Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission on Nov. 15 granted requests by SpaceX and Canada’s Telesat to expand planned broadband satellite networks.

Astronics, an Upstate New York supplier of aircraft passenger seat power and other products to the aerospace and defense (A&D) industry, as well as technologies for the semiconductor sector, said it would move away from the latter to focus more on its growing A&D business.

NASA and Northrop Grumman have delayed for a second day the company’s 10th agency contracted resupply mission launch to the International Space Station.

ArianeGroup will look to cut its workforce by 2,300 workers over the next four years as the European rocket company tries to transition into profitable operations of its new Ariane 6 space launcher.

The Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operated by the British Army is scheduled to achieve full operational capability (FOC) in early 2019.

Elbit Systems has been awarded a $167 million contract from an undisclosed Asia-Pacific country for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to supply aerial ISTAR.

The U.S. Air Force plans to demonstrate a long-range lidar sensor to support the development of requirements for its next generation of ISR systems.

British aerospace and defense pyrotechnics provider Chemring said Nov. 15 that it will divest some explosives business lines in Derby, UK, and Florida.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP has $18m U.S. Army contract for cyberspace analytics capability.

Aviation Week Network has announced the winners of its 62nd Annual Laureate Awards, recognizing extraordinary achievements in the global aerospace arena.

Investigators probing the first-ever crash of a Leonardo AW169 twin-engine medium helicopter shortly after takeoff from a British football stadium are focusing on the aircraft’s anti-torque control system.

The U.S. Defense Department on Nov. 14 awarded Lockheed Martin a roughly $22 billion undefinitized contract to deliver 255 F-35 aircraft for all three services in the 12th low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot, as well as aircraft for several international customers in Lots 12, 13 and 14.

Spain is taking a “Europe first” approach as it considers the future of its combat aircraft fleets.

NASA and Northrop Grumman have delayed until early Nov. 16 the launch of the company’s 10th resupply mission to the ISS because of bad weather.

A German national study into the country’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) has concluded that a system of systems with a so-called command fighter at its heart is the best solution for Germany’s long-term combat aviation needs.

The potential new HASC leader says one of his top goals in the next Congress is to “reset” the Trump administration’s $1.2 trillion nuclear modernization plan.

DARPA is looking toward the next generation of ground-based boost-glide hypersonic weapon.

India’s heaviest rocket, the GSLV Mk. 3, placed the sophisticated GSAT-29 communication satellite into orbit Nov. 14.

Chinese freight company SF Express plans to use pilotless Avic Y-5B biplanes, based on a 70-year-old Soviet design, in an air delivery setup to be running by 2023.

Russian central aerohydrodynamic institute TsAGI has assisted in development of a floatplane version of the Czech L-410UVP-E20 turboprop utility aircraft.

The Philippines expects to receive a batch of UH-1 Iroquois helicopter parts donated by Japan in early 2019.

South Korea is likely to require further Airbus A330 MRTT tankers following the completion of delivery of the first four aircraft next year.

Japanese engineers have verified a concept design for a stealth inlet as part of a technology acquisition effort for a proposed indigenous fighter.

Bangladesh’s air force has set out a vision for increased reliance on domestic industry in a bid to reduce its dependence on foreign suppliers.

A pair of back-to back cargo launches to the International Space station are slated this week.