The Department of Energy’s Ames Lab, in Ames, Iowa, is working on a new high-strength aluminum alloy that could enable the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to fly “farther and faster,” says lab officials. Researchers plan to produce about 400 pounds of the aluminum-yttrium-nickel alloy, for use in the JSF engine, over the next few months for testing. If the material performs well, it could dramatically impact the performance and efficiency of the JSF and other aircraft by greatly reducing aircraft weight, which was a particular problem for the short takeoff and landing variant of the F-35. Ames researcher Larry Jones said that Pratt & Whitney engineers estimated that replacing several components in one jet engine with the new alloy could reduce the engine’s weight by up to 350 pounds.
SDA’s Next Phase of Data Transport Satellites on Hold
June 30, 2025
The long-term future of one of the Space Development Agency’s two satellite constellations is on hold as officials study the options for replacing a planned “data transport layer” with one or more commercial solutions. President Trump’s proposed 2026 defense budget...