Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Turkey’s combat UAV, the Akinci, has completed live trials and successfully conducted its first live firing at a sea target in its preparation to join the Turkish Navy

The city of Coventry is playing its part in bringing eVTOL vertiports to the world.

Taiwan’s new hypersonic R&D office; North Korean nuke pledge; Capella Space raises cash for analysis; and Lockheed’s radar upgrades.

Engine manufacturer Pratt & Whitney and IT provider SITA have signed an agreement for full flight data retrieval and processing in support of predictive maintenance of aircraft engines.

With modification of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and 208 Caravan to autonomous operation already under its belt, Reliable Robotics has received an Air Force Research Laboratory contract to demonstrate autonomous capabilities on U.S. Air Force aircraft.

Qatar Airways has entered the metaverse by launching QVerse, a novel virtual reality (VR) experience for visitors to the airline’s website.

Airbus advances X-plane; BAE joins GE on hybrid; Seaglider takes to water; Cross-country on hydrogen; and manufacturing LH2 tanks.