Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Irene Klotz
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 29, sending a fourth batch of 60 Starlink satellites into orbit.
Defense

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Japan Air Lines is to conduct a drone delivery demonstration with Yabu City, in Hyogo Province, and service provider Terra Drone. The trial will

By Lee Hudson
“We have to figure out a way to mitigate the delayed fielding of the KC-46,” the head of U.S. Transportation Command says.
Defense

Lockheed Martin is hoping this year to make progress figuring out a long-term F-35 sustainment deal with the Pentagon.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Air Force has notified industry to expect sole-source contracts for Boeing F-15EX fighters and accompanying GE Aviation F110 engines.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Aerospace suppliers are taking different approaches on whether to cut employees as they wrestle with the fallout of the Boeing 737 MAX production halt, with some already doing so while others announce they will not.
Air Transport

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Space Development Agency is looking for feedback on in-space mesh networking capabilities and interoperability to inform future solicitations.
Defense

By Maxim Pyadushkin
After almost 20 years of development, Russia’s new Mil Mi-38 heavy transport helicopter has started gaining orders.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Leonardo Helicopters will take over fledgling Swiss rotorcraft manufacturer Kopter Group in a $185 million deal.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Airbus is giving its best-selling H125 single-engine light helicopter an uptick in performance that the company expects will appeal to aerial work operators.
Business Aviation

By Thierry Dubois
Airbus has reached an “agreement in principle” with France’s financial prosecutor (Parquet National Financier or PNF), the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) and U.S. authorities, the company confirmed Jan. 28.
Air Transport

By Graham Warwick
Uber is launching a three-year, “multimillion-dollar” community engagement plan to pave the way for the anticipated start of commercial urban aerial ride-sharing services in its pilot cities of Dallas, Los Angeles and Melbourne, Australia.
Business Aviation

By Michael Bruno
Fort Worth-based Novaria Group, a holding company rolling up Tier 2 and 3 aerospace and defense suppliers, has changed ownership itself, with Rosewood Private Investments and Tailwind Advisors selling to major investment firm KKR.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
Japan Air Lines is to conduct a drone delivery demonstration with Yabu City, in Hyogo Province, and service provider Terra Drone.
Business Aviation

By Tony Osborne
Qatar’s Gulf Helicopters has emerged as the launch customer for the Safran Aneto-powered version of the Leonardo AW189K super-medium twin-engine helicopter.
Business Aviation

By Mark Carreau
A European Space Agency-led collaboration with NASA, the $1.5 billion Solar Orbiter mission, is set to lift off from Cape Canaveral.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Swiss helicopter manufacturer Kopter has unveiled the final configuration for production models of its SH09 single-engine light helicopter.
Business Aviation

By Graham Warwick
Bell has announced a series of upgrades for its commercial helicopters as it emerges from another good year for deliveries, buoyed by demand for its light turbine rotorcraft.
Business Aviation

By Tony Osborne
Safran has hinted that a future Airbus light helicopter could feature a hybrid-electric propulsion system.
Business Aviation

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 Irene Klotz
NASA has selected privately owned Axiom Space of Houston to provide a commercial habitation module to be attached to the International Space Station.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
Two Northrop Grumman MQ-4Cs have officially started the high-altitude UAS' first operational deployment, the U.S. Navy says.
Defense