All United States Air Force - AFRL articles
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NewsUS Air Force seeks new ‘runway independent’ regional airlifter
The Next Generation Intra-theater Airlift programme aims to enhance the air force’s existing airlift capability with a regional logistics aircraft able to operate without ground infrastructure like a maintained runway.
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In depthCan the US Air Force actually make its disposable fighter jets at an affordable price?
The service is betting much of its future on developing and fielding large numbers of so-called “attritable” combat jets that cost a fraction of traditional fighter aircraft. But can that goal actually be achieved?
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NewsPiasecki completes first hover flight of tiltfan prototype
Piasecki is developing the Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System as a multirole vertical take-off and landing UAV, with military applications in mind.
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NewsArcher delivers first Midnight aircraft to USAF
The electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle is the first of up to six that Archer intends to deliver to the service.
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NewsGeneral Atomics lands funding to continue XQ-67 development
The maker of uncrewed aircraft received an additional $9 million from the US Air Force Research Laboratory to continue development work of the experimental Off-Board Sensing Station jet, believed to be the basis for General Atomics’ bid for an autonomous aircraft capable of supporting crewed fighters.
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In depth‘It will improvise’: Shield AI’s dogfighting algorithm developed novel fighter tactics
The founder of Shield AI, the company behind the artificial intelligence that recently powered an autonomous F-16 fighter in US Air Force dogfighting drills, says its algorithm has shown ability to improvise, and has even developed novel air combat tactics no human pilot would likely employ.
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NewsTop US Air Force official rides in front seat of autonomous F-16
Secretary of the US Air Force Frank Kendall flew in the lead seat of the service’s X-62A Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA), a specially modified Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter being used to test and develop artificial intelligence and autonomy capabilities.
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NewsDARPA tests dogfighting AI against human fighter pilot
Using a specially modified F-16 fighter known as the X-62A VISTA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the US Air Force pitted a dogfighting artificial intelligence system against human fighter pilots in recent air-to-air combat exercises.
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NewsExosonic flies demonstrator of in-development autonomous supersonic military jet
US supersonic aircraft developer Exosonic has started test flying a subscale demonstrator of a conceptual supersonic unmanned aircraft that the company aims to develop for military customers.
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NewsHypersonic developer Hermeus teases first flight of Quarterhorse this summer
The Atlanta-based start-up revealed the second of four planned vehicles in the Quarterhorse line and revealed the selection of the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine to power its follow-on aircraft.
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NewsGeneral Atomics reveals experimental XQ-67A uncrewed jet
The uncrewed aircraft manufacturer developed the new type, which it calls the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station, in partnership with the US Air Force Research Laboratory.
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NewsBeta completes USAF electric aircraft test deployment
During the three months of evaluations with the US Air Force, airframer start-up Beta says one of its all-electric Alia aircraft demonstrated its ability to support a range of operations, including casualty evacuation, logistics resupply and personnel transport.
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NewsFuelled TalonA carried aloft as first Stratolaunch hypersonic flight approaches
Following a successful taxi test of its two-aircraft hypersonic flight system, California start-up Stratolaunch has carried a fully-fuelled TalonA hypersonic vehicle aloft under the company’s jet-powered Roc mother ship, a prerequisite for TalonA’s first self-powered flight.
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NewsPiasecki wins $37m AFWERX funding for tilt-duct aircraft
The multi-year funding through the AFWERX programme and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will see Piasecki showcase in flight its Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) tilt-duct unmanned air vehicle and a ZeroAvia fuel cell propulsion system.
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NewsStratolaunch secures USAF funding for second reusable hypersonic vehicle
The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will fund a second example of a reusable hypersonic flight vehicle built by American start-up Stratolaunch.
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NewsAnduril wins $8m contract for autonomous UAV development
The US Air Force’s AFWERX technology incubator will work with defence start-up Anduril on advancing autonomous flight capabilities, using Anduril’s Ghost UAV as a test platform.
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NewsBeta installs first USAF electric aircraft charging station
The Vermont-based developer of electric aircraft installed the US Air Force’s first-ever electric aircraft charging station at Eglin AFB, Florida, ahead of the planned arrival of Beta’s Alia under a Pentagon contract.
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NewsUSAF tests anti-drone swarm energy weapon
The Air Force Research Laboratory says it successfully defeated a so-called “drone swarm” in recent tests using a microwave energy system.
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NewsRaytheon flight tests loyal wingman UAV software
Raytheon has conducted a flight test during which a human operator controlled three autonomous unmanned air vehicles simultaneously using manned-unmanned teaming software.
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NewsUS Air Force gets serious about delivering military cargo via space rocket
The US Air Force has named “Rocket Cargo” as its fourth “Vanguard” programme, meaning the concept is a top science and technology development priority for the service.