The Aerospace Industries Association has appointed Jessica Pedersen as senior director of the American Rocketry Challenge. Pedersen, previously a senior strategy manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems, brings experience in strategic partnerships and STEM initiatives. AIA President and CEO Eric Fanning says Pedersen's leadership will enhance youth engagement in STEM and the challenge's impact.

L3Harris has been contracted to design and deliver an integrated platform management system for BAE Systems Maritime Australia to manage propulsion and power systems on Hunter-class frigates. The IPMS, originally developed for the UK's Type 26 frigates, has been exported to more than 300 vessels across 27 countries.

The US Air Force is working with Elbit Systems to upgrade display systems aboard the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, a key strategic transport aircraft. The upgrade, driven by parts obsolescence and the need for enhanced capabilities, includes a $286 million replacement heads-up display program and a $51.3 million retrofit contract. Elbit's advanced HUDs offer high-resolution displays and improved video capabilities.

The future of the Pentagon's Replicator initiative, aimed at rapidly acquiring thousands of drones to compete with China, is uncertain as Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who championed the program, leaves office. While the initiative has been praised for its potential to accelerate weapon procurement, it faces challenges in scaling up and securing funding.

Safran, Air Liquide and Turbotech have completed a ground demonstration of a developmental hydrogen-fueled gas turbine engine, a significant step toward decarbonized aviation. The test, part of the BeautHyFuel project, demonstrates the feasibility of zero-emission propulsion for light aircraft.

Gulfstream Aerospace has opened a $130 million support center at Mesa Gateway Airport in Arizona. The 225,000-square-foot facility has capacity for 13 large-cabin Gulfstream jets and is expected to receive LEED Silver certification. The facility has created over 250 jobs, with plans for 100 more this year.

General Electric Aerospace will create hundreds of Ohio-based jobs in coming years, supported by a research and development grant from JobsOhio. The company, which became a standalone entity in 2024, is investing $650 million in manufacturing sites and supplier partners, including significant investments in Ohio.

Outgoing Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has warned that the US must dramatically expand the Space Force to counter China and Russia, emphasizing the need for significant growth in space-based capabilities, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems. "The future of war is highly automated, highly autonomous," Kendall said in a report to Congress. "The ability of the entire joint force to project power depends upon our success in space."

The Government Accountability Office has upheld the US Army's decision to award AeroVironment a sole-source contract worth up to $990 million for loitering munitions systems. The GAO says the contract, which supports Taiwan, Israel and Ukraine, aligns with the Competition in Contracting Act by serving the public interest and expediting aid to US allies.