A team of Air Force Academy cadets received an award from Boeing earlier this month for their research on what future drone swarms could do, and how they could be controlled. The Boeing Tri-Service Academy Capstone Competition, an annual contest between the three service academies, required entrants to research ways to control independent swarms of unmanned aircraft systems. The Air Force team used computer simulations to test different configurations, created a custom stealth propeller for quadcopters that reduced noise, and demonstrated limited autonomy with three aircraft taking pictures, according to an Academy release. The Air Force on Tuesday released its flight path for small, unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS), which the service expects to one day be the primary source of surveillance. According to the flight plan, swarming will be a “key element” of future SUAS strategies. (See also: The Future of Drones and Keeping the Human Involved.)
US Space Command Should Always Be Led by a Guardian
Sept. 12, 2026
General Stephen Whiting took command of U.S. Space Command in January 2024, and if customary three-year tenures hold, his tour would end in January 2027. The question now before the President and Senate is who should follow him? Whoever they choose, it has to be a Guardian—and so should every successor…
