U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)

By Steve Trimble
DARPA plans to select designs from one or more of the companies to build a prototype to fly in 2027.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Firefox is a software defined radio for the Tactical Boost Glide, which adds a new dimension to the known capabilities of the hypersonic systems.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble
The award is a big step for the RDE community, providing a platform to move forward the nascent technology that potentially offers a leap in fuel efficiency.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble
The image released by the 412th Test Wing shows a portion of the missile where the solid rocket motor of the booster stage connects to the exhaust section.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Jen DiMascio
Advancements in commercial space tech helped the U.S. Space Force, Millennium Space Systems and Firefly Aerospace pull off the Victus Nox rapid launch demo.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble
Instead of operating from a large aircraft carrier, a U.S. Navy request seeks concepts for ships with flight decks between 50-200 ft. long and 40-100 ft. wide.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Pentagon develops a concept to flood the Taiwan Strait with a horde of drones to confuse Chinese countermeasures.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Steve Trimble
The Rapid Experimental Missonized Autonomy (REMA) program, worth a total of $25 million spread across multiple anticipated awards, kicked off on Sept. 11.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
DARPA awarded the LongShot program to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) in February 2021 after a competitive selection process.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Previous work on hypersonic accelerator and high-speed patent provide possible clues as to GE’s ambitions for rotating detonation technology.
Emerging Technologies

By Steve Trimble
A two-decade trend of failed X-plane projects at the agency appears to be reversing, with a recent switch to a scaled-down approach producing results.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris, Steve Trimble
Long-term pressure gain remains the goal, but compact combustion is accelerating near-term adoption of the technology for high-speed propulsion systems.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Active flutter control; humanoid robot pilot; delivery drone detect-and-avoid; heavy-lift VTOL demonstrators.
Emerging Technologies

By Graham Warwick
The designers behind the SoloTrek, a backpack-style personal air vehicle first flown in 2001, have entered the eVTOL market.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Mark Carreau
Ad Astra Rocket Company is moving ahead with efforts to raise the TRL of its long-in-development VASIMR for a future in-space demonstration.
Space

By Steve Trimble
Instead of shooting down the next buoyant airspace intruder, DARPA wants to find a way to haul high-altitude balloons down safely from up to 75,000 ft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Launch risks, cryogenic and uranium fuel are among the challenges facing the agencies’ ambitious DRACO space nuclear thermal propulsion orbital demonstration.
Space

By Matthew Fulco
L3Harris reported revenue of $4.69 billion in the second quarter, up 13.5% annually, while its earnings per share (EPS) of $2.97 beat analysts’ estimates.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris
The contract award is targeted at tests of a nuclear thermal rocket engine vehicle in space by 2027.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Sikorsky’s tailsitter eVTOL; X-59 on the flight line; autonomous in Alaska; and unlocking biomass for SAF.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The $94.2 million deal for the LongShot program allows GA-ASI to move beyond the critical design review phase.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Steve Trimble, Guy Norris
A decades-old idea for fuel-efficient, high-speed propulsion is moving closer to reality with these latest industry investments.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
DARPA picks nine for Ancillary; China’s drive/fly eVTOL; Alef’s flying car; and hydrogen future for training aircraft.
Emerging Technologies