Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

General Atomics has demonstrated the first launch and control of small, air-dropped UAS from an MQ-1C.

The idea of blasting a boost-phase ballistic weapon out of the sky with a high-energy laser mounted on an aircraft has always been ambitious, and it remains so after 20 years of failed attempts.

Mining lunar ice could rein in the cost of future human cislunar space activities as well as expeditions to Mars, according to proponents.

The slackening of air traffic worldwide during the coronavirus pandemic offers time to take stock of what Collins Aerospace calls the Datalink Dilemma—the increasing volume of aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS) data sent over VHF frequencies.

An acceptance ceremony was held at Airbus’ facility in Getafe, near Madrid, on June 29, ready for its delivery flight to the MMU’s main operating base of Eindhoven, Netherlands, planned for June 30.

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

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

The Brazilian air force on June 27 accepted delivery of the third operational Embraer KC-390 tanker-transport, Air Lieutenant Brigadier Carlos de

In what might be a rare reference to the Lockheed Martin AIM-260 program, the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) slipped an authorization into the

The U.S. Defense Department chose not to fund a critical new space-based sensor for hypersonic defense, but lawmakers have stepped in to rescue the

U.S. lawmakers have intervened to stop the Defense Department from ending production of the P-8A until the last two squadrons of Navy Reserve P-3Cs

An attempt by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to acquire a new light attack aircraft has met with sharp scrutiny in the program’s first

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo soared over its new home base near Las Cruces, New Mexico, on June 25, completing the second glide flight since relocating from the company’s manufacturing and test hub in Mojave, California.

Campaigning has begun in Switzerland in preparation for a referendum on whether the country should purchase new combat aircraft and ground-based air defense systems.

The Arsenal Plane concept is the focus of a new partnership between the Pentagon’s Strategic Capabilities Office and the U.S. Air Force.

Kirk Shireman, NASA’s former manager of the International Space Station, is joining Lockheed Martin to head its lunar exploration initiatives, including the development of a Blue Origin-led system to land astronauts on the Moon in 2024.

NASA astronauts Chris Cassidy and Bob Behnken completed a 6-hr. spacewalk outside the International Space Station (ISS) on June 26, initiating the final chapter in a multiyear upgrade of the solar power storage batteries on the orbiting lab’s 360-ft.-long solar power truss.

Plans to establish a vertical-launch spaceport in Northern Scotland have been approved by local authorities, a significant milestone for the project.

Boeing says Morocco will become the 17th operator of its AH-64E Apache following the signing of a contract to purchase 24 of the attack helicopters.

Exquadrum announced on June 25 it has completed the second and final live test of a full-scale hybrid rocket motor for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that could be used to power hypersonic missiles, missile defense interceptors and orbital space launchers.

Germany has signed contracts with Airbus and Hensoldt for the development, supply and integration of an active electronically scanned array radar for the Eurofighter.

Ireland appears to be taking its first tentative steps toward a fighter procurement for defense of the country’s airspace.

An 18-month delay in the development of the UK’s new Crowsnest helicopter-based airborne early warning system means the capability will not be fully operational when it is embarked on the first operational cruise, planned for next May.

Great Power Maritime Helicopter Fleets

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.