Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 22, 2021 is available to both Aviation Week & Space Technology and AWIN subscribers.

Subscribe now to read this content, plus receive critical analysis into emerging trends, technological advancements, operational best practices and continuous updates to policy, requirements and budgets.

Already a subscriber to AW&ST or AWIN? Log in with your existing email and password.

Subscribe    Log in    
Magazine Issue

Aviation Week & Space Technology, March 22, 2021

VOL. 183 NO. 11 March 22, 2021
AW&ST March 22, 2021 cover

DEFENSE

U.S. Air Force F-35A aircraft
article

F-35A Caught In Acquisition Dogfight Within U.S. Air Force

Mar 15, 2021
After breaking F-35A order monopoly last year, USAF seeks wide range of alternatives to only domestic stealth fighter in production.
space-based radar
article

Decades-Old Concept Makes Comeback for Space Radars

Mar 17, 2021
After a series of cancelled programs over a decade ago, U.S. military officials make a new push for tracking moving targets from space.
SBIRS GEO-5 missile warning satellite
article

U.S. Space Force Juggles Changes To Missile Warning Portfolio

Mar 19, 2021
The Pentagon is diversifying the U.S. early missile warning portfolio with a mix of satellite types and sizes in different orbits to prevent unwanted missile attacks.
Common Hypersonic Glide Body
article

Does The U.S. Need A Nuclear-Armed Hypersonic Glide Vehicle?

Mar 16, 2021
Russia, China and France are developing or have deployed hypersonic glide vehicles with nuclear warheads, unlike the U.S.
Future Combat Air System aircraft
article

Tempest Partners Awaiting Review Outcomes

Mar 16, 2021
New technologies that allow dozens of platform configurations to be tested in days will find balance for future systems.
U-28 Draco
article

U.S. Special Forces Prepares To Reboot Armed Overwatch Bidding

Mar 18, 2021
A congressionally imposed hiatus is almost over, and the competition for the prized 75-aircraft contract is set to heat up this summer.
U.S. Air Force F-35

Fiscal 2022 Budget: What’s On The Pentagon’s Radar

Mar 15, 2021
The deputy defense secretary is conducting a review of some of the Pentagon’s key programs as she prepares the fiscal 2022 budget.
309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group’s campus

B-1s Arrive at the U.S. Air Force Boneyard

Mar 17, 2021
A look at the USAF 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group, which stores retired military aircraft, on its 75th anniversary.
UK nuclear ballistic missile submarine
article

The Week In Defense, March 18-25, 2021

Mar 18, 2021
UK Defense Review Provokes Backlash; China’s hypersonic ambitions; Yaogan-31 satellites launched; and Pentagon awards launch contract.

FIRST TAKE

P-Volt electric 9-passenger aircraft
article

First Take, March 22, 2021

Mar 19, 2021
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

American Airlines aircraft in flight
article

AerCap’s Takeover Of GECAS Takes Leasing Sector Back In History

Mar 19, 2021
AerCap, the new leader in aircraft leasing, will be much larger than competitors and will have a strong say in future aircraft design.
Embraer next-generation turboprop aircraft
article

Boeing And Embraer Serious About New Conventional Aircraft Soon

Mar 17, 2021
Are Boeing and Embraer betting on the right concepts for new aircraft in the near term?
Vistara Boeing 787s
article

AirAsia And Vistara See Strong Prospects For Demand Recovery

Mar 15, 2021
International travel is expected to build in the third quarter, and bilateral corridors will still be important.
Ryanair 737

Commercial Aviation: What’s In and What’s Out

Mar 15, 2021
Commercial aviation could begin recovery soon, with both old and new structural trends in play, and profound industry consequences.
Airbus aircraft in flight

The Future Of Civil Transport Aircraft

Mar 17, 2021
The demand for sustainability and speed is leading to innovative aircraft designs and more-efficient propulsion systems.

PROPULSION

debris from engine incident
article

Recent Engine Failures Test Regulators And Manufacturers

Mar 18, 2021
Regulations have proven effective, while manufacturers’ processes are evolving.
VerdeGo Aero’s VH-3-185 core hybrid unit
article

VerdeGo Powers Path Toward Hybrid Propulsion

Mar 18, 2021
VerdeGo launches first product in bid to become the hybrid-electric propulsion supplier for a wide range of aircraft applications.

BUSINESS

Ryanair airliner
article

Eyeing China, U.S. and Europe Try to Settle WTO Aircraft Subsidy Spat

Mar 16, 2021
Facing rising Chinese competition, the U.S., EU and UK agree to step back and try to settle an endless war over airliner subsidies.

ROTORCRAFT

Sikorsky-Boeing’s Defiant coaxial rigid-rotor compound helicopter
article

Technology Infusion Expanding Market Opportunities For Vertical Flight

Mar 15, 2021
Speed, electrification and autonomy are among technologies unlocking the potential for VTOL to perform a wider range of missions.
H160 helicopter
article

Long-Term Contracting Could Help Offshore Industry Renew Fleets

Mar 15, 2021
As offshore operators adapt to the energy transition to renewables, demand is growing for helicopters to serve offshore wind farms.
Kopter Prototype 3
article

Italian Production Beckons For Swiss-rooted Kopter

Mar 15, 2021
Despite the impact of COVID-19, Kopter and new owners Leonardo are confident of bringing the SH09 to market by year-end 2022.
Hill Helicopters HX/HC50 single-engine turbine light helicopter
article

British Startup Takes On Rotorcraft Establishment

Mar 15, 2021
Hill wants to maintain its supply chain and not be “held to ransom” by suppliers, in a bid to keep maintenance costs low for customers.
Leonardo tiltrotor in flight

Coming Soon To A Heliport Near You

Mar 18, 2021
Here are some of the modern commercial helicopters in development and/or chasing certification.

INTERVIEW

Dassault Rafale F3R aircraft
article

French Air and Space Chief On Game-Changing Aircraft

Mar 17, 2021
The French Air and Space Force envisions a scaled-down A400M to replace C-130Hs and adversary air-to-air training as a service.

TECHNOLOGY

GE’s Maagic cabling system
article

The Week In Technology, March 15-19, 2021

Mar 16, 2021
Megawatt power distribution; Hydrogen for general aviation; In-space factory; Compact diesel; Flight-inspection eVTOL.
Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter

What To Watch For In Aerospace And Defense In 2021

Mar 17, 2021
From shifting fortunes for fighters to shifting dates for space launches, here are some key aerospace and defense milestones for 2021.

COLUMNS AND OPINION

article

Opinion: What Next For European Military Aircraft?

Mar 17, 2021
Fighters are the tip of an iceberg of uncertainty about next-gen military aircraft platforms in Europe.
Spike Aerospace supersonic jet
article

Spike Takes A Different Path To Supersonic Renaissance

Mar 17, 2021
Startup Spike outlines its approach to quiet supersonic air travel as it begins fundraising drive.
private pilot and entrepreneur Jared Isaacman
article

Private Pilot Charters A SpaceX Crew Dragon

Mar 19, 2021
Suborbital flights, tourist missions are not the allure for this adventure pilot.
U.S. Air Force combat aircraft
article

Opinion: U.S. Army Missile-Buying Spree Is A Waste of Money

Mar 15, 2021
When budgets tighten, one-shot missiles cannot match the power projection of fighters and bombers.

DEPARTMENTS

article

Letters From Our Readers, March 22, 2021

Mar 19, 2021
Readers write about UAM skepticism, Boeing’s culture, the Amercian Airlines Flight 191 crash in 1979 and Task Force Normandy.
article

New Positions, Promotions, Honors And Elections, March 22, 2021

Mar 19, 2021
Recent appointments, promotions and honors in the aviation and aerospace industry.
article

Aerospace Calendar And Aviation Week Events, March 22, 2021

Mar 19, 2021
A roundup of upcoming conferences, exhibitions and summits.

PROPULSION