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Briefs
Propulsion

Improving Electric Propulsion Thrusters for Future Spacecraft Missions

Go faster, farther, more efficiently. That’s the goal driving spacecraft propulsion engineers like Chen Cui, a new assistant professor at the University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science. Cui is exploring ways to improve electric propulsion thrusters — a key technology for future space missions. Read on to learn more.

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Articles
RF & Microwave Electronics

Pushing the Boundaries of Rapid Production of Spacecraft: Flight Results from NearSpace Launch’s TROOP and ThinSat Platforms

NearSpace Launch is actively redefining the boundaries of responsive spaceflight through its development and deployment of the Train Rapid on Orbit Payload (TROOP) and ThinSat platforms. Read on to learn more.

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Podcasts
AR/AI

How IQSat Enables Space-Based AI and Machine Learning

Pratish Shah, U.S. General Manager, Aitech, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast to discuss their new IQSat picosatellite constellation platform.

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Videos
Defense

Innovative Uncrewed Systems Technologies from Xponential 2025

This video highlights some of the innovative uncrewed systems technologies that were on display at Xponential 2025.

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INSIDER
Design

Assembly and Testing Milestone for Artemis II Spacecraft

Lockheed Martin has completed assembly and testing of NASA's Orion Artemis II spacecraft, transferring possession to NASA's Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) team earlier this month....

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INSIDER
Design

How the Air Force Leverages Simulation to Explore Lethality Before it's Built

Before a new weapon system is ever built, flown or fired, it begins in a simulated environment digitally constructed, dynamically tested and refined in real time....

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INSIDER
Manned Systems

Venus Aerospace’s Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine Completes First Flight Test

Houston, Texas-based startup Venus Aerospace claims to have completed the first U.S. flight test of a Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) this week. The...

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INSIDER
Defense

Navy Proves Cold-Gas Approach in Hypersonic Launch Test

The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs is continuing on the path toward the nation's first sea-based hypersonic fielding with a successful end-to-end flight test of a conventional...

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INSIDER
AR/AI

How the US Army is Advancing Research in Robotics, AI and Autonomy

U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Army Research Laboratory (DEVCOM ARL) researchers recently highlighted some of the groundbreaking work they're performing...

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INSIDER
Electronics & Computers

New PhantomStrike Radar Completes First Flight Test

Raytheon has successfully completed the first flight test of its PhantomStrike radar on its Multi-Program Testbed aircraft in Ontario, California. PhantomStrike successfully tracked...

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Podcasts
Design

How Amprius Is Advancing Energy Density for Electric Aircraft Batteries

Dr. Ionel Stefan, CTO, Amprius, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

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INSIDER
Propulsion

Firefly Alpha Rocket Loses Engine Nozzle During Launch

Firefly Aerospace, the Texas-based space launch vehicle company, published an April 2029, 2025 update on its Alpha FLTA006 rocket, where its “Message in a Booster” mission...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

Air-to-Air Refueling Milestone for E-7A Wedgetail and KC-46A

In a historic first, the U.S. Air Force (USAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), and Royal Air Force (RAF) collaborated to rapidly improve global combat capability while...

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INSIDER
Aerospace

Radian Aerospace Unveils R3V: Reusable Hypersonic and Spaceflight Test Platform

Radian Aerospace has announced the launch of a new technology platform: the Radian Reusable Reentry Vehicle (R3V). Designed to generate near-term revenue while...

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Articles
Defense

3D Printing Parts for Ships, Submarines and Underwater Vehicles

Additive manufacturing has been a game-changer in helping to create parts and equipment for the Department of Defense’s industrial base. A naval facility in Washington state has become a leader in implementing additive manufacturing and repair technologies using various processes and materials to quickly create much-needed parts for submarines and ships. Read on to learn more.

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Application Briefs
Manned Systems

GOKBERK C-UAS Testing

Turkish defense company Aselsan completed testing of its mobile laser counter unmanned aircraft system platform GÖKBERK against first-person view drones in March. Previously proven effective against rotary- and fixed-wing kamikaze drones, GÖKBERK has now demonstrated its capabilities for detecting, autonomously tracking, and eliminating FPV drones across multiple test scenarios. Read on to learn more.

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Application Briefs
Robotics, Automation & Control

The Marines New Installation Counter UAS System

The U.S. Marine Corps awarded a 10-year, $642 million program of record to Anduril Industries to develop and sustain their new Installation-Counter small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (I-CsUAS) technology. I-CsUAS is a platform powered by machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) to protect Marine Corps installations globally by detecting, identifying, tracking and defeating small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). Read on to learn more.

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Briefs
Unmanned Systems

Lasers Destroy Drones as Additive Manufacturing Builds Them

In February, the Joint Interagency Field Experimentation team at the Naval Postgraduate School executed another highly collaborative week of rapid prototyping and defense demonstrations with dozens of emerging technology companies. Read on to learn more about it.

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Briefs
Test & Measurement

Unmanned Aircraft Systems Help Responders in Urban Environments

In November 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory teamed up with Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory, and DAGER Technology LLC, to conduct an assessment on selected models of cybersecure “Blue UAS.” The drones are cybersecure and commercially available to assist emergency responders with their public safety operations. Read on to learn more.

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Briefs
RF & Microwave Electronics

Low Cost Air Traffic Control for Drones

Using a network of small, low-cost radars, engineering professor Cammy Peterson and her colleagues have built an air traffic control system for drones that can effectively and accurately track anything in an identified low-altitude airspace. Read on to learn more about it.

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Briefs
Unmanned Systems

Engineers Enable a Drone to Determine Its Position in the Dark and Indoors

MIT researchers have introduced a new approach that enables a drone to self-localize, or determine its position, in indoor, dark, and low-visibility environments. Self-localization is a key step in autonomous navigation. Read on to learn more about it.

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Briefs
Defense

Human-Focused Research Aims to Enhance UAS Effectiveness, Readiness

As the capabilities of unmanned aerial systems continue to evolve rapidly in response to the tactical and strategic necessities of the modern battlefield, the U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory is exploring a unique approach to improving their operational effectiveness – by focusing on the protection and performance of UAS operators. Read on to learn more about it.

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Articles
Weapons Systems

AI Automates Drone Defense With High Energy Lasers

To counter the rapidly mounting threats posed by the proliferation of inexpensive uncrewed autonomous systems, or drones, Naval Postgraduate School researchers and collaborators are applying AI to automate critical parts of the tracking system used by laser weapon systems. Read on to learn more about it.

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Articles
Software

Reverse Engineering the Security Risks of the AeroScope Drone Detection Module

Da Jiang Innovations' AeroScope drone detection platform has proven to be an effective security tool for military and law enforcement. It identifies and tracks drones in real time, providing AeroScope users with information like flight status, path and pilot location for drones up to 50 kilometers away. Read on to learn more about it.

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Articles
RF & Microwave Electronics

The Evolution of Autonomous Systems in UAV Technology

So, let’s talk about it: What’s happening in 2025? Well, the sky is no longer the limit — it’s just the beginning of a new era in autonomous UAV technology. Read on to learn more.

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Articles
Robotics, Automation & Control

Swarm Robotics: A Requiem for the Assembly Line

Aircraft manufacturing is on the cusp of its most profound transformation since the dawn of powered flight. The assembly line — a staple of industrial production for over a century — is about to be replaced by a far more efficient and cost-effective alternative: Swarm Robotics. Read on to learn more about it.

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Podcasts
Manned Systems

Engineering the EL9: Electra's Ultra Short Hybrid-Electric Aircraft

Marc Allen, CEO of Electra, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.

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INSIDER
Manned Systems

3D-Printed C-17 Replacement Part Saves Thousands for Air Force

Innovation isn’t always pretty. Sometimes, it’s downright grimy — but worth its weight in gold. At the 911th Airlift Wing, a collaboration with Boeing has resulted in a...

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INSIDER
Power

Amprius Eyes Mass Production for Next Generation Electric Aircraft Battery

Amprius announced the launch of its 450 Wh/kg SiCore™ lithium-ion battery. This is Amprius’ most energy-dense SiCore cell, offering 450 Wh/kg and 950 Wh/L, and...

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