FAA Issues Special Conditions for Dassault Falcon 10X Airplanes

The U.S. Air Force is preparing to conduct the first flight test of its new Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) in fiscal 2026, with the missile designed to be launched from B-52, B-21 bombers, and F-15 and F-18 jets. The HACM uses scramjet technology to achieve speeds exceeding five times the speed of sound, enabling rapid strikes on high-value, heavily defended targets with precision and maneuverability to overcome advanced enemy defenses, primarily aimed at countering China's growing military capabilities. Meanwhile, the U.S. military will deploy the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS), a state-of-the-art short-range air defense system to counter low-altitude threats like cruise missiles and drones, in the upcoming Resolute Dragon joint drill with Japan in Okinawa, marking its first deployment in the region amid tensions over the Senkaku Islands. The drill will also introduce the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) for the first time in Okinawa, highlighting a strengthening of U.S.-Japan defense cooperation in response to regional security challenges. Additionally, the FAA has issued special conditions for the Dassault Aviation Falcon 10X series airplanes, which feature an innovative electronic flight control system with a side stick controller requiring new safety standards to ensure an equivalent level of safety. These developments collectively underscore ongoing advancements in U.S. military and aviation technology aimed at maintaining strategic superiority and addressing emerging threats.