The Air Force Research Laboratory is manufacturing transparent ceramic armor for both air and ground vehicles. ALON is a transparent ceramic material composed of aluminum, oxygen, and nitrogen. It begins as a powder that is formed into unique shapes and made transparent through the application of high temperature and pressure.

Automatic landings have long been standard procedure for commercial aircraft at major airports; this is usually not the case at smaller airports. Researchers have developed a completely automatic landing with vision-assisted navigation that functions properly without the need for ground-based systems.

A sensor for detecting toxic gases is now smaller, faster and more reliable, setting it up for integration into a highly sensitive portable system for detecting chemical weapons. Better miniature sensors can also rapidly detect airborne toxins where they occur, providing key information to help emergency personnel respond safely and effectively to an incident.

The Army is now standing up short-range air defense units, known as SHORAD battalions, and offering a five-week pilot Stinger course for soldiers in maneuver units. It's all part of a critical effort to defend maneuver units against the threat of aircraft, drones and cruise missiles, said Col. Mark A. Holler, commandant of the Air Defense Artillery School at Fort Sill.

When a cyber-warrior defends a complex computer network, or a pilot commands a team of unmanned vehicles, or a submarine officer interacts with intricate sensor systems, they are often limited by conventional interfaces: their fingers, eyes and ears. And while commercial technology has opened new possibilities for controlling complex systems — touch screens, mixed reality and voice control — taking full advantage of these increasingly fast, smart and sophisticated systems will require direct interface with the brain.

The FAA announced two rulemaking activities on civil supersonic aircraft noise that could reintroduce supersonic passenger travel for the first time since the Concorde retired in 2003.

NASA Glenn has repurposed its Hypersonic Tunnel Facility to create the NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed (NEAT), a reconfigurable facility that can accommodate power systems for large passenger airplanes, like a Boeing 737, with megawatts of power.

The average age of Air Force aircraft is over 28 years. As a result, parts can be difficult to acquire when original suppliers are no longer in existence. The Maturation of Advanced Manufacturing for Low Cost Sustainment (MAMLS) program was created to utilize advanced technologies to address the current challenges of keeping aging aircraft flying safely.

Boosted by a growing use in industries such as agriculture, media, and mining, the commercial UAV market is anticipated to reach over $15.6 million by 2026.