Tag: military aviation

Could the SR-71 Blackbird Fly Again? Inside NASA’s High-Speed Pursuit

Aerospace Global News reports that renewed interest in potentially returning a retired SR-71 Blackbird to flight is drawing attention to the aircraft’s enduring legacy and NASA’s high-speed aviation research. Nearly 30 years after its retirement, the Blackbird remains the “world’s fastest operational jet aircraft” and has never had a “direct successor.” Reports of NASA exploring a possible return to flight have reignited questions about why modern aviation has yet to match the SR-71’s extraordinary capabilities.
Full Story (Aerospace Global News)

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.
Full Story (Defense Daily – Subscription Publication)

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)

GE Aerospace Targets Major Fighter Engine Production Expansion

Aviation Week reports GE Aerospace is working to overcome supply chain bottlenecks and introduce broad production system improvements to accelerate fighter, trainer, and helicopter engine assembly. The transformation comes amid what the company describes as a “resurgence in demand” for engines powering advanced fourth- and fifth-generation fighters, along with a new wave of fighter trainers, prompting changes across GE facilities and its wider supply chain.
Full Story (Aviation Week)

YFQ-42A Returns to Flight After Safety and Software Upgrades

Breaking Defense reports, “A drone wingman built by General Atomics has resumed flying roughly one month after crashing in the California desert shortly after takeoff. In a press release Thursday, the company said its YFQ-44A aircraft ‘returned to flight testing following a round of safety reviews and software enhancements.’”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)



 Video

YFQ-42A drone by General Atomics
(Techno Thunder; YouTube)

Navy Eyes Renewed P-8A Poseidon Orders After Procurement Pause

Breaking Defense reports, “The Navy is seeking to purchase P-8A Poseidon aircraft once again, after pausing procurement in fiscal 2025 and FY26, this year’s budget request shows. The FY27 budget request, released in April, requests 12 new P-8A aircraft for just over $4.2 billion. The Navy said that FY27 is the last planned year of production, and that the last aircraft delivery is expected in the first quarter of FY32.”
Full Story (Breaking Defense)

U.S. Air Force Eyes Major Expansion of KC-46A Pegasus Fleet

Aerospace Global News reports, “The Air Force already has around 100 Boeing KC-46A tankers in service, but now it wants to increase that to around 319 eventually. There are rumours it wants to fully replace the KC-135, but that would require an even bigger order. While the aircraft has faced repeated high-profile teething maturation problems, it is the only US tanker aircraft on the market available to replace aging KC-135 and to increase the overall fleet size.”
Full Story (Aerospace Global News)

NAVAIR Seeks Industry Input on CV-22 Osprey JTT-NG Integration

Military Aerospace reports, “The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is conducting market research to identify companies capable of integrating the Joint Tactical Terminal – Next Generation (JTT-NG) system onto the CV-22 Osprey aircraft, according to a sources sought notice issued on behalf of the V-22 Joint Program Office under the Program Executive Office for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs.”
Full Story (Military Aerospace)