Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Beta Technologies has conducted the first piloted full transition flight of its Alia 250 electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) prototype.

Embraer reported its highest backlog volume in seven years and a 67% increase in aircraft deliveries in the first quarter (Q1) 2024 year-over-year.

Separate midair collisions within the space of three days have claimed the lives of at least 11 crewmembers who were onboard the four helicopters.

The RX series is being developed by the Liaoning General Aviation Academy (LGAA) based in Shenyang, China.

As it looks ahead to a first flight of its electric propulsion unit this year, UK startup Evolito has appointed an experienced aerospace executive as chief technology officer.

Spain is to bolster its aerial firefighting capacity by purchasing seven new De Haviland Canada DHC-515 amphibious fire bombers.

Canada plans to spend more than CDN$5 billion ($3.65 billion) on the acquisition of airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft, defense officials have confirmed.

The 6,000-lb., MQ-8C will soon be gone, but the requirement will not be forgotten.

The FAA gave Varda Space permission to launch in June 2023 without a reentry license, and the regulator does not want to repeat the situation.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has taken over operations of its new missile defense radar in Alaska, which is also tracking objects on orbit for the Space Force.

Turkey’s indigenous aircraft developments have been bolstered by contracts from the country’s military and government agencies.

Aura Aero has received the permit to fly its Integral E two-seat electric trainer, the French startup says.

The service has been relying on the X-62 Variable In-flight Simulator Test Aircraft (VISTA).

Spanish defense firm Grupo Oesia will support production of components for Patriot Advanced Capability — 3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) weapons.

Japan’s ShinMaywa Industries is considering collaborating with a maritime search-and-rescue support service using an uncrewed amphibian, the XU-M, now in flight testing.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) Aerospace Systems Company is hoping to “aggressively” market its self-developed engines overseas.

An audit of the in-service Airbus H160 twin-engine medium helicopter fleet confirms a lower empty weight and lower-than-anticipated fuel consumption.

The approx. $120 million NASA Earth science campaign aims to bring airborne scientific insight to environmental concerns and is set to unfold over 2026 to 2029.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) is set to be the prime contractor for Japan’s hydrogen project, with an engine demonstrator currently in the assembly phase.

Labour has now joined the Conservatives in pledging to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP, but woolly caveats and an impending election leave doubts.

The Netherlands and Austria are to cooperate on procurement of the Embraer C-390 airlifter, Austrian defense officials have said.

AeroHT, a subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle maker XPeng, is to establish an urban air mobility demonstration site in China.

The U.S. Navy on April 18 received its first two Textron T-54A Multiengine Training System aircraft.

The Nigerian Air Force says it is expecting its first batch of M-346 light attack aircraft before year’s end.

Airbus Helicopters is gearing up to begin final assembly of the first prototypes for the military variant of its twin-engine H160 medium helicopter.