In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, May. 31 2023

Credit: Equatic.

Boeing has signed a prepurchase option agreement with Equatic, a startup that aims to remove carbon dioxide from seawater.

Credit: NASA.

NASA has managed to improve the cost performance of 16 major projects over the past year, a significant step as the agency plans to make a nearly $16 billion commitment to eight new projects in 2023, an annual U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessment said May 31.

Credit: Regent.

Regent has signed an agreement to sell 15 of its 12-passenger electric Viceroy seaplanes to Filipino charter operator INAEC Aviation Corporation, to be used initially for tourism-related services connecting the archipelago nation’s many islands. 

Credit: Columbia Helicopters.

Columbia Helicopters has signed an agreement with Piasecki Aircraft to develop a new version of the Vertol 107 commercial tandem-rotor helicopter and reset stored former military CH-46E Sea Knights for sale to U.S. allies divesting fleets of Russian-manufactured helicopters.

Credit: IRNA

Iran’s first indigenous light military transport aircraft—Simorgh—made its first flight on May 30, Defense Minister Brig. Gen. Mohammadreza Ashtiani says.

Credit: Air National Guard.

The main voice on Capitol Hill for blocking the sale of F-16 Block 70/72 fighters to Turkey is not going along with President Joe Biden’s comments that accession of Sweden to NATO could create an opening.

Credit: SatixFy.

Satellite computer chip startup SatixFy, which saw a rotation of executives pass through its corner office even before it became a publicly traded company, said Nir Barkan will be acting CEO effective June 1, replacing Ido Gur, “who is stepping down.”

Credit: EHang.

Chinese air taxi startup EHang has reiterated its confidence in receiving type certification in the “near future,” with roughly 90% of its work now completed toward the final stage, according to an update released with its first-quarter (Q1) financial results.

Credit: German air force.

The first aircraft participating in the Air Defender 2023 deployment exercise have touched down at German air bases.

Credit: Leonardo.

Nigeria’s government has provided further confirmation that it has ordered Leonardo M-346 advanced jet trainers and AH-1Z light attack helicopters.