the company describes as a first-principles approach to aircraft design, manufacturing and future combat requirements. The company has invested tens of millions of dollars in aircraft design, manufacturing methods and prototyping. It has also secured government contracts valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Among those contracts is more than $10 million from the Air Force Research Laboratory for work focused on materials and manufacturing processes intended to support high-rate, lower-cost production of large composite airframes. Swarm Aero has raised $59 million in funding and established an 80,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The company is targeting 2027 for Gamera's first flight.   Designed for the Massed Modular Aircraft Program Gamera is being positioned for the U.S. Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit's Massed Modular Aircraft (MMA) program. The MMA effort is focused on aircraft that can be produced at high rates while maintaining modularity and controlling ownership costs. The program's requirements include at least 2,800 pounds of payload, an unrefueled combat radius of about 2,300 nautical miles, and a one-way self-deployment range of at least 8,000 nautical miles. The requirements also call for a modular open systems architecture and the ability for one operator to control multiple aircraft. The concept is intended to complement higher-value aircraft with more affordable platforms that can operate in contested environments and accept greater levels of attrition than traditional expensive aircraft.   Legion Command-and-Control System Gamera will operate with Swarm Aero's Legion command-and-control and autonomy software. Legion is designed to allow a single operator or a small team to control multiple heterogeneous uncrewed systems at the same time. The system has been tested in operational environments, including the U.S. Navy's Fleet Experimentation (FLEX) 2026, where one operator managed multiple air and maritime assets through find, fix, track, target, engage and assess sequences. Legion was previously selected by the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) as one of three software providers for its Autonomous Collaborative Teaming program, which is linked to the Department of Defense's Replicator efforts.   Swarm Operations Swarm Aero intends for multiple Gamera aircraft to operate together or alongside existing military forces. The aircraft is designed for missions including surface strike, sensing, electronic warfare and communications relay. The company's approach is based on combining long-range operations, a large payload capacity and lower production costs in a platform designed for high-rate manufacturing. Swarm Aero co-founder and Chief Revenue Officer Oliver Palmer, a former Pentagon official focused on China and Taiwan strategy, said the company had changed conventional approaches to aircraft design, manufacturing and combat operations to develop an affordable, mass-producible strike platform. Swarm CEO and co-founder Peter Kalogiannis highlighted the team's experience in long-endurance aircraft design and the production of military aircraft at volume. With its development work, government contracts and manufacturing investment, Swarm Aero is now preparing Gamera for flight testing and potential production at scale.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-14 17:10:54

 U.S 

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The U.S. Air Force has officially named its first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) as the FQ-42 Vengeance and FQ-44 Fury, marking a new stage in the service’s effort to field semi-autonomous uncrewed aircraft alongside crewed fighters. Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink announced the names on September 14 during the Air & Space Forces Association’s Air, Space & Cyber Conference. He also outlined plans to have 500 CCAs operational by 2032, with a longer-term objective of approximately 1,000 aircraft. The aircraft are intended to operate alongside crewed platforms, including the F-35 and the future F-47, providing additional sensors, weapons and electronic warfare capabilities without requiring another pilot in the air.   Production and Fleet Expansion The Air Force awarded production contracts to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Anduril Industries in June 2026 for Increment 1 CCAs. The companies are now manufacturing the aircraft, with the first production examples already beginning to come off their respective production lines. The contracts are intended to support the delivery of more than 150 combat-capable aircraft by the end of the decade. The service has also requested nearly $1 billion in fiscal year 2027 funding to begin Increment 1 procurement and support the production effort. The CCA program is being developed around a human-machine teaming concept. The aircraft are semi-autonomous, allowing onboard systems to perform functions while human operators remain responsible for higher-level mission decisions.   FQ-42 Vengeance and FQ-44 Fury The two aircraft previously carried the prototype designations YFQ-42A and YFQ-44A. The FQ-42 Vengeance, developed by General Atomics, comes from the company’s earlier CCA development work, including the XQ-67A program. The FQ-44 Fury, developed by Anduril, is based on the Fury design that originated with Blue Force Technologies, which Anduril acquired in 2023. The Air Force's official announcement confirmed the two names as part of the service’s CCA program.   Testing at Creech Air Force Base The naming announcement follows operational testing conducted at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, in July 2026. During the exercise, the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft Experimental Operations Unit operated both aircraft in a realistic operational environment and integrated them with crewed aircraft. The testing focused on developing tactics, techniques and procedures for using CCAs in more austere operating locations. Air Force personnel also tested the ground-support requirements for the aircraft. A YFQ-44A Fury was refueled and prepared for additional operations, while crews loaded inert AIM-120 air-to-air missiles during the exercise. The Air Force said the activity helped evaluate the reduced logistical requirements needed to operate CCAs from remote and forward locations. Members of the Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force also observed the exercise. The United States and the Netherlands are working on platform-agnostic, open-architecture, semi-autonomous capabilities intended to support data sharing and interoperability during combined operations. The Air Force is continuing flight testing, operational experimentation and autonomy development as it prepares to move the FQ-42 and FQ-44 from testing toward operational service. The planned expansion to 500 aircraft by 2032 and approximately 1,000 in the longer term represents a major increase in the number of uncrewed aircraft the service intends to operate alongside its crewed fighter fleet.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-14 16:57:07

 U.S 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works is expanding its Vectis Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program by building four additional airframes, bringing the total planned number to five. The company announced the expansion during the Air, Space & Cyber Conference near Washington, D.C., where a full-scale Vectis model was displayed publicly for the first time.   First Flight Remains Targeted for 2027 Ron Fehlen, vice president and general manager of Skunk Works, said development of the four additional aircraft is already underway. The first Vectis prototype remains on track for its initial flight by the end of 2027. The additional airframes will support expanded testing and production-process validation. Experience gained from the first aircraft is expected to help later airframes be built and flown more quickly.   Vectis Aircraft Design Vectis is a tailless, subsonic, multirole unmanned aircraft designed for the Collaborative Combat Aircraft role. It is intended to operate independently or alongside crewed fighters such as the F-35. The aircraft is approximately: Length: 10.4 metres (34 feet) Wingspan: 11.6 metres (38 feet) Category: U.S. Group 5 unmanned aircraft Group 5 covers unmanned systems weighing more than 599 kilograms (1,320 pounds) and operating above 5,486 metres (18,000 feet). Vectis features a top-mounted submerged engine inlet, designed to reduce drag and lower the risk of debris entering the engine during operations from austere locations. The aircraft has an internal weapons bay and an open systems architecture designed to support multiple missions, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and electronic warfare.   Engine and Development Weapons, production-engine details and unit cost have not been disclosed. The prototype will initially use a Williams International FJ44-4 turbofan producing more than 3,600 pounds of thrust. Lockheed Martin is examining higher-thrust options for later versions. The company has said Vectis is being designed to meet a competitive CCA price point. Lockheed Martin said the program progressed from the first design sketch to a wind-tunnel test in less than two months. The first digital build was completed in six months, while the first physical part was released in eight months. The company said the rapid development has been supported by digital design and manufacturing methods developed through internal investment.   U.S. CCA Competition The U.S. Air Force selected General Atomics’ YFQ-42A and Anduril’s YFQ-44A for its first CCA increment. The service has outlined a longer-term goal of acquiring around 1,000 CCAs, with a target cost of about $20 million per aircraft before sensors and mission systems. Lockheed Martin is also discussing Vectis with potential U.S. Navy customers and international partners. The concept has previously been displayed at events including the Farnborough International Airshow. The company has not specified exact roles for the four additional Vectis airframes beyond expanded testing and production validation.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-14 13:39:13

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force’s first 16 F-15EX Eagle II fighters recorded an average materiel availability rate of 72.4% in fiscal 2026, according to a U.S. Department of War acquisition report. The figure, measured on February 24, 2026, covers aircraft EX1 through EX16. The rate is 12.4 percentage points above the program’s 60% minimum sustainment threshold, but remains below the Air Force’s 80% objective. The report describes the result as slightly below the objective and notes no formal performance deviation.   Availability and Fleet Expansion The 60% threshold and 80% objective come from the Air Force’s Rapid Fielding Requirements Document, which Air Combat Command validated in August 2020. The targets have remained unchanged under the current acquisition baseline. As of April 14, 2026, 18 F-15EX aircraft had been delivered. The revised acquisition plan covers 268 aircraft in total, as the Air Force prepares to expand the fleet.   Testing and Operational Status The F-15EX completed its main operational test phase in November 2023. Initial operational and live-fire evaluations found the aircraft effective in defensive and offensive counter-air missions against surrogate fifth-generation adversary aircraft. Testing also confirmed a basic air-to-ground capability. The Air Force approved full-rate production in June 2024 and declared initial operational capability in July 2024.   Production and Supply Risks The acquisition report treats production delays and material shortages as separate schedule and industrial risks rather than performance shortfalls. It states that the F-15EX continues to meet all approved technical performance and cost thresholds. A 15-week strike at Boeing’s St. Louis production facility from August to November 2025 caused delivery delays. The disruption, along with parts and material supply risks, pushed the projected full operational capability date to early 2028. The Air Force continues efforts to increase production rates. Under the fiscal 2027 budget request, recent program updates put the planned fleet at approximately 267–268 aircraft.   Operating and Support Costs The report estimates annual operating and support costs at $13.1 million per fighter in constant fiscal 2020 dollars. The estimated annual cost includes: Maintenance: $7.2 million Unit operations: $3 million Unit-level manpower: $1.9 million Sustaining support and continuing system improvements: Remaining costs   Software and Aircraft Configuration F-15EX software is provided through the separate F-15 Continuous Development and Integration program, which also supports the F-15C, F-15D and F-15E. The report identifies no significant software-related problems for the F-15EX. The two-seat F-15EX Eagle II is based on the F-15QA configuration built for Qatar and includes Air Force-specific electronic warfare systems and mission software. It is initially intended to replace aging F-15C and F-15D aircraft in defensive and offensive counter-air missions. The 72.4% availability rate provides an early measure of F-15EX sustainment performance as the Air Force continues deliveries and prepares to expand the fleet.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-14 13:29:44

 U.S 

WASHINGTON / ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has awarded BlueHalo LLC an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $99,832,117 for the Leveraged Orbital Battlespace Optimization (LOBO) research and development program. The five-year contract is intended to support research aimed at advancing scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technology for space systems. The contract is expected to run through August 29, 2031. Work will be carried out in Huntsville, Alabama, and at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. AFRL’s Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland is the contracting activity. At the time of the award, the Air Force obligated $1,696,597 in fiscal 2026 research, development, test and evaluation funds. The funding supports two initial task orders with a combined ceiling of $20,178,910. Additional work can be placed through future task orders under the contract. The award followed a competitive solicitation that received one offer.   LOBO Program Details Remain Classified The public contract announcement provides limited information about the specific technologies or systems that will be developed under LOBO. The notice describes the effort broadly as research to advance scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art technology supporting space systems. The Air Force Research Laboratory and BlueHalo have not publicly released the technical details of the first two task orders, including the specific hardware, software or orbital platforms involved. BlueHalo has previously worked with AFRL in areas including autonomous space-based sensing, space situational awareness, battle-management command and control, and defensive counterspace technologies. The company has also developed space-based optical communications capabilities. In 2025, BlueHalo demonstrated a two-terminal optical communications system designed to simulate long-distance communications involving low-Earth, medium-Earth and geostationary orbits, advancing the system to Technology Readiness Level 6.   BlueHalo Now Part of AeroVironment The LOBO award comes after BlueHalo became part of AeroVironment Inc. (NASDAQ: AVAV). AeroVironment completed its acquisition of BlueHalo in May 2025 through an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $4.1 billion. BlueHalo is based in Huntsville, Alabama, and Arlington, Virginia, while the LOBO work will be performed at its Huntsville operation and Kirtland Air Force Base. The new contract provides AFRL with a multi-year contracting vehicle for research related to the optimization of the orbital battlespace. While the contract has a maximum value of nearly $100 million, the amount ultimately spent will depend on future task orders issued during the contract period.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-13 15:40:16

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of State has approved a possible $140 million Foreign Military Sale to Argentina covering four refurbished UH-60L Black Hawk utility helicopters and associated equipment. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the proposed sale on September 10 under Transmittal No. 26-79. If finalized, the deal would give the Argentine Army its first Black Hawk helicopters and support the replacement of its aging Bell UH-1H Huey fleet.   Equipment and Support Argentina has requested four UH-60Ls and two General Electric T700-GE-701D engines. The package includes attitude heading reference systems, APX-100 and APX-123 Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, navigation and instrument landing system receivers, automatic direction finder receivers, AN/ARC-220 high-frequency radios and ARC-186 very-high-frequency radios. It also includes Garmin GTN-750 GPS systems, Cobham C-5000 multiband radios, EBC 406HM emergency locator transmitters, internal auxiliary fuel tanks, fast-rope insertion and extraction systems, rescue hoists, cargo hooks and Bambi buckets. Maintenance and aircrew training devices and software, helmets, transportation, organizational equipment, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools, test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training, and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support are also included. Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company based in Stratford, Connecticut, is the principal contractor. The U.S. government said no offset agreement is currently known and that the sale would not require additional U.S. government or contractor personnel in Argentina. It would also have no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness. The State Department said the proposed sale would strengthen Argentina's ability to conduct border security, counter-transnational crime, and humanitarian assistance and disaster-response missions. It also said the sale would not change the basic military balance in the region.   Replacement for Argentina's Hueys Around 50 UH-1Hs remain in the Argentine Army inventory. The service first launched a tender in December 2024 for three used UH-60s, but canceled it in January 2025 because of budget constraints. In June 2026, Argentine Army Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Oscar Santiago Zarich indicated that the service would acquire an initial four Black Hawks still in U.S. service, with plans to expand the fleet over time. Argentina already has experience with the Black Hawk. A single VIP-configured aircraft has operated in the presidential fleet since 1994 and was transferred to the Argentine Air Force in 2024. The Army itself has not previously operated the type.   Part of Wider Military Modernization The UH-60L is an earlier model than the UH-60M currently produced for the U.S. Army and many foreign customers. Sikorsky offers modernization programs for older UH-60Ls, including digital cockpit and avionics upgrades, providing a possible future upgrade path for Argentina. The helicopter acquisition is part of Argentina's wider military modernization program, which also includes 24 surplus F-16s from Denmark and four P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft from Norway. The $140 million figure is the estimated value of the potential sale, not a finalized contract price. The final cost could be lower depending on the equipment and services ultimately purchased. No delivery schedule has been set, and Argentina and the U.S. still need to complete negotiations and finalize the Letter of Offer and Acceptance. U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Peter Lamelas said the helicopters would be refurbished and delivered in stages.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-13 14:22:35

 U.S 

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. — Northrop Grumman and quantum technology company SandboxAQ have completed flight trials of the Lumberjack Group 3 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) using SandboxAQ’s AQNav magnetic navigation system instead of GPS. The companies announced the results on September 9, 2026, following demonstrations at Fort Hunter Liggett in California. The tests showed the jet-powered drone could maintain stable flight trajectories using magnetic navigation in GPS-denied and satellite-denied conditions.   Rapid AQNav Integration SandboxAQ integrated AQNav into the Lumberjack approximately one month before the flight trials. The system used a commercially sourced, high-sensitivity quantum magnetometer and low-power, off-the-shelf onboard computing hardware. Engineers installed the hardware and software in less than an hour and used a software-based integration approach that avoided a major structural redesign of the aircraft.   How AQNav Works AQNav uses quantum sensors to detect small variations in Earth’s magnetic field caused by differences in geological materials beneath the aircraft. The system: Measures local magnetic variations using quantum magnetometers. Filters magnetic interference produced by the aircraft’s engine, electronics and structure. Compares the resulting magnetic signatures with reference maps of Earth’s magnetic field. Calculates the aircraft’s position without relying on satellite navigation signals. The passive system can operate in all weather and over open water or other environments where GPS may be unavailable or disrupted. The Lumberjack trials also included flight legs over open coastal water, providing an environment with limited visual navigation references.   Lumberjack Platform Lumberjack is an attritable, one-way attack (OWA) drone in the Pentagon’s Group 3 UAS category. The airframe was developed with Empirical Systems Aerospace (ESAero), which was later acquired by AeroVironment. Northrop Grumman provides the mission computing, autonomy and payload integration. Specification Details Gross loaded weight About 290 lb (131 kg) Empty weight About 79 lb (36 kg) Payload capacity 250 lb (113 kg) class Range/endurance Several hundred miles or about 2 hours of loiter Mission cost target $75,000–$100,000 Primary weapon 6-lb (2.7 kg) Hatchet miniature glide bomb Other payloads EW, visual navigation, tactical data links and ISR The aircraft supports air, ground or surface launch. Although Lumberjack is designed for one-way missions, the test aircraft was launched, flown and recovered multiple times during the trials. This allows the platform to also be used for training and experimentation.   Previous Lumberjack and AQNav Testing Lumberjack completed its maiden flight in 2024, less than 14 months after preliminary design work began. In March 2026, it participated in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division’s Operation Lethal Eagle, conducting simulated strikes with miniature precision weapons while connected to the military’s Maven Smart System and Palantir targeting workflows. Before the Lumberjack demonstration, SandboxAQ said AQNav had accumulated more than 450 flight hours across four aircraft types, including testing conducted with the U.S. Air Force and Defense Innovation Unit. SandboxAQ described the Lumberjack flight as the first reported test of a magnetic navigation system on an attritable platform and the first reported pairing of magnetic navigation with visual navigation on an attritable one-way attack drone.   No Production Contract Announced Northrop Grumman and SandboxAQ have not announced a production customer, contract or wider procurement timeline for the integrated system. The demonstration instead focused on showing how magnetic navigation can be integrated with an existing unmanned aircraft and provide an additional navigation capability when satellite-based positioning is unavailable or disrupted.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-12 14:41:54

 U.S 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Army has awarded Rolls-Royce Solutions America Inc. a $39.1 million contract modification to manufacture additional power packs for Israel’s Eitan 8x8 armored personnel carrier (APC). The modification, designated P00011 to contract W56HZV-23-C-0054, is the 11th change to the original contract and increases its total value to approximately $158.9 million. Work will be carried out at Rolls-Royce’s facility in Graniteville, South Carolina, and is scheduled to continue through September 11, 2027. Army Contracting Command at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, is the contracting activity. The modification is funded entirely through fiscal year 2010 non-expiring Foreign Military Sales (FMS) funds allocated for Israel. Such funds can remain available for eligible defense purchases beyond the fiscal year in which they were appropriated. The order is part of a broader $180 million FMS case approved by the U.S. State Department in April 2025. The package covers additional Eitan 8V199TE21-D powerpack engines and components, U.S. government and contractor technical assistance, non-recurring engineering, logistics and program support. It expanded an earlier $85.5 million procurement case.   MTU 8V199TE21-D Powerpack The Eitan uses the MTU 8V199TE21-D, an eight-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine producing approximately 750 horsepower. The engine is supplied as part of an integrated powerpack with an Allison 4800 Specialty Series automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce Solutions America, headquartered in Novi, Michigan, is the principal contractor for the effort and operates within Rolls-Royce Power Systems. The MTU engine business is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems and is separate from Rolls-Royce’s civil aerospace operations and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.   Eitan 8x8 Armored Personnel Carrier The Eitan was developed by Israel following operational experience during the 2014 Gaza conflict, with the aim of providing a faster wheeled armored vehicle alongside the heavier tracked Namer and replacing some of the capabilities of older M113 carriers. The vehicle is roughly 8 meters long and weighs about 30–35 metric tons, depending on configuration. It carries a three-person crew and up to nine additional soldiers. Its protection includes a V-shaped hull, composite armor and the Iron Fist active protection system. The Eitan can reach speeds of up to 90 km/h and is designed to provide protected infantry mobility while offering greater road mobility than heavy tracked platforms. The first production Eitans entered Israeli service in May 2023. Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, the Israel Defense Forces accelerated their deployment, including operations in Gaza alongside other armored vehicles. The Army and Rolls-Royce have not disclosed the exact number of engines covered by the new $39.1 million modification. Public information also does not specify how much of the broader $180 million 2025 FMS case has already been obligated.

Read More → Posted on 2026-09-12 13:57:42