China’s largest aerospace company, Avic, has far to go in the reform effort launched two years ago, as long-established plants and institutes only gradually cede power to a new set of subsidiaries that are crucial to the group’s development. What should eventually emerge is a clean corporate structure in which the Avic head office in Beijing guides group strategy, allocates resources and sets financial targets; the new subsidiaries integrate the group’s product lines; and the plants and institutes concentrate on operations.

Japanese technologists are committed to including a pilot in their proposed i3 sixth-generation fighter, regarding the need for onboard decision-making as indispensable in a combat aircraft for at least the next three decades. Among the range of technologies intended for pre-development for the prospective fighter, artificial intelligence has been left out.

BEIJING — China’s Long March 2, 3 and 4 launchers will continue to serve for at least 10 years, according to Meng Guang, vice president of Shanghai-based space contractor SAST. The current Long March 2, 3 and 4 are distinguished from the upcoming Long March 5, 6 and 7 rockets by their use of hydrazine fuel. The first launch of the Long March 5 heavy rocket is due in 2014.