Latest news with #USAF
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Trump's 'One Big Beautiful Bill' gives US Space Force $1 billion for secretive X-37B space plane
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. U.S. President Trump's "One, Big Beautiful Bill Act," H.R. 1 includes $1 billion for the U.S. Space Force (USSF) X-37B military spacecraft program. The largely classified X-37B – also called the Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) program – carried out its seventh mission, landing at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on March 7, touching down after 434 days in orbit. As for how that $1 billion would be spent, and when the next X-37B would depart, reached out to the space plane's builder, Boeing. We received a "thank you for the query" in response, and an inquiry-altering note to contact the Air Force for comment on the X-37 schedule and budget. Space test platform "The USSF X-37B program supports technology risk reduction, experimentation, and operational concept development for future re-usable space vehicles," responded USAF Colonel Lori Astroth, Public Affairs Deputy Director for Space within the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs at the Pentagon. The X-37B program "serves as a flexible space test platform to conduct various experiments that can be transported to space and returned to Earth," Col. Astroth added. "Further information regarding X-37B's cost and budget information is not releasable." Highly elliptical orbit That last hush-hush flight of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle-7 (OTV-7) featured the craft being hurled into a highly elliptical high Earth orbit via a Falcon Heavy rocket back on December 28, 2023. After aerobraking to a low Earth orbit and completing its test and experimentation objectives, the space plane successfully performed its deorbit and landing procedures. As did the previous (OTV-6) space plane trek, OTV-7 also involved a service module that expanded the capabilities of the spacecraft. "The successful completion of the novel aerobraking maneuver demonstrated the agile and flexible capabilities the X-37B provides the United States Space Force," according to the statement issued by the Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs. The aerobraking technique entails use of atmospheric drag over the course of multiple passes to change orbits while expending minimal fuel. "While on orbit, Mission 7 accomplished a range of test and experimentation objectives intended to demonstrate the X-37B's robust maneuver capability while helping characterize the space domain through the testing of space domain awareness technology experiments," the statement notes. Flight roster Here's a listing of previous flights of the space plane: OTV-1: launched on April 22, 2010 and landed on December 3, 2010, spending over 224 days on orbit. OTV-2: launched on March 5, 2011 and landed on June 16, 2012, spending over 468 days on orbit. OTV-3: launched on December 11, 2012 and landed on October 17, 2014, spending over 674 days on-orbit. OTV-4: launched on May 20, 2015 and landed on May 7, 2015, spending nearly 718 days on-orbit. OTV-5: launched on September 7, 2017 and landed on October 27, 2019, spending nearly 780 days on-orbit. OTV-6: launched on May 17, 2020 and landed on November 12, 2022, circling Earth for 908 days. OTV-7: lofted on December 28, 2023 and touched down on March 7, 2025, circling Earth for 434 days. First use technologies The builder of the vehicle, Boeing, has previously noted that the X-37B makes use of several 'first use in space' technologies including: Avionics designed to automate all de-orbit and landing functions. Flight controls and brakes using all electro-mechanical actuation; no hydraulics on board. Use of a lighter composite structure, rather than traditional aluminum. New generation high-temperature wing leading-edge tiles and toughened uni-piece fibrous refractory oxidation-resistant ceramic (TUFROC) tiles and advanced conformal reusable insulation (CRI) blankets. According to Aviation Week & Space Technology, the Space Force is utilizing the X-37B system as an on-orbit testbed to try out new technologies, to better understand similar adversarial platforms and to design new training environments, citing comments to the publication in January by Chief of Space Operations General Chance Saltzman. Solve the daily Crossword
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
NATO Spy Planes Make Pincer Move Over Russia
American and British reconnaissance aircraft flew from England toward Russia, approaching the country from two sides on the same day, according to flight data. A Newsweek map shows the planes' route amid tensions between NATO and Moscow. On Monday, the Boeing Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft RC-135W flew from its base in the U.K. and circled off the coast of the Russian city of Murmansk before heading back. It happened the same day as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) aircraft RC-135V left a different U.K. base and circled the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad that borders NATO's eastern flank members, Lithuania and Poland. There is no suggestion that Russian airspace was breached. The Boeing-built aircraft gather signals intelligence and are crewed by more than 30 people, including electronic warfare officers and intelligence operators. The latest sorties come amid growing tensions between Moscow and the bloc following Russian aircraft buzzing NATO airspace and pledges by the U.S. and the alliance to provide more military help for Ukraine to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression. Data from Flightradar24, mapped by Newsweek, shows that the RAF RC-135W took off from the RAF base at Waddington, Lincolnshire, England at 8:11 a.m. on Monday. The aircraft headed past Norway, Sweden and Finland before turning southeast toward Russia. Its route took it across the Barents Sea and almost parallel with Murmansk, Russia's Arctic port city, before it returned to the U.K. along the Scandinavian coast and landed at Waddington at 6:38 p.m. Also on Monday, the USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint, identified by the call sign "JAKE17," took off at 7:08 a.m. from Mildenhall, Suffolk, located further south in England. The aircraft went on a seven-hour flight that took it across the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Lithuania before it circled Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave that would be the front line of any hostilities between Moscow and the alliance. Only days ago, the USAF reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering aircraft skirted around Kaliningrad after it crossed Europe and the three Baltic states. The Rivet Joint usually flies around NATO's eastern flank and also on the edge of the Black Sea near Russian-controlled Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. Olli Suorsa, an assistant professor in homeland security at the Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, previously told Newsweek that the USAF's fleet of RC-135s were "hard pressed of late" because of demands for signals intelligence collection at the U.S.-Mexico border, East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The U.K.'s RAF operates its own Rivet Joint fleet, often sending its reconnaissance aircraft around Kaliningrad and the broader eastern flank of NATO. At the end of last month, the aircraft traveled to and from the Black Sea after circling Kaliningrad. User @MeNMyRC1, a security analyst, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, next to the map of the RAF RC-135W: "All the way up into the Barents Sea. This area used to get a lot more attention when the Soviet Union had a Navy and Air Force." NATO continues to conduct regular aerial surveillance of Russia's western border regions, and Russia is likely to continue facing accusations that it is buzzing alliance airspace as part of hybrid measures that add to security concerns for the region known as the "NATO lake." Related Articles China Responds to Lindsey Graham Russia ThreatDonald Trump Changes His Tune on NATOList of US Imports From Russia as Trump Threatens Secondary TariffsJohn Bolton Warns Trump's Ukraine Shift Won't Win Him a Nobel Prize 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
NATO Spy Planes Make Pincer Move Over Russia
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. American and British reconnaissance aircraft flew from England toward Russia, approaching the country from two sides on the same day, according to flight data. A Newsweek map shows the planes' route amid tensions between NATO and Moscow. On Monday, the Boeing Royal Air Force (RAF) aircraft RC-135W flew from its base in the U.K. and circled off the coast of the Russian city of Murmansk before heading back. It happened the same day as the U.S. Air Force (USAF) aircraft RC-135V left a different U.K. base and circled the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad that borders NATO's eastern flank members, Lithuania and Poland. There is no suggestion that Russian airspace was breached. Why It Matters The Boeing-built aircraft gather signals intelligence and are crewed by more than 30 people, including electronic warfare officers and intelligence operators. The latest sorties come amid growing tensions between Moscow and the bloc following Russian aircraft buzzing NATO airspace and pledges by the U.S. and the alliance to provide more military help for Ukraine to fight Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression. What To Know Data from Flightradar24, mapped by Newsweek, shows that the RAF RC-135W took off from the RAF base at Waddington, Lincolnshire, England at 8:11 a.m. on Monday. The aircraft headed past Norway, Sweden and Finland before turning southeast toward Russia. Its route took it across the Barents Sea and almost parallel with Murmansk, Russia's Arctic port city, before it returned to the U.K. along the Scandinavian coast and landed at Waddington at 6:38 p.m. Also on Monday, the USAF RC-135V Rivet Joint, identified by the call sign "JAKE17," took off at 7:08 a.m. from Mildenhall, Suffolk, located further south in England. The aircraft went on a seven-hour flight that took it across the Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Lithuania before it circled Kaliningrad, the Russian exclave that would be the front line of any hostilities between Moscow and the alliance. This image from May 5 shows an RC-135W Rivet Joint and two F-35 Lightnings flying over The Mall during a flypast on Victory in Europe Day in London. This image from May 5 shows an RC-135W Rivet Joint and two F-35 Lightnings flying over The Mall during a flypast on Victory in Europe Day in days ago, the USAF reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering aircraft skirted around Kaliningrad after it crossed Europe and the three Baltic states. The Rivet Joint usually flies around NATO's eastern flank and also on the edge of the Black Sea near Russian-controlled Crimea, which Moscow seized from Ukraine in 2014. Olli Suorsa, an assistant professor in homeland security at the Rabdan Academy in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, previously told Newsweek that the USAF's fleet of RC-135s were "hard pressed of late" because of demands for signals intelligence collection at the U.S.-Mexico border, East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. The U.K.'s RAF operates its own Rivet Joint fleet, often sending its reconnaissance aircraft around Kaliningrad and the broader eastern flank of NATO. At the end of last month, the aircraft traveled to and from the Black Sea after circling Kaliningrad. What People Are Saying User @MeNMyRC1, a security analyst, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, next to the map of the RAF RC-135W: "All the way up into the Barents Sea. This area used to get a lot more attention when the Soviet Union had a Navy and Air Force." What Happens Next NATO continues to conduct regular aerial surveillance of Russia's western border regions, and Russia is likely to continue facing accusations that it is buzzing alliance airspace as part of hybrid measures that add to security concerns for the region known as the "NATO lake."
Sustainability Times
08-07-2025
- Sustainability Times
'We're Entering the Mach 5 Era': US Military's SR-72 Hypersonic Jet Set to Shatter Speed Limits With 2025 Debut
IN A NUTSHELL 🚀 The SR-72 hypersonic jet, known as 'Son of Blackbird,' aims to exceed Mach 5 speeds, revolutionizing aerial reconnaissance and strike capabilities. hypersonic jet, known as 'Son of Blackbird,' aims to exceed Mach 5 speeds, revolutionizing aerial reconnaissance and strike capabilities. 🔍 Developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works , the unmanned SR-72 is designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in contested environments. , the unmanned SR-72 is designed for missions in contested environments. 💡 The jet employs a turbine-based combined cycle propulsion system, merging a turbofan and scramjet to achieve sustained hypersonic flight. propulsion system, merging a turbofan and scramjet to achieve sustained hypersonic flight. 📅 Despite facing technical and financial challenges, the SR-72 aligns with the USAF's hypersonic roadmap, with a potential in-service date by 2030. The development of the SR-72 hypersonic jet, known as the 'Son of Blackbird,' is poised to revolutionize aerial reconnaissance and strike capabilities. This secretive project by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, under the auspices of the United States Air Force, aims to introduce an unmanned aircraft that can exceed speeds of Mach 5. With its combination of speed, stealth, and advanced technology, the SR-72 is designed to overcome modern air defense systems and provide unparalleled intelligence-gathering capabilities. As the world anticipates its debut, questions about its strategic impact and technological innovations abound. The Secretive SR-72 Program The SR-72 project, shrouded in secrecy, is intended to be the hypersonic successor to the legendary SR-71 Blackbird. Developed by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works team, the SR-72 is expected to reach speeds over Mach 5, making it the fastest operational airframe ever built. Its purpose is to execute strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in environments that pose unacceptable risks to conventional manned platforms. The jet's formidable speed and altitude capabilities are designed to penetrate advanced integrated air defense systems while delivering time-sensitive intelligence with minimal risk. Unlike its predecessor, the SR-72 will be an unmanned, reusable aircraft, capable of autonomous missions at hypersonic speeds. With a length of over 100 feet, the SR-72 will echo the dimensions of the SR-71 but introduce a revolutionary propulsion system. The turbine-based combined cycle (TBCC) propulsion merges a traditional turbofan engine with a supersonic combustion ramjet, or scramjet, enabling sustained speeds above Mach 5. This dual-mode propulsion is essential, as no single engine can efficiently operate across the full subsonic-to-hypersonic flight envelope, marking a significant technological advancement. 'Trees Are Poisoning the Air': Shocking New Study Reveals Natural Plant Defenses May Be Making Pollution Worse Harnessing Hypersonic Speed The SR-72's hypersonic speed redefines strategic mobility, allowing it to traverse the continental United States to Europe or Asia in approximately 90 minutes. This rapid global reach enhances intelligence and strike capabilities, enabling commanders to make swift decisions in dynamic operational contexts. However, the program faces significant technical and financial hurdles. Although preliminary discussions with U.S. government stakeholders have occurred, securing full funding for a demonstrator airframe and engine development remains a challenge. The SR-72's path aligns with the USAF's hypersonic roadmap, with a tentative in-service date by 2030. However, this timeline depends on overcoming propulsion, thermal management, and materials challenges inherent to sustained hypersonic flight. The aircraft's high-speed profile is essential to counter modern air defense systems, such as the S-500 and HQ-19, by minimizing time-on-target and exposure windows. The TBCC configuration is not just a performance enhancement but a crucial operational necessity. The SR-72's success could redefine power projection in denied-access environments through next-generation propulsion and uncrewed systems architecture. 'NASA Unveils Cosmic Spectacle': Stunning New Images and Sounds of Andromeda Galaxy Leave Astronomers in Absolute Awe Technological and Strategic Challenges Developing the SR-72 involves overcoming immense technical hurdles, particularly in propulsion and thermal management. The hypersonic speeds required necessitate innovative solutions to manage the extreme heat generated during flight. The TBCC system, combining a turbofan and a scramjet, is pivotal to achieving these speeds. However, creating a reliable and efficient system that can transition seamlessly between subsonic and hypersonic speeds is a significant engineering challenge. Financially, the SR-72 program must secure substantial investment to advance from prototype to operational status. While its alignment with the USAF's hypersonic goals is promising, the costs associated with developing and deploying such advanced technology are considerable. The program's success will depend on continued collaboration between government and industry to address these financial and technical obstacles. If successful, the SR-72 will mark a transformative milestone in aerial reconnaissance and strike capability, leveraging cutting-edge technology to maintain strategic superiority. 'Ancient Gene Switch Flipped': Scientists Restore Limb Regeneration in Mice Using Dormant DNA Once Thought Lost Forever The Future of Hypersonic Aircraft The SR-72 represents a significant leap forward in hypersonic technology, offering unprecedented speed and stealth capabilities. Its development underscores the growing importance of hypersonic aircraft in modern warfare, as nations seek to outpace and outmaneuver sophisticated air defense systems. The SR-72's potential to serve as a platform for hypersonic strike weapons further enhances its strategic value, providing a crucial element in the United States' military arsenal. As the SR-72 program progresses, its impact on global military dynamics will be closely watched. The aircraft's ability to deliver rapid intelligence and strike capabilities could shift the balance of power, prompting other nations to accelerate their hypersonic developments. The SR-72's success will not only redefine aerial warfare but also set new standards for technological innovation and strategic planning. How will this hypersonic marvel reshape the future of global military engagements? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (21)
CNBC
06-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Economist Nouriel Roubini sees a ‘mini stagflationary shock' coming in the second half of 2025
An economist and investor nicknamed "Dr. Doom" sees a rough patch ahead for the U.S. economy, but isn't advocating any panicked selling. Nouriel Roubini told CNBC that he expects the core personal consumption expenditures index — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric — to reach about 3.5% by the end of the year, and economic growth to weaken and possibly turn negative. Best known for calling the 2008 Global Financial Crisis, Roubini said the second half will amount to "a mini stagflationary shock," and that the Fed will hold off on rate cuts until at least December. That view includes an expectation of a "mild" resolution to trade negotiations that ends with many countries facing a 15% rate, the economist said. "I'm not expecting, certainly, anything close to April 2," Roubini said, referring to the tariff levels announced by President Donald Trump that day that sparked a steep market sell-off. Roubini, a Harvard-trained economist, has a long track record in the academia, government and the private sector. The "Dr. Doom" moniker refers to numerous macroeconomic warnings he has issued throughout his career. His hit rate is not perfect, but he was early in warning about the financial crisis and a virus-induced recession in 2020. He is also one of the portfolio managers on the Atlas America Fund (USAF) , an ETF launched late last year that aims to guard against economic risks from structurally higher inflation to climate change. The fund is designed to be less volatile than the stock market but is "not a portfolio for doomsday," Roubini said. The fund is still small and thinly traded, with only about $17 million in assets, according to FactSet. But performance has been solid. The multi-asset fund has gained more than 5% since inception last November. That trailis the S & P 500 , but USAF has shown its defensive mettle, falling less than 3% in the days following the April 2 "Liberation Day" tariff announcements, when U.S. stocks soon fell roughly 20%. USAF 1Y mountain The Atlas America Fund saw a smaller drawdown in April than broad stock market indexes. "We don't particularly want outsized returns in one month. We'd rather have the slow and steady uptick, which is exactly what we've been seeing," said Puneet Agarwal, one of other portfolio managers for USAF. The portfolio, which includes large positions in gold, short-term U.S. government debt and exposure to agricultural commodities, has changed some since the fund's launch. USAF has recently added exposure to defense technology and cybersecurity stocks, and bought short-term inflation-protected bonds, while dialing back holdings in real estate, Agarwal said. The fund's large bet on gold helped it outperform the stock market earlier this year, but also contributed to USAF's relatively sluggish performance in June. Roubini said the bet on gold is part of a longer-term theory that the world is moving away from the U.S. dollar. "We're not expecting things to crash. But the trend is clear and it is going [in] one direction," Roubini said.
