Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Bradley Perrett
Japan has issued what appears to be a request for proposals from British and U.S. companies seeking to act as partners for the planned F-X fighter program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau
As NASA addresses the hurdles of accelerating a return of humans to the Moon’s surface in 2024 and establishing a sustained presence in this decade, it is also studying how to move on to Mars in the mid-2030s using a nuclear electric propulsion (NEP) option.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Russian Helicopters has developed fully composite rotor blades which the company says will increase the performance of its Mil Mi-28 and Mi-35 attack helicopters.
Vertical Lift

By Tony Osborne
The UK Royal Air Force and the Belgian Air Component have agreed to study areas of potential cooperation on unmanned air systems.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
A British startup has revealed plans to develop a five-seat, turbine-powered helicopter for the general aviation market.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lee Hudson
In preparation for Hurricane Marco and Tropical Storm Laura hitting the Gulf Coast, the U.S. Air Force Reserve has relocated 20 aircraft from Mississippi to South Carolina and Texas.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
America’s ambiguous position on a nuclear first strike could be headed for another review, depending on the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier chosen to host the F-35C for its first-ever deployment left Washington state Aug. 23 for sea trials before the ship sails to San Diego for operational training.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Bill Carey
The FAA has issued separate notices seeking information from industry on providing counter-unmanned aircraft systems technology for deployment at civilian airports and for testing capacity to determine the risk associated with a large jet engine ingesting a small drone.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

Piotr Butowski
Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57 multirole fighter aircraft, years in the making, is nearing the start of production.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Selected U.S. military contracts from the past week.
Defense

News in brief
Defense

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
Near Earth Autonomy and Kaman Aerospace are developing an advanced autonomy system for Kaman’s 6,000-lb.-payload K-Max external-lift helicopter.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Russia is preparing to expand its segment of the International Space Station with the 20-ton Nauka Multipurpose Laboratory Module.
Space

By Bill Carey
The report calls on Congress to “enact, without delay, appropriations and any required authorities" for the Office of Space Commerce "to build this critical capability with requisite personnel, office infrastructure and authorities.”
Commercial Space

By Lee Hudson
The awards are aimed at strengthening sectors hit hard by the spread of COVID-19.
Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
The practice of mining estuaries, harbors and other rmaritime chokepoints by aircraft began in World War II, but the low-altitude and slow-speed nature of the delivery mission has made it increasingly risky in modern warfare.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Michael Bruno
Longtime CEO Neal Keating handing over the reins to newcomer Ian Walsh on Sept. 8.
Supply Chain

By Graham Warwick
The agreement to provide 25 million gal. per year of renewable hydrocarbons is the largest yet for Gevo and takes the Englewood, Colorado-based company to more than $1.5 billion in long-term contracts.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Once the Abraham Accord is formalized, the U.S. should approve UAE’s long-standing request to receive access to the F-35, according to Emirati Foreign Minister Anwar Gargash.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bradley Perrett
China has verified operation of a lightweight, low-power technology for inter-satellite laser links, which should be valuable for mass constellations of low-orbit communications satellites.
Space

By Mark Carreau
The rate of the leak has "slightly increased, so the teams are working a plan to isolate identify, and potentially repair the source,” NASA says, stressing that it poses "no immediate danger to the crew or the space station.”
Space

By Samuel Archer, Nate Taylor
To learn about our fleet data products and services, go to: pgs.aviationweekcom/FleetDataServices
AWIN Knowledge Center