The compositions and technical features of the current US UAV force was heavily shaped by short-term war requirement for the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Systems were acquired to fulfill immediate tactical needs, even if not entirely ideal. With both Iraq and Afghanistan fading in the rear-view mirror, the services are beginning to take a fresher look at fu­ture UAV requirements.

It’s been a long time since we’ve had a jetliner market bust cycle. Other than the 737 MAX production stop, we haven’t seen topline output fall since 2002-03. Before that, this industry had been defined by serious downturns every seven years, an unpleasant pattern that stretched back to the start of the jet age in the 1950s.

Yet as a result of this remarkable 16-year run, there’s a new generation of managers who’ve never experienced anything like what we’re about to see. For them, and as a reminder to industry veterans, here’s my guide to six things we can expect.

This is going to be a milestone year for US military space. Since 1994, the Air Force has relied on the EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) program to launch its satellites. The central feature of EELV has been to ensure regular, flexible access to space by having two available launch vehicle programs from which to choose. It’s a kind of insurance plan in case one vehicle fails and it is unable to launch again soon.

Navy Starts Conventional Prompt Strike Missile Program Evidence of the growing Pentagon interest in hypersonic missiles, several exploratory programs have been shifted into engineering development over the past year. In 2019, DARPA relinquished control over the Conventional Prompt Global Strike program, with the effort transferred to the Navy’s Strategic Systems Program.