US Air Force • Page 20 of 108

Oct- 2025 -

6 October

Drones - Latest News, Features & Expert Opinion

US Air Force Taps Tennessee Firm to Develop Fuel-Efficient Drone Engine

The US Air Force has awarded Minco Technologies $13.6 million to develop and demonstrate a next-generation drone engine designed to improve fuel efficiency significantly.

2 October

Technology

High-power laser used for High-Performance Electromagnetic Spectrum Survivable Materials Advancement (HELMSSMAN) by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio

Rojoef Manuel

US Air Force Taps AeroVironment for Electromagnetic Shielding Tech Push

AeroVironment has been selected for a $499-million contract with the US Air Force Research Laboratory to develop capabilities that can shield troops and equipment from harmful electromagnetic radiation.

Sep- 2025 -

30 September

Americas

Christine Casimiro

US Revives WW2-Era Squadron for MQ-9 Reaper Operations in South Korea

The US Seventh Air Force has reactivated the World War II-era 431st Squadron as an MQ-9 Reaper unit at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea, aligning with July reports that outlined plans for extended deployment.

26 September

Air

An E-11A Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) aircraft

Rojoef Manuel

US Air Force Receives Ninth BACN Aircraft From Bombardier

Bombardier Defense has delivered the ninth Global 6000 business jet to the US Air Force for its Battlefield Airborne Communications Node program.

26 September

Air

Akhsan Erido Elezhar

Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk Simulator Links With Live Jet in Breakthrough Test

Boeing and the US Air Force linked a T-7A simulator with a live jet over 130 miles away, proving real-time interaction, high-fidelity data.

25 September

Americas

Firehawk technicians set up rocket equipment

Jodesz Gavilan

US Air Force Invests $4M to Advance 3D-Printed Rocket Propellants

Defense startup Firehawk Aerospace won $4 million to develop 3D-printed rocket propellants for the US Air Force, aiming to extend missile range.

25 September

Air

Inder Singh Bisht

Raytheon’s New Electronic Warfare Suite for F/A-18E/F Passes Critical Review

Raytheon has completed a critical review of its Advanced Electronic Warfare prototype for the US Navy’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet.

25 September

Arctic

From left, Donald Weckhorst, 673rd Air Base Wing executive director, U.S. Army Col. Jeffery Palazzini, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Alaska District commander and district engineer, U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, Alaskan Command, Alaskan North American Aerospace Defense Command and Eleventh Air Force commander, Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance, U.S. Air Force Col. Charles Schuck, 3rd Wing commander, and Mark Prieksat, 673rd Civil Engineer Group break ground at the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center-Elmendorf groundbreaking at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Sept. 22, 2025. The JITTC-E will ensure persistent readiness by enabling continuous, scalable training scenarios that support the development of adaptive warfighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Johnny Diaz)

Rojoef Manuel

US Launches Construction of Joint Military Training Center in Alaska

The US has broken ground on a new complex in Alaska designed to prepare troops for high-threat conflicts and strengthen cooperative military training with allied forces.

25 September

Technology

Concepts of the uncrewed fighter aircraft YFQ-42A (bottom) and the YFQ-44A are pictured in artwork. The aircraft are designed to leverage autonomous capabilities and crewed-uncrewed teaming to defeat enemy threats in contested environments. (U.S. Air Force artwork courtesy of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Anduril Industries)

Christine Casimiro

US Air Force Selects RTX, Shield AI to Supply CCA Drone Autonomy Software

The US Air Force has reportedly chosen RTX and Shield AI to provide autonomous capabilities for the first increment of its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) operational prototypes.

24 September

Americas