Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Graham Warwick
Embraer, Stanford University and the U.S. Energy Department are exploring multifunction structures that can store energy and carry loads.
Business Aviation

By Tony Osborne
At least two verification flights were planned for January, but Aerospace DAILY understands no RQ-4 flights have taken place from Sigonella.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The terse reference in a written submission by Navy officials to the House Armed Services Committee on March 11 also likely offers the first proof that the SM-6 Block 1B remains in development.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Lee Hudson
Gen. Mark Milley told reporters March 12 at the Pentagon if he considered COVID-19 a threat he would inform Defense Secretary Mark Esper and President Trump in a “nanosecond.”
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Sean Broderick
Boeing is moving forward with a plan to modify wiring in undelivered Boeing 737 MAXs before the aircraft are handed over to customers but is still working with the FAA and operators on how to manage grounded aircraft in customers’ fleets, the company confirmed to Aviation Week.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The annual Frisian Flag exercise was planned to take place from March 23 to April 3 at Leeuwarden.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
French aerospace research agency Onera is completing a wind-tunnel model aimed at improving engine-airframe integration in future aircraft equipped with higher bypass-ratio turbofans.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
The decision to delay came after it appeared the full test program could not be conducted before this summer’s launch window.
Space

By Steve Trimble, Molly McMillin
The U.S. Air Force is looking to complete the EC-37B Compass Call acquisition program in advance of a possible production line shutdown.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Sean Broderick
Boeing, already struggling with sagging sales and rising costs related to the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, is taking steps to conserve cash, including a hiring freeze and limiting corporate travel.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau
Ongoing problems with NASA’s Space Launch System may delay efforts to return to the Moon with human explorers by late 2024, according to the NASA inspector general.
Space

By Bill Carey
Defense electronics specialist Hensoldt and air traffic management system (ATM) supplier Frequentis have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase their collaboration on developing integrated counter-drone systems for airports.
World ATM Congress

By Daniel Urchick
AVIATION WEEK NETWORK estimates that at the start of 2020, there were 871 Western-designed aircraft performing air-refueling missions. A total of 442
Defense

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Alain Bellemare is stepping down as president and CEO of Bombardier, having overseen a radical reshaping of the Canadian company in a bid to restore

North America The U.S. military is requesting an additional 17 Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and U.S. Transportation Command is pushing
Defense

News in brief
Defense

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

By Graham Warwick
French startup VoltAero has begun flight testing its electric regional-aircraft testbed equipped with motors supplied by Safran Electric & Power.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Canada’s Longview Aviation Services has flown the first Canadair CL-215 amphibious aircraft upgraded to CL-415EAF Enhanced Aerial Firefighter configuration.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The British government plans to create a DARPA-like agency to fund “high-risk, high-reward” science capabilities.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
A series of requests for information to industry since last fall has generated proposals to accelerate the current, 10-year schedule.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Graham Warwick
China’s EHang is to begin non-passenger test flights of its EHang 216 autonomous air taxi with a customer in Norway after receiving an operational permit from that country’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAA).
Advanced Air Mobility

By Tony Osborne
Exercise Cold Response 2020, planned for March 2-18, was to involve some 14,000 troops from Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, UK and U.S
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The first change to the aircraft removes the skin and structural material in lower lobes of the forward and aft fuselage, the Air Force said.
Aircraft & Propulsion