The latest AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile recently completed live-shot operational testing, clearing it for acceptance by, and delivery to,? the US services, including the Air Force, and foreign allies “later this year,” Raytheon announced. The Block II “builds upon the proven reliability of Block I with significant advancements that improve handling, loading, in-flight safety, and most importantly the ability to acquire, track, and destroy an adversary,” program manager Navy Capt. Jim Stoneman said in a June 17 release. The new block gives fighter pilots “the first firing opportunity in a hard-turning visual dogfight” and uses aircraft sensors and datalinks to extend engagement ranges, added Mike Jarrett, company air warfare systems vice president.
Celebrating 100 Years of Liquid-Fueled Rockets
March 11, 2026
March 16, 2026, marks 100 years since Dr. Robert H. Goddard launched the world’s first liquid-fueled rocket. Over the past century, new and ever more capable liquid-fueled rockets have literally propelled humanity into space. Why liquid-fueled rockets?