US Air Force • Page 23 of 108

Aug- 2025 -

15 August

USAF Wants to Move From Tabletop Maps to AI-Driven War Drills

The US Air Force is seeking industry input on an AI-powered software-as-a-service wargaming platform for training service members.

15 August

Space

An artistic rendering depicts the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL’s, Navigation Technology Satellite-3, or NTS-3, in simulated geosynchronous orbit. NTS-3, an experimental platform designed to demonstrate technologies to increase resiliency, robustness and reprogrammability of Position, Navigation, and Timing functionality in space, will be on display at AFRL’s “Engine to Accelerate” booths at the 2024 Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference Sept. 16-18, 2024, in National Harbor, Maryland. AFRL is accelerating innovation by transforming the satellite navigation architecture to be reprogrammable both on-orbit and in the field, which enables new capabilities to support the warfighter faster through software updates. Like downloading a new app on your smartphone, this means that new satellites will not need to be launched to upgrade the signals, and that warfighters will not need to purchase and deploy new hardware to take advantage of upgraded signals. NTS-3 will mature technologies like the advanced timekeeping system that can detect and mitigate atomic clock faults without direct operator intervention. NTS-3's software-defined receiver, known as Global Navigation Satellite System Test Architecture, can receive and process new navigation signals that improve performance for U.S. forces in the presence of GPS interference or spoofing (a process by which users are sent inaccurate signals telling them that they are in the incorrect time and place). NTS-3 is anticipated to launch in late 2024. (Courtesy photo illustration)

Rojoef Manuel

AFRL Launches Experimental Satellite Into Orbit to Secure Navigational Edge

The US Air Force Research Laboratory has taken a major step toward securing the nation’s navigation advantage with the launch of the Navigation Technology Satellite-3 (NTS-3) aboard a United Launch Alliance Vulcan rocket in Florida.

13 August

Nuclear

Rojoef Manuel

California Firm’s Portable Nuclear Reactor to Power US Military Base

California-based power generation company Radiant has signed an agreement to provide a mass-produced nuclear microreactor for a US military installation under the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations program.

13 August

Americas

Allied F-35 Lightning II aircraft participate in a Find, Fix, Track, and Target (F2T2) exercise over Poland and the Baltic region.

Christine Casimiro

US Air Force Eyes Smarter Target Tracking With $99M AI Project

The US Air Force is pressing ahead with its $99-million Advanced Tracking Architecture Using AI project, an effort to outsmart rapidly evolving threats.

13 August

Americas

Christine Casimiro

US Firm Builds Chinese HQ-22 Air Defense System Replica for USAF

US defense contractor Torch Technologies is producing a batch of China’s HQ-22 surface-to-air missile system full-scale replicas for US Air Force (USAF) training purposes.

8 August

Americas

Ethan M. Encarnacion

Tesla Cybertrucks Could Be Headed to Pentagon, but Only as Missile Targets

The US military is reportedly looking to buy vehicles to use as targets for munitions training, and its eyes are set on getting the high-end Tesla Cybertruck.

4 August

Americas

Ethan M. Encarnacion

Northrop to Equip US Forces With Advanced Mission Planning Tech for Multi-Domain Ops

Northrop Grumman is building out the next wave of mission planning systems for the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, with a $180 million contract focused on smarter, faster operations across domains.

1 August

Americas

Rendered photo of the stage two rocket motor. Photo: Northrop Grumman

Giulia Bernacchi

Northrop, US Air Force Conduct Initial Test of Sentinel’s Second-Stage Motor

Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force completed the first qualification test of the stage-two solid rocket motor for the Sentinel missile.

1 August

Americas

Christine Casimiro

Lockheed, Raytheon Awarded Nearly $8 Billion to Supply Missiles for US Allies

The US Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin and Raytheon contracts totaling approximately $7.8 billion for the procurement of three types of precision-guided missiles under foreign military sales agreements with allied countries.

Jul- 2025 -

30 July

Americas

Christine Casimiro

US Nuclear Weapons Return to UK After 2008 Withdrawal: Reports

The US has reportedly transferred several B61-12 thermonuclear gravity bombs to the UK, more than 15 years after withdrawing them from British soil in 2008.

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