Defense Daily reports that artificial intelligence readiness is emerging as a significant hurdle for the U.S. Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program, with the publication describing AI maturity for fighter missions as “looming as a significant challenge.” The service is learning more about the capabilities and limitations of mission autonomy as testing progresses. Those efforts will help determine how effectively autonomous CCA aircraft can operate alongside crewed fighters in future missions.
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Tag: Aeronautics
U.S. Army Looks to Depots to Accelerate Drone Production
Aviation Week reports that the U.S. Army is opening its depots to drone-part production as the Pentagon looks for ways to rapidly expand manufacturing capacity, driven in part by lessons from Ukraine’s war. The outlet notes that “the number of drones Ukraine is projected to produce this year rises by a few million,” with the country expected to manufacture as many as 9 million to 10 million drones in 2026 after producing about 4 million small uncrewed aircraft last year. The dramatic increase highlights the scale of production the U.S. military is seeking to approach as it works to meet growing demand for inexpensive, rapidly produced uncrewed systems.
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Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue Completes First Autonomous Flight
AeroTime reports that Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue has completed its first fully autonomous flight in Mojave, California, “including taxi, takeoff, in-flight maneuvers, and landing.” Northrop Grumman says Talon Blue is designed to support a range of missions for U.S. and allied forces as the company expands its autonomous aircraft capabilities.
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Air Force Seeks Small Drones to Extend Communications in Contested Environments
Defense Daily reports the U.S. Air Force is seeking already-developed, attritable small drones that could form a communications mesh network for operations against adversaries with advanced electronic warfare and weapons. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center says the systems would have a maximum takeoff weight of 330 pounds, including fuel and payload, and a minimum range of 1,000 kilometers. The service is looking for the drones to operate “as part of a mesh network” and be deployable from Air Force Special Operations Command fixed-wing aircraft.
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NASA SR-71 Blackbird: 6 Reasons #844 Could Be the Comeback Choice
Aerospace Global News reports that speculation is growing about a possible return to flight for NASA’s SR-71 Blackbird #844, although the agency has not confirmed such a program. The aircraft’s longtime parking spot at Armstrong Flight Research Center is now empty, where its “long, black fuselage” had stood for years as a reminder of an era when flight research routinely ventured beyond Mach 3. The aircraft, which made the Blackbird’s final flight, is now at the center of renewed interest over whether it could fly again.
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Boeing Wins US Navy F/A-XX Sixth-Generation Fighter
Aerotime reports that the U.S. Navy has selected Boeing to develop the F/A-XX, its sixth-generation carrier-based strike fighter. The decision gives Boeing “both of the US military’s next-generation crewed fighter programs” and marks a major step in the Navy’s effort to replace its F/A-18E/F Super Hornets. The new aircraft is expected to provide greater range, survivability, and advanced capabilities for future carrier-based air combat.
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Airbus A350F Completes Maiden Flight in Toulouse
AeroTime reports that five years after Airbus first announced the A350F concept, its new-generation freighter completed its maiden flight September 29 from Toulouse Blagnac Airport in France. The A350F, MSN700, departed with a five-person flight-test crew for a roughly four-hour mission, operating as a “flying laboratory” while tracking thousands of real-time parameters, including aerodynamics, structural loads, and sensor data. The milestone begins a flight-test campaign expected to total about 400 hours.
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AIAA Second Public Review for Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) – Spacecraft Fiducial Markers (SFM)
FROM THE INSTITUTE
AIAA S-155, Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO) and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS) – Spacecraft Fiducial Markers (SFM), has been issued for a second public review due to the significant changes resulting from its original public review in 2025. This document provides the current industry’s best practices for development of the type of prepared interfaces known as Spacecraft Fiducial Markers. It is intended to provide standard requirements and guidance to developers and operators of both the Servicer Spacecraft and the Client Space Object. The public review deadline is 1 November 2026.
Vertical Aerospace Opens Valo Assembly Centre, Eyes 1,000 Aircraft a Year
Aerospace Global News reports that Vertical Aerospace has opened its new Aircraft Assembly Centre at Cotswold Airport, where it will begin manufacturing its Valo production eVTOL. Visitors to the opening saw a full-scale Valo mock-up and “a full flight demonstration of the prototype VX4 in the bright Cotswold skies.” The facility is designed to support production of up to 1,000 aircraft annually.
Full Story (Aerospace Global News)
Video
Vertical Aerospace’s Aircraft Assembly Centre
Vertical Aerospace; YouTube
Northrop Grumman Adds Utah Manufacturing Capacity for B-21 Raider
Defense Daily reports that Northrop Grumman has expanded its B-21 Raider manufacturing capacity with the opening of a new 845,000-square-foot facility in Layton, Utah, as the U.S. Air Force increases investment in production of the next-generation bomber. The East Gate 3 facility brings the company’s combined Layton-Clearfield manufacturing footprint to “more than 2 million square feet.” The expansion is “expected to support up to 1,500 employees by 2032” as Northrop grows its Utah operations supporting the B-21 program.
Full Story (Defense Daily)