The current budget year represents a high mark for defense spending as future budgets will struggle to outpace inflation.

The White House plans to request $713 billion in defense funding for 2020, but the Budget Control Act will cap spending at $576 billion. Defense budget caps are setting the stage for a political battle in Congress in 2020, an issue complicated by the Trump administration's plan to reduce the use of Overseas Contingency Operations funds.

A new directive requiring the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy to make 80% of air fleets mission-ready could mean the retirement of some older aircraft, including F-18s. When "you look at what it would take to restore them to a certain level of readiness, you might say it's much easier just to retire those," Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said about F-18s.

The Federal Aviation Administration is planning to test satellite tracking of some aircraft next year. Several airlines are expected to participate in the evaluation.

A newly released document shows Boeing gaining control of Embraer's commercial aircraft division under a joint venture, making it a fully integrated subsidiary.

Boeing has selected Korea Aerospace Industries to supply tail wings for 737 jetliners in a $460 million deal.

Russia's Soyuz rocket will be grounded during an investigation of a launch malfunction that happened Thursday. The length of the investigation into the failed launch is unknown, according to NASA's Kenny Todd.

NASA's Voyager 2 satellite is close to reaching interstellar space, following in the footsteps of Voyager 1.

American Airlines is partnering with Pennsylvania's Wellsboro High School to provide speakers and materials for the school's aviation curriculum, which was developed by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Students will travel to Dallas each year to visit American's aviation academy and museum, and graduates of the AOPA program will receive preferential treatment for the airline's cadet program.

UPS has expanded UPS My Choice, which notifies UPS package recipients the day before a package is to be delivered and allows them to specify where and when it should arrive. The service is now available in 112 countries and territories.