FlightGlobal
• Jon Hemmerdinger
FAA chief Bedford says the regulator has a “great plan” for an AI-powered overhaul of the air traffic control system and promises it will not meet the fate of the troubled NextGen program. The remarks frame execution and delivery as central tests for the new modernization effort.
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FAA chief Bedford says the regulator has a “great plan” for an AI-powered overhaul of the air traffic control system and promises it will not meet the fate of the troubled NextGen program. The remarks frame execution and delivery as central tests for the new modernization effort.
Sailors aboard the USS Ronald Reagan in the Pacific remotely controlled a Boeing MQ-25A Stingray unmanned tanker at a Boeing facility more than 2,100 miles (3,380 km) away, using a satellite network. The test demonstrates long-range command connectivity for the Navy’s carrier-based refueling drone.
Leidos is positioning its Air Shield counter-drone system for the U.S. Army’s M-SHORAD Increment 4 competition, emphasizing operational radar and automated engagement for lighter formations facing a widening range of aerial threats. Separately, an Army air defense unit has been earmarked to support the Golden Dome missile-shield project, an Army official confirmed.
Startup ASI raised $325 million in a funding round led by Spark, valuing the company at $3 billion. The financing will support expansion of its artificial intelligence system, which helps military users, airlines and air-traffic controllers manage assets.
Drone autonomy and counter-UAS technologies dominated AUSA coverage, with suppliers presenting integrated detection and interception approaches as the Army seeks to broaden competition and bring in new vendors. Separately, autonomous flight developer Reliable Robotics said its Series D round increased to $275 million, putting its valuation above $1 billion.
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Reliable Robotics added $115 million in equity and $25 million in debt to its Series D, taking its valuation above $1 billion. China’s Space Robot raised nearly $15 million for an on-orbit servicing constellation after a 2025 technology demonstration, while Canada’s Reaction Dynamics plans a C$350 million raise to develop its Borealis medium-lift rocket for a targeted 2031 debut.
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Boeing’s Dataliner combines fragmented airline operational and maintenance data with the manufacturer’s aircraft and engineering expertise to provide fleet-wide insights. The AI-powered platform is intended to help operators assess aircraft condition and improve maintenance planning and operational decisions.
Amazon says the investment will support data centers, AI infrastructure, its Amazon Leo satellite internet network and media production in Germany. The spending extends the company’s presence across cloud computing and space-based connectivity in a major European market.
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