Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Steve Trimble
In comments that may reverberate in the global fighter market, the U.S. Navy’s top aviation requirements officer on Aug. 3 described the Boeing F/A-18E/F as obsolete by the mid-2050s and criticized efforts by some lawmakers to buy more in fiscal 2022.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Mark Carreau
Those with research and technology connections to the NASA-led International Space Station believe the door has been opened for at least another decade of significant development activity.
Space

By Michael Tint
Requests for Quotation (RFQs) for major military aircraft program parts for the week of July 25 - July 31.
AWIN Knowledge Center

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Air Force has pushed back final airworthiness certification for the Boeing/Leonardo MH-139 Gray Wolf through the end of fiscal 2022, raising questions about the timing and scope of any production restart.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
An extended-range version of a U.S. Navy anti-radiation missile completed a successful first air-launched, live-fire test on July 19 over the Point Mugu Missile Range off the California coast, the Navy said on Aug. 3.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
Switzerland is to double the size of its national flight route network for helicopters, increasing the number of regions in the Alpine which can be reached by rescue helicopters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
Vietnam’s People’s Air Force (VPAF) could receive six Textron/Beechcraft T-6 Texan II turboprop trainers after the U.S. Air Force published a Request For Information (RFI) for three aircraft in late July.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Tony Osborne
The German Air Force is undertaking operational testing of MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile as it prepares to field the weapon on the Eurofighter before year’s end.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
The string of delays for the reflight of an uncrewed Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station continued on Aug. 3, with the next opportunity for launch available on Aug. 4.
Commercial Space

By Graham Warwick
EHang has completed a high-rise fire rescue drill in China involving its unmanned firefighting EH216F and passenger-carry EH216 air vehicles as well as its Falcon B drone.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Mark Carreau
After 3-D printing dozens of tools since its arrival aboard the International Space Station in 2016, the Made in Space Manufacturing Device will have a new assignment once Northrop Grumman’s 16th NASA-contracted resupply mission reaches the ISS with a new Redwire Regolith Print extruder and other hardware.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Few ideas in aerospace have been tried and have failed as often as high-speed vertical-takeoff-and-landing but, undeterred by the scores of past dead ends, the U.S. military is trying again.
Emerging Technologies

By Guy Norris
Global logistics operator DHL Express has launched a cargo variant of Eviation’s Alice electric regional aircraft as part of pioneering plans to establish a sustainable electric express freight network from 2024 onwards.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bill Carey
Under development for four years, Advanced Aircraft Company's multi-rotor HAMR can fly for up to 3.5 hr. or carry a maximum sensor payload of 6 lb. in its dual cargo bay.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Graham Warwick
A technology being developed to rapidly join thermoplastic and thermoset composites to create optimized lightweight structures for cars and motorcycles is being adapted to aerospace with an eye to enabling high-rate, high-quality production of urban air mobility vehicles.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Graham Warwick
With electric aircraft developers continuously seeking better batteries, the assets of a UK developer of high energy-density lithium-sulfur cells have been acquired by Johnson Matthey, a British multinational focused on sustainable technologies.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Tony Osborne
U.S. aerospace and defense supplier Parker-Hannifin has made a £7.1 billion ($9.9 billion) bid for UK competitor Meggitt.
Supply Chain

By Graham Warwick
The leaders in advanced air mobility are planning rapid ramp-ups in production, from tens to thousands of air taxis annually within only a few years, to both enable and dominate the projected trillion-dollar global market for electric air taxis.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Steve Trimble
Lockheed Martin has replaced Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) as the supplier of the carrier-based ground control system for the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray, an unmanned tanker, a U.S. Navy official said Aug. 2.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
China private rocket company Deep Blue Aerospace has successfully conducted the country’s first vertical takeoff/vertical landing trial of the Nebula-M reusable rocket after a series of ignition tests in late July.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
The UK’s new Space Command has officially become operational with the opening of its headquarters at High Wycombe near London.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Turkmenistan has emerged as the launch customer for the light attack version of Leonardo’s M-346 jet trainer after the country’s president took a flight in one of the aircraft shortly after delivery.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

By Steve Trimble
Hypersonic flight testing for the U.S. Air Force is off to a rough start.
Missile Defense & Weapons

An Italian F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has landed on the flight deck of the country’s aircraft carrier Cavour for the first time.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The U.S. State Department has approved Israeli plans to purchase the CH-53K King Stallion.
Aircraft & Propulsion