Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Vice President Kamala Harris is to kick off the first National Space Council meeting under the Biden administration.

Satellite communications network developer OneWeb unveiled a joint development agreement with engineering company GDC Advanced Technology to certify new aviation terminals for OneWeb’s future low earth orbit (LEO) constellation.

The decision leaves the Lockheed Martin F-35A Block 4 and Saab Gripen E in the competition for the Future Fighter Capability contract.

The new software-based mission system is necessary as the Compass Call fleet transitions to the Baseline 4 capability by 2025.

The new, three-phase process is the first major change to Navy strike pilot training in more than 50 years.

Service leaders said changes to the maintenance community have helped the rates climb.

Gone is the Cessna Skyhawk-like configuration of the original concept, replaced with an unconventional tandem-wing design.

The Royal Danish Air Force is claiming to be the first air service to operate electric-powered aircraft.

Helicopter lessor LCI has taken over competitor Nova Capital Aviation (Ireland), expanding its portfolio.

The walk was delayed earlier this week to allow for assessments of a possible orbital debris threat.

The companies initially worked together on 3D-woven composite blades for CFM International’s Leap airliner engines

The backstop agreement provides that an affiliate of AEI will buy up to 7.5 million shares of GigCapital stock at $10 apiece.

Aerospace and defense companies stepping up quantum computing investments, with two top-tier providers announcing separate investments.

The F-35 Mission Rehearsal Trainer-Lightning Integrated Training Environment (MRT LITE) is about one-eighth the size of the full-mission simulator.

A recent massive, global exercise by the U.S. Navy is shaping how the service wants to approach future training systems.

Airbus has begun development work on an autonomous automatic air-to-air refueling capability for its Airbus A330 MRTT.

Boeing will build six more MH-47G Block II Chinooks for U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

NASA did not link the debris to a mid-November Russian anti-satellite (ASAT) missile test.

General Atomics targets completion of testing of UK’s new Protector UAS by end of 2022.

Three governments have already approved funding the multibillion-euro development.

NASA management disagrees with a conclusion reached by the agency’s inspector general (IG) in a report issued Nov. 30.

A top Global Strike Command official endorsed call for new “midrange” missiles deliverable by stealthy bomber at varying distances.

Airbus Helicopters remains hopeful of securing a contract to upgrade Europe’s Tiger helicopters, despite German interest in the Apache.

The White House has nominated William LaPlante to be the Defense Department’s top weapons buyer, a return to the Pentagon for him.

Airbus has already started using its latest-generation Pleiades Neo Earth-observation satellites.