Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

News in brief.

The U.S. military and its industry partners are unprepared for the likely onslaught of MRO demand that will come with future aircraft fleets.

Bell Textron signed purchase agreements for three Bell 429s for VIP operators in the UK and Estonia.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has authorized AST SpaceMobile to launch and operate its planned 248-satellite constellation.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded its first prototype contracts in support of the Kronos program.

More than 40 companies have expressed interest in elements of the Aerospace Corp.-developed DiskSat flat satellite platform.

Boeing provided a distinctively upbeat outlook for its finances, with its CFO setting expectations of “significant growth beyond” $10 billion in annual free cash flow next decade.

Boeing says certification of the 737-7 and -10 is in its final phases and remains on track for later this year but first deliveries will not begin until 2027.

Australia’s updated National Defense Strategy (NDS) is one of its most consequential public-facing defense documents in recent years.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman defended sweeping changes to the Artemis program before U.S. lawmakers April 22.

The U.S. Air Force is increasing spending on the Boeing VC-25B “Air Force One” aircraft to meet its delivery schedule.

The U.S. Navy is restarting Boeing P-8 Poseidon procurement after a two-year gap, seeking to order 12 more of the sub-hunting aircraft.

The European Space Agency and its military counterpart the European Defense Agency have agreed to study how to boost Earth observation for security purposes.

The U.S. Navy is growing its E-2D Advanced Hawkeye fleet largely due to the increased operational use of the platform for overland missions.

Germany’s quest to field deep-strike capabilities may involve multiple suppliers and different services, rather than narrowing those options at the outset, the Bundeswehr’s top officer says.

The Canadian government is pressing forward with its push to build up a national space launch capacity by proposing legislation aimed at fostering a sovereign capability in this field.

Dassault Aviation’s Vortex spaceplane demonstrator will use Arkadia Space-made thrusters for in-orbit maneuvering, the supplier said.

A young space domain awareness company founded by a former French Space Command leader is ready to provide commercial data to customers as it brings its first radar online and expands into the U.S.

Germany and France are poised to decide within days the future of the Future Combat Air System program, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius says.

German startup ATMOS Space Cargo is formalizing its pursuit of defense space-logistics business.

News in brief.

LOCKHEED gets Romanian F-35 contract... New president for P&W CANADA... RAYTHEON gets Zumwalt integration contract...

NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is ready to depart Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland for launch from Kennedy Space Center as soon as September.

The U.S. Navy intends to pause procurement for a Northrop Grumman anti-radiation missile in fiscal 2027, then resume orders.

The Pentagon’s fiscal 2027 budget request includes a major increase in F-35 procurement and spares after last year’s reduction.