The Official Newsletter of The National Defense Transportation Association
May 19, 2026
Save the Date
October 26-29, 2026
The 14th Annual NDTA–USTRANSCOM Fall Meeting is scheduled for October 26-29, 2026, at the Texas Gaylord Resort & Convention Center, in Grapevine, TX. Industry, government, and military partners will come together to learn about and share ideas, solutions and impacts related to this year’s theme: “Delivering Hope Projecting Lethality – Theater to Globe.“ Join us as we focus on the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise on the direction we need to take and the resources we need to leverage to provide the capacity, posture, and command and control, to gain and maintain the strategic advantage over any adversary.
Visit the Fall Meeting website today and start planning to join us in October in Grapevine, TX! Registration will open on May 28, 2026, and we will continue to update Fall Meeting information on NDTA‘s website as the program agenda develops. We’ll keep you posted with regular reminders and updates on the program and registration details.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has invested $970 million in America’s airports to enhance the travel experience for families. The Department delivered 133 grants to airports in 45 states through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act – Airport Terminal Program (ATP) to invest in family-friendly airport projects. […READ MORE…]
(transportation.gov) WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the Department is moving quickly to make $3 billion available for states to invest in aging bridge infrastructure across the country. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA)’s Bridge Investment Program (BIP) focuses on repairing bridges in poor condition so Americans can safely get to work and school, and American businesses can move their goods efficiently. […READ MORE…]
(transportation.gov) WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy released the 2026 National Freight Strategic Plan (NFSP), a multi-year strategy to modernize the nation’s 7-million-mile freight network. This roadmap will enhance the safety, security, and efficiency of the multimodal network that moves more than 54 million tons of goods valued at more than $68 billion across America every single day. […READ MORE…]
U.S. Department of Transportation Warns Travelers May Need More Than a Passport to Fly this Summer
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(www.msn.com) For decades, passports have been viewed as the ultimate international travel document. As long as you have a valid passport and a booked flight, most people would assume they are ready to hit the skies. However, travel in 2026 looks quite different to how it did even a few years ago, and the U.S. Department of Transportation is warning Americans that a valid passport alone is no longer enough to fly. […READ MORE…]
Editor’s Picks
‘Ship-killer’ Hypersonic Weapon that Can Be Launched from Bomber Set to Be Built in U.S.
(interestingengineering.com) The United States has revived one of its most interesting hypersonic weapon programs. The Air Force will resume work on the development of AGM-183A Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) program, which was paused in 2023. Reports have also revealed that a new variant of ARRW is also on the horizon. ARRW is designed to enable the U.S. to hold fixed, high-value, time-sensitive targets at risk in contested environments from stand-off distances.
USVs Could Be ‘Alternate Options’ for Missions for Stretched Manned Fleet: Navy Official
(breakingdefense.com) As unmanned surface vessels (USVs) continue to take priority for the Navy, service officials and experts are discussing how these systems could ease operational and sustainment pressures of the Navy’s aging fleet.
“The surface fleet is stretched pretty thin,” Cmdr. Jon Noda, USV department head for Surface Development Squadron One, said on a panel at the joint Xponential/MDEX conference here. USVs give commanders “alternate options” for servicing mission sets.
U.S. Coast Guard’s Newest Icebreaker Returns to Seattle After Bering Sea Patrol
(uscg.mil) The Storis medium icebreaker, boasting a length of 360 feet and a displacement of nearly15,000 tons, is a formidable vessel. Equipped with four diesel engines generating 22,500 horsepower, Storis can navigate through three feet of ice at five knots, adding crucial capabilities to the Coast Guard’s Arctic operations. Storis joins CGC Healy and CGC Polar Star, augmenting the Coast Guard’s current capabilities in the Arctic.
China’s Neighbor Hits 1,200-second Mark in Hypersonic Missile Engine Testing
(interestingengineering.com) India has made progress toward developing hypersonic cruise missile technology. On Saturday in Hyderabad, the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) completed a 1,200-second ground test of its actively cooled scramjet combustor.
This successful test lasted almost 20 minutes, nearly twice as long as a previous test in January. Officials said this achievement boosts India’s efforts to develop hypersonic weapons that can fly faster than Mach 5 (3,790 mph).
(navylookout.com) The MoD announced today that HMS Dragon will pass from the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal and head into the Middle East region ready to participate in a possible defensive mission to protect shipping in the Gulf region.
The Type 45 destroyer’s move is part of the preparation for a possible multinational mission to protect international shipping in the Gulf.
Air Force Greenlights Requirements for Sell MQ-9A Reaper Drone Replacement
(breakingdefense.com) The U.S. Air Force has finalized requirements for a drone to replace the service’s General Atomics MQ-9A Reaper, and in the near term is looking to replenish combat losses of the aircraft, officials said Tuesday.
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Airland subcommittee, Air Force Maj. Gen. The new unmanned aircraft, Niemi said, must consist of open architectures, be easily mass produced and have a higher tolerance for attrition.
U.S. Jet Shoots Mysterious Flying Object Over Canada, Second in 2 Days
(interestingengineering.com) U.S. and Canada jointly shot down a mysterious unidentified flying object (UFO) illegally close to Canadian airspace on Saturday, North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has confirmed.
NORAD discovered the cylindrical object Friday evening, which led to its intercept by American and Canadian jets, according to Pentagon.
An Underwater Long-Haul Truck?
To move large payloads underwater autonomously, Anduril has been working a new system called the Dive-XL, in connection with Australia’s Ghost Shark Program.
(GEODIS) GEODIS announced the opening of a temperature-controlled GDP-compliant pharmaceutical warehouse close to the airport in Manchester designed to support both inventory management and cross-docking operations, reinforcing its capabilities in the fast-growing Pharma & Healthcare sector in the UK and Ireland. The facility is scheduled to go live on June 1, 2026.
CSX, CPKC Upgrade Southeast Mexico Express with Dedicated Train, Faster Times
(www.csx.com) CSX Corp. and Canadian Pacific Kansas City today announced upgrades to the Southeast Mexico Express (SMX) premium service featuring faster transit times with more origin and destination options for customers looking to reach new markets.
The new SMX premium service schedule and routing options launched May 4, 2026, offer industry-best, truck-competitive transit times between southeastern markets such as Atlanta, Charlotte or central Florida, and markets in Texas and Mexico, including Dallas and Monterrey.
United Adds Nonstop Service to Sapporo, New Flight Between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita
(www.united.com) United announced it is expanding its service to Japan with new flights to Sapporo and Tokyo-Narita this winter. The airline will launch the first nonstop service from the continental U.S. to Sapporo, Japan and will be the only U.S. airline offering nonstop service between Chicago and Tokyo-Narita*. As the leading carrier between the U.S. and Japan, these new flights give travelers from across North America more ways to explore Japan and connect across Asia.
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