The Association of the U.S. Army’s exposition kicked off in Washington this week, luring battle tank and sniper rifle fans by the thousands from across the country.

Air Education and Training Command chief Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson talks with Aviation Week about the Air Force’s perspective on the T-X competition.

In this week’s roundup, the U.S. Navy awards the first of two MQ-25 Stingray contracts; Europe takes another step toward a combat UAV; UK Defense Ministry backs space-based manufacturing; and Draken International helps the Japanese test a surface-to-air missile.

Air Combat Command’s EQ-4B and E-11A Battlefield Communications Node fleet have served as high-flying combat comms relays for eight years and counting.

The contract between France and India is welcomed by French officials as a diplomatic coup, but it also looms large as part of the arms race between India and some of its neighbors—namely Pakistan and China.