US airspace

The United States is threatening to ground Iranian airlines from operating worldwide starting Wednesday. The warning, reported by Al Jazeera, would bar Iranian carriers such as Iran Air from international airspace and airports. The move signals a further escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran, and observers are watching how Iranian authorities and international aviation bodies will respond before the deadline.

The Department of Transportation, joined by aviation industry groups, is asking Congress for $30 billion to modernize the US air traffic control system and national airspace. The request covers upgrades to aging infrastructure, including radar, communications and technology systems. It comes amid heightened attention to airline safety following recent incidents and delays tied to outdated equipment, with lawmakers now weighing how to fund the overhaul.

Los Angeles International Airport is at the forefront of an air traffic control modernization effort, rolling out new technology alongside an overhauled hiring and training program for controllers. The initiative aims to address longstanding staffing shortages and outdated systems that have strained US airspace operations, with LAX serving as a testbed for the federal push.

The U.S. Air Force is flight testing an F-22 Raptor fitted with stealthy passive-sensing pods in aggressive sorties near Edwards Air Force Base in California. The tests suggest the service is expanding efforts to give its stealth fighters more sensor options without compromising their low-observable profile. Aviation watchers say passive sensing could help fighters detect threats while emitting less and staying harder to track in contested airspace.