Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Graham Warwick
Startup Sabrewing Aircraft has postponed the public rollout of its Rhaegal unmanned cargo aircraft because of COVID-19 restrictions, but continues to work toward flying the hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) prototype this year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Navy’s multibillion-dollar aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has a certified flight deck and carrier air traffic control center (CATCC), making the warship eligible to qualify pilots.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
CPI Aerostructures of Edgewood, New York, said March 24 it will remain open and operating after state officials branded it an “essential business” to keep going while Albany leaders otherwise roll out a shelter-in-place mandate for New York residents.
Supply Chain

By Michael Bruno
Following a warning last week of coming cutbacks—and on the heels of previously announced cost-saving goals months ago before the COVID-19 pandemic—major Tier 2 provider Triumph Group on March 24 said it will eliminate 500 staff and contractor jobs by May 1.
Marketplace

By Molly McMillin
Piaggio Aerospace has extended the deadline for potential buyers to submit expressions of interest in the business from April 3 to May 4 because of the ongoing emergency caused by the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, it said.
Business Aviation

By Thierry Dubois
After having been thought for a few days to be on a strong upward curve, demand for aircraft storage during the COVID-19 crisis is still unstable, according to specialist Tarmac Aerosave.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Nigeria’s air force is expecting to take delivery of its first of three JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan next November as the African country bolsters its air arm against insurgent threats.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s provider of aerostructures and its largest supplier, on March 24 said it will halt work at its Wichita and Tulsa, Oklahoma, facilities after Boeing the day before announced a temporary shutdown of its Puget Sound facilities in Washington state.
Marketplace

By Irene Klotz
Representatives from NASA’s Commercial Crew Program are joining the SpaceX investigation into why a Falcon 9 engine shut down early during launch last week, NASA said on March 23.
Space

By Bradley Perrett
Japan has commissioned the first of two Maya-class air-defense destroyers, introducing Cooperative Engagement Capability to the fleet.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Lee Hudson
As the U.S. Marine Corps redesigns its force to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy, the service will drastically reduce the number of F-35s in its squadrons by 37.5%.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
The troubled stories of the L-1011, C-5A and Lockheed from over 49 years ago and today’s headlines about the 737 MAX, KC-46 and Boeing are converging
Supply Chain

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

Top Ranked Online Graduate Engineering Programs U.S. News & World Report, 2020 USC Viterbi School of Engineering Academic Disciplines include: *
Defense

News in brief
Defense

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

By Guy Norris
In a bid to slow the spread of the coronavirus Boeing is temporarily suspending production across its Puget Sound sites for 14 days starting Mar. 25.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Libya’s Government of National Accord is contracting with Airbus for a fleet of twin-engine light helicopters for use by the country’s interior ministry, ministers have said.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Workers at Italian aerospace companies Avio Aero, Leonardo and MBDA have gone on strike over concerns about continuing to work despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
French unions have reacted negatively—or, at best, cautiously—to Airbus’ Mar. 23 announcement it is partially resuming production in the country, amidst an unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lee Hudson
The first U.S. Marine Corps F-35C Joint Strike Fighter squadron has received its “safe for flight” operations certification.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Victoria Moores
German engine manufacturer MTU Aero Engines is suspending engine and components manufacturing, followed by a scale-down of its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
An electrical turbogenerator has been test fitted on a Yakovlev Yak-40 flying testbed at a Siberian research institute as part of a Russian project to demonstrate hybrid-electric propulsion for short- and medium-haul airliners.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
General Dynamics has become the latest aerospace and defense giant to warn investors that the COVID-19 crisis is a risk to the company.
Marketplace

By Tony Osborne
British scientists and academics are studying the potential use of diamond batteries to provide long-lasting energy resources that could power small satellites and sensors.
Space