Aerotech News and Review

07/11/2025

Greetings and welcome to the July 11, 2025 issue of Aerotech News and Review — proudly celebrating 40 years of dedicated service to the Aerospace, Military, and Veteran community “serving the Aerospace, Military and Veteran Community of the Desert Southwest,” we bring you top stories from the aerospace and military at Edwards AFB, AF Plant 42 in the Antelope Valley, CA, Nellis AFB, Creech AFB and NTTR in Las Vegas, NV and Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson, AZ.

On this month’s cover, Veterans Day 2025 will be final display of AV Vietnam Memorial.

Also included in this issue:

• Mojave hosts 2025 CSUAS competition – Page 2
• 15th Annual 5K Run for Darkhorse Marines and Joey Lopez-Pratti – Page 3
• Scaled Composites swiftly transforms Model 437 to support Beacon™ autonomy initiative – Page 4
• NG leverages advanced tech to build all three F-35 variant center fuselages – Page 5

https://www.aerotechnews.com/blog/2025/07/10/aerotech-news-and-review-july-11-2025/

Discover all this and so much more in this month’s edition of Aerotech News and Review. Printed copies will be available at our regular distribution locations across the Antelope Valley — including Edwards AFB — starting July 11. Grab a copy while you're out or visit us online at www.aerotechnews.com for even more aerospace and defense industry coverage. Don’t forget to “Like” our page for daily updates.

As always, thank you for your continued support. It’s our honor to serve you. Stay safe and take care!

Digital and Print Journal of Aerospace, Defense Industry and Veteran News, serving the Aerospace, Military and Veteran Community of the Desert Southwest includi

07/11/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle, U.S. F-35A Lightning II, Finnish F/A-18 Hornet and French Rafale break away from a formation during exercise Atlantic Trident 25 over Finland. The exercise built military capability and warfighting capacity between the U.S., U.K., France and Finland to support deterrence and defense of the Euro-Atlantic region, ensuring continued readiness, adaptability and lethality. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Bridget Rossignol)

07/10/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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A B-2 Spirit takes off from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. in support of Operation Midnight Hammer. Midnight Hammer was a deeply coordinated strike combining air and naval firepower to target Iran’s underground nuclear sites. It leveraged advanced bombing capabilities and deception tactics to maintain surprise and deliver a powerful strategic signal. (U.S. Air Force courtesy photo)

07/09/2025

The team that presents the Antelope Valley Vietnam Memorial is already preparing for the monument’s final public display during the Veterans Day holiday period at the Marie Kerr Park Amphitheater.
The final display coincides with the conclusion of the National Vietnam 50th Commemorative, a Department of Defense activity which has awarded special recognition to the Antelope Valley Vietnam Memorial.
“It’s bittersweet, but it’s time,” said Michael Bertell, the Vietnam combat veteran of the 101st Airborne Division who heads up the “AV Wall” citizen support committee.

PALMDALE, Calif. — The team that presents the Antelope Valley Vietnam Memorial is already preparing for the monument’s final public display during the Veter

07/09/2025

Stratolaunch photograph
Grumman successfully completed two test flights of its Advanced Hypersonic Technology Inertial Measurement Unit at hypersonic speed, leveraging Stratolaunch’s reusable hypersonic airplane, Talon-A at the Mojave Air and Space Port, Calif. These advanced flight tests move engineers one step closer to precisely navigating hypersonic vehicles in GPS-denied environments, further protecting the trajectory of the hypersonic vehicle from adversary threats. Survivability of the navigation unit, also known as a hemispherical resonator gyroscope, is a major accomplishment due to the harsh environment hypersonic speed presents and the intense forces experienced as the technology operates within Earth’s atmospheric boundary. This technology collected hours of critical ground and flight data, pivotal for future development.

Stratolaunch photograph Grumman successfully completed two test flights of its Advanced Hypersonic Technology Inertial Measurement Unit at hypersonic speed, le

07/09/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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Maj. Joshua Burress, a pilot with the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, prepares to be refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker with the 121st Air Refueling Wing over the skies of Virginia, June 18, 2025. The Thunderbirds were traveling to the Dayton Air Show in Dayton, Ohio. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ivy Thomas)

07/08/2025

🚀 The Future Is Calling! Be Part of Our 2025 STEM Special Edition!
Aerotech News is publishing a powerful STEM-focused issue on August 22, spotlighting innovation, careers, and changemakers in science, tech, engineering, and math.
✨ Who should read it?
✅ Educators
✅ Students
✅ STEM Pros
✅ Curious minds of all ages!
🔬 Inside you'll find:
👩‍🔬 STEM Trailblazers
🧩 Engaging Activities
💼 Career Spotlights
🧪 Cutting-Edge Research
📣 Want to advertise in this special issue?
Great exposure. Valuable audience. Future-focused content.
📅 Reserve by: August 11
🖼️ Ad materials due: August 14
📧 Contact: Sandi Bueltel – [email protected]
📞 877-247-9288
🌐 www.aerotechnews.com

07/08/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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An R-12 hydrant service vehicle refuels a B-2 Spirit during hot-pit refueling operations at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Hot-pit refueling is the practice of refueling an aircraft immediately after landing while keeping the engines running. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Joshua Hastings)

07/07/2025

In the latest edition of Aerospace, Military and Veteran News, we highlight remarkable instances where military training has proved lifesaving. From emergency room heroes to veterans' poker games, these stories underscore the importance of preparedness and quick thinking in critical situations. Join us in celebrating these heroes and learn about our upcoming STEM Special Edition.

https://conta.cc/44kqGD2

Email from Aerotech News and Review Top Headlines From Aerotech News July 7, 2025 Aerospace, Military and Veteran News of the Southwest U.S. Visit our Website A breath of relief: How one airman’s tr

07/07/2025

A joint airborne training exercise at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., involving the U.S. Air Force and Army Reserves highlighted the importance of cross-service collaboration, offering critical jump currency, tactical training, and operational integration for more than 100 service members, April 11.
Led by the 412th Operations Support Squadron and the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), the event brought together paratroopers and jumpmasters from civil affairs units and the 412th Test Wing Test Parachute Program as well as an aircrew from the 418th Flight Test Squadron. The operation enabled the deployment of troops and supplies over approximately 100 miles for a weekend field exercise, which included live-fire qualifications and a change of command on the drop zone.

“The purpose of the event was to provide currency and training for the Army Reserves and 412th OSS paratroopers,” said Tech. Sgt. Robert Gregory, 412th OSS SERE/TPP superintendent.

A joint airborne training exercise at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., involving the U.S. Air Force and Army Reserves highlighted the importance of cross-service

07/07/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
Now you can search for hundreds of photos from our collection.
Simply go to https://www.aerotechnews.com/photoarchive/ and click on a folder to view images.

Capt. Jack Ault, 21st Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III instructor pilot, flies a C-17 Globemaster III beneath a KC-46A Pegasus during a routine aerial refueling training mission over California. A C-17 aircrew assigned to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., accomplished training while traveling to Joint Base Charleston, S.C. They picked up humanitarian aid that was later delivered to El Salvador and Guatemala through the Denton Program. (U.S. Air Force photo by 2nd Lt. Yasmeen Joachim Jordan)

07/06/2025

PHOTO OF THE DAY!
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Senior Airman Alexis Youngblood, 757th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, reviews preflight checklists aboard a C-130H Hercules ahead of its final flight from Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, June 9, 2025. With nearly 11,000 flight hours, the aircraft is being divested from the 910th Airlift Wing and transferred to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. (U.S. Air Force photo by Eric M. White)