Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The latest update to the ongoing investigation was published May 13.

News in brief.

First USMC training with MQ-9A SkyTower 1 pod... New CEO for RAYTHEON UK... NORTHROP teams with NVIDIA...

Australia’s new defense strategy includes pricey acquisitions for both the Australian navy and air force, but data from Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery Military tool suggest that a commensurate increase in aviation-related contract opportunities may not be in the offing.

The text of the latest FAA Reauthorization Bill contains numerous provisions intended to advance the adoption of advanced air mobility.

Lilium has announced the beginning of construction of a new certification testing facility in Munich.

AST SpaceMobile has signed a commercial agreement with AT&T to provide satellite-based cellular service to the company’s customers.

The review assessed the X-59 project’s approach to safety and hazard analysis.

With former partner Russia out of the picture, the European Space Agency-led ExoMars rover mission is firming up its partnership with NASA.

The Wichita company pledged to conduct the layoffs “in as compassionate a manner as possible.”

Lockheed Martin could potentially park 84 F-35s in temporary storage before receiving approval to resume deliveries with a new software update, the GAO says.

The company is exploring how its Medulla research project could boost the computing power of the mission systems of the Hawk.

Airbus Helicopters test pilots are eagerly awaiting approval to begin higher-speed flights with the company’s Racer compound rotorcraft demonstrator.

A USAF F-16C crashed shortly after takeoff in South Korea in 2023 after power outages caused a series of failures to instruments in the aircraft’s cockpit.

The first of the two Prefire satellites is planned for launch on May 22.

Project Ealing is able to detect, track and engage UAS threats up to 1 km (half a mile) away, and work is ongoing to boost its range, the UK MOD says.

Partners in the Eurodrone program have completed the preliminary design review for the twin-engine medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) uncrewed air system.

NASA’s long-serving McDonnell Douglas DC-8-72 research aircraft flew for the final time on May 15 after being used on 158 science campaigns.

BAE Systems has confirmed a months-old contract award to develop a new decoy system that is intended to replace the towed decoys flown on some Navy fighters.

Terran Orbital’s revenue fell 3% to $27.2 million for the period ended March 31, it disclosed in a financial filing with the SEC on May 14.

Hypersonic test company Stratolaunch conducted a “shakedown” flight of its Roc carrier aircraft on May 15.

Heart Aerospace has announced a redesigned hybrid propulsion system built around off-the-shelf turboprops and electric motors.

British Royal Navy surface warships are to receive a land attack capability, UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps has declared.

Service leaders in September 2023 first announced the plan to create six Air Task Forces.

Boeing’s planned acquisition of supplier Spirit AeroSystems has raised some concerns on Capitol Hill and among major defense companies.