Tag: military aviation

Industry Experts Chart the Future of AI and Autonomy in Military Aviation

FROM THE INSTITUTE
The future of air power lies in the seamless collaboration between humans and machines, according to a panel of thought leaders from the Canadian Department of National Defence, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and leading defense firms Anduril, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Ribbit who discussed “Injecting Intelligence in Military Programs” at AIAA AVIATION Forum last month in Las Vegas.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

Reliable Robotics Teams Up with USAF for Autonomous Flight

Aerotime reports, “Reliable Robotics, a US startup specializing in autonomous flight systems, announced on July 29, 2025, that it has started work with the United States Air Force (USAF) on the development of so-called Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP). This project, which is taking place under the aegis of a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA), aims to leverage the technology Reliable Robotics has developed for commercial aviation and apply it to the military domain.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

U.S. Air Force Set to Add Drone Launchers to KC-135 Tankers

The War Zone reports, “The U.S. Air Force has developed a means to launch small drones from its KC-135 aerial refueling tankers, and is now looking at adding that capability to the fleet. The service says the tankers could send out uncrewed aerial systems to help defend themselves from incoming threats and just provide useful additional situational awareness, as well as to potentially perform other missions in the future.”
Full Story (The War Zone)

UK to Acquire F-35s Capable of Carrying Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Reuters reports, “The British government said on Tuesday that it would purchase a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of firing tactical nuclear weapons in what it described as the biggest expansion of its nuclear deterrent in a generation. The purchase of the Lockheed Martin jets would allow Britain’s air force to carry nuclear weapons for the first time since the end of the Cold War, Downing Street said.”
Full Story (Reuters)

U.S. Army to Substantially Increase Its Use of Drones

The Wall Street Journal reports, “The U.S. Army is embarking on its largest overhaul since the end of the Cold War, with plans to equip each of its combat divisions with around 1,000 drones and to shed outmoded weapons and other equipment. The plan, the product of more than a year of experimentation at this huge training range in Bavaria and other U.S. bases, draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, where small unmanned aircraft used in large numbers have transformed the battlefield.”
Full Story (Wall Street Journal – Subscription Publication)

Bell and Boeing Mark Upcoming Completion of CV-22 Osprey Production

Defense Industry Europe reports, “Bell Textron Inc., a Textron Inc. company, and Boeing have marked the upcoming completion of the CV-22 Program of Record for the U.S. Air Force … According to Bell, the U.S. Air Force is the first service branch to complete its program of record for new CV-22 aircraft, which feature improved nacelles. The final aircraft under this program is expected to be delivered in the coming months.”
Full Story (Defense Industry Europe)

U.S. Air Force Begins Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation of MH-139 Grey Wolf

Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force recently launched initial operational testing and evaluation (IOT&E) of the MH-139 Grey Wolf, the helicopter set to replace the service’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1N Hueys that perform nuclear security missions. During the week of January 27, three MH-139 flights operated by the 550th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, demonstrated its capabilities, the Air Force said.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)