In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Mar. 06 2023

Credit: Marvin Hofmann/German Armed Forces. The UK and German air forces have linked arms to undertake a joint air policing mission from Estonia.

Credit: CycloTech. Austrian startup CycloTech is to begin outdoor flight testing of its CycloRotor electric propulsion testbed after receiving approval from the country’s aviation regulator, Austro Control. 

Credit: Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin has been cleared to resume F-35 deliveries after lifting a nearly three-month-old grounding order on production flight operations, a spokesperson said on March 6. 

Credit: U.S. Air Force. Pratt & Whitney has agreed on final contract terms to build hundreds more F135 engines worth about $8 billion for Lockheed Martin F-35s to be delivered in production Lots 15-17 for U.S. and international customers, the company said March 6. 

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Credit: SOPA Images Limited / Alamy Stock Photo. The new owners of MD Helicopters envision raising production to 50 helicopters a year by 2025 as the company rebuilds after exiting bankruptcy in August 2022.

Credit: Tony Osborne/Aviation Week. Ukraine’s 18th Separate Army Aviation Brigade survives—and is currently hosting a foreign media blitz. 

Credit: Carl & Ann Purcell/Getty Images. China’s defense budget is set to increase by 7.1% for fiscal 2023, rising from CNY1,450.4 billion to CNY1,553.7 billion ($224.9 billion). 

Credit: AMSL Aero. Australia’s fledging advanced air mobility (AAM) industry was promoted at the biennial Avalon Airshow at Geelong in Victoria on Feb. 28-March 3 with a dedicated hub sponsored by the Victorian government, product launches and partnership agreements.

Credit: Jiangxi Television via Global Times. China is designing a new helicopter that will serve its military’s current and future needs.

Credit: Jaunt Air Mobility. AIRO Group Holdings is to go public on the Nasdaq through a merger with blank-check company Kernel Group Holdings with the goal of raising funds for development of the Jaunt Journey electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) air taxi.

Credit: Leonardo Helicopters. Leonardo Helicopters is expanding its use of simulation to help accelerate the development of new capabilities, mission sets and rotorcraft concepts.

Credit: Leonardo Helicopters. Leonardo Helicopters is exploring the use of big data collected from operators of its helicopters to better understand its fleets and broaden the services available to its customers.

Credit: Lloyd Horgan/Airbus Helicopters. Boeing has emerged as a surprise teammate in Airbus’ efforts to offer a military version of its H175 super-medium helicopter for the UK’s New Medium Helicopter (NMH) contest.