
Agency seeks contractors for air-breathing propulsion systems capable of hypersonic flight
AI-generated summary
DARPA is seeking to move beyond existing missile technology by utilizing air-breathing propulsion, which draws oxygen from the atmosphere to increase payload capacity.
The US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) will bring contractors together later this month to lay out what it wants from the Next Generation Hypersonic Cruise Missile, with air-breathing propulsion at the heart of the project, according to the agency’s website.
Unlike rocket-powered missiles, air-breathing weapons draw oxygen from the atmosphere instead of carrying all they need on board, freeing up weight for fuel or payload.
Darpa has made clear it is looking for more than an upgrade to existing technology. In an industry request issued last month, the agency called for radically new propulsion, fuels, boosters and systems to cope with the extreme heat of hypersonic flight.
The new missile could come in varied sizes, from weapons carried by tactical aircraft to much larger systems launched from bombers or the ground. Darpa has asked contractors to consider flight tests over distances ranging from about 250 to 2,000 nautical miles (460 to 3,700km).

The Heavy Combined Brigade of the 71st Group Army in the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army recently upgraded to a PLZ-05 155 mm self-propelled howitzer, replacing the original 122 mm artillery. This move marks the first time that this type of long-range artillery has been decentralized to brigade-level units, and is seen as strengthening the deployment of long-range firepower facing the Taiwan Strait.

The "Maritime Cooperation-2026" joint exercise between China and Singapore ended on September 9. The exercise is divided into two stages: port and shore exchanges and maritime exercises, covering subjects such as communication exercises, live-fire shooting and joint search and rescue. It aims to deepen mutual trust between the two navies and jointly maintain regional peace and stability.

Beijing has deployed 155mm PLZ-05 self-propelled howitzers to the Taiwan Strait, marking the first time the artillery system has been assigned at the brigade level. The units were reportedly relocated from the Western Theatre Command.

Regional officials revealed that the Yemeni youth movement assisted pro-Iranian militias in Iraq in planning drone attacks against Saudi Arabia. This cooperation shows an increased level of coordination among Iranian proxies, threatening Saudi oil transportation routes and raising regional security risks.

On September 9, the Chinese Coast Guard's Shan and Five Tiger fleets returned to port after completing a 45-day fishery law enforcement patrol on the high seas in the North Pacific. During this period, a total of 20 fishing vessels were inspected and 95 vessels were observed and recorded, aiming to fulfill the obligations of international conventions and maintain the order of fishery production in the North Pacific.

Iranian officials claimed to have tested anti-ship missiles against a U.S. aircraft carrier for the first time. The U.S. Central Command confirmed that it was attacked by a ballistic missile launched by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on September 5. The U.S. warship successfully evaded without being injured, and then attacked three Iranian oil tankers.