President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have reached a trade agreement that includes reducing tariffs on Chinese goods from 57% to 47% and pausing new rare-earth export curbs for a year. The agreement also addresses issues related to soybean imports and fentanyl. The deal is seen as a reprieve in the US-China tariff war.

President Donald Trump has instructed the Pentagon to immediately resume nuclear weapons testing to match China and Russia, who have been expanding their nuclear capabilities. "Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Trump says. "Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years."

The US Navy has tasked General Atomics Aeronautical Systems with the development of collaborative combat aircraft conceptual designs for future carrier air wings. The contract emphasizes a modular approach, allowing rapid reconfiguration and upgrades to meet evolving mission requirements.

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions and Korea Aerospace Industries have entered a strategic partnership to jointly develop advanced capabilities in integrating manned and unmanned aircraft for future combat missions. The collaboration brings together Kratos' work in tactical drones and KAI's proficiency in crewed aerospace platforms to address complex mission requirements such as reconnaissance and electronic warfare.

Joby Aviation has partnered with Nvidia to use the Nvidia IGX Thor platform to advance Joby's Superpilot autonomous flight technology. The collaboration aims to enhance real-time decision-making and operational safety for Joby's electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing air taxis.

Boeing has announced that the first deliveries of its 777-9 widebody jet are planned for 2027, as the company pursues type certification next year. This latest shift pushes back previous plans, which had aimed for a 2026 entry into service.

The Aerospace Industries Association tracks hundreds of thousands of Texas jobs related to aerospace and defense as these sectors grow across the state, drawing attention to a talent shortage, especially for skilled engineers and maintenance technicians.

United Launch Alliance is preparing for a Nov. 5 launch of the ViaSat-3 Flight 2 satellite from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida using the company's Atlas V rocket. The satellite is expected to provide a doubling of Viasat's total bandwidth capacity.

Bipartisan discussions are increasing among senators to end the government shutdown as critical deadlines for food aid and health care approach. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., notes more conversations among senators, though leadership talks are stalled. Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., says more cross-party dialogue is happening, driven by the need to address expiring tax credits and food aid.

President Donald Trump has introduced the Golden Dome missile defense system, aiming to protect the US from intercontinental ballistic missiles. Trump claims the system will be completed by the end of this term at a cost of $175 billion, but analysts estimate it could take over a decade and exceed $1 trillion. The system would involve thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit to intercept missiles during their boost phase, a concept critics say is unrealistic and could destabilize international security.