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Air Force

Varda Space Capsule Successfully Lands On Earth In Hypersonic Reentry Test

By Cal Biesecker

Wednesday, May 14th, 2025

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Varda Space Capsule Successfully Lands On Earth In Hypersonic Reentry Test

Varda's W-3 capsule after landing in South Australia on May 13, 2025. Photo: Varda Space Industries

Varda Space Industries on Tuesday said its W-3 capsule successfully landed in South Australia following two months on orbit in a test of an inertial measurement technology in the high-hypersonic reentry environment. Varda partnered with the U.S. Air Force on the mission under the Prometheus program, in which the two are collaborating on to rapidly conduct technology experiments in the extreme reentry environment. The W-3 reentered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds exceeding Mach 25 before deploying a parachute for landing at…

Army

Army Relooking At Its ‘Whole Aviation Transformation’ Plan, Acting Chief Tells Lawmakers

The Army is relooking at its “whole aviation transformation initiative,” the service’s acting chief of staff told lawmakers on Tuesday, to include its approach for future procurement of “enduring” platforms. […]

Army

Lawmakers Request DoD Briefing On Army’s Planned Cuts To Aviation Procurement

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has sent a letter asking the Pentagon for a briefing on the potential industrial base impacts as a result of the Army’s planned cuts […]

Congress

CENTCOM Looking To Lessons Learned From Use Of LUCAS Drones

U.S Central Command (CENTCOM) is looking to lessons learned from its use of Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones by Phoenix-based SpektreWorks, according to CENTCOM head Adm. Brad Cooper. […]

Army

Hegseth Says DoD Open To Reviewing Army’s Planned Cuts To Legacy Helicopter Procurement

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has told lawmakers the Pentagon is open to reviewing the Army’s planned procurement cuts to its legacy manned aviation fleet. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member […]