MAY 6, 2021 - The U.S. Air Force has awarded the first airworthiness approval for a manned electric aircraft to BETA Technologies, a partner in the AFWERX Agility Prime program. This enables BETA to begin flying its ALIA aircraft in the Agility Prime program. The airworthiness award from the Air Force is the latest milestone in BETA’s test program after recently entering its … [Read more...]
Skyborg Has Successful First Flight
MAY 6, 2021 - The Skyborg leadership team conducted a 2 hour and 10 minute flight test of the Skyborg autonomy core system, or ACS, aboard a Kratos UTAP-22 tactical unmanned vehicle at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, April 29. Termed Milestone 1 of the Autonomous Attritable Aircraft Experimentation, or AAAx, campaign, the ACS performed a series of foundational behaviors … [Read more...]
Hack-A-Sat Satellite Hacking Challenge Opens
MAY 5, 2021 - The U.S. Air and Space Forces in collaboration with the security research community opened registration May 4 for the qualification round of the second annual Space Security Challenge: Hack-A-Sat satellite hacking challenge. This virtual competition enables security researchers of all levels to focus their skills and creativity on solving cyber security … [Read more...]
UAV Gets Enhanced Capabilities
MAY 5, 2021 – The 174th Attack Wing has partnered with multiple Department of Defense contractors and academia to lead the effort in establishing new and additional capabilities for the MQ-9 Reaper. According to the Assistant Director of Operations at the 174th Operations Support Squadron, capabilities include battlefield and airspace communications enhancements as well as … [Read more...]
Air Force Tests Laser Eye Protection
MAY 5, 2021 - Aiming a laser at an aircraft is a federal crime that can net offenders up to five years in jail or cost them a $250,000 fine. Even with this heavy potential penalty, laser strikes have become increasingly more common. According to the FAA, 6,852 such incidents were reported in 2020, compared with 385 in 2006, and so far this year, incidents of “joy lasing” are up … [Read more...]