Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The first on-orbit servicing spacecraft, Northrop Grumman subsidiary SpaceLogistics LLC’s Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV-1), is sending back telemetry following its Oct. 9 launch.

Ahead of a visit by NASA's administrator to SpaceX’s headquarters to discuss progress on the Commercial Crew Program, the company says more than 90% of certification products for the upcoming crewed demo flight have been delivered.

Stormy weather forced NASA to postpone an Oct. 9 attempt to launch the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON).

China’s Ehang has delivered a second batch of autonomous air taxis to customers.

Ireland will increase its defense budget as the country gears up for a modernization of its air arm.

Boeing says preparations are on track for an initial uncrewed Orbital Flight Test of the CST-100 Starliner on Dec 17.

Airbus has cited clear air turbulence as the cause of an accident involving one of its solar-powered Zephyr high-altitude pseudo-satellite unmanned air systems in Australia.

Italy’s Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police) has ordered three more ATR-72MP maritime patrol aircraft.

The Dutch government has confirmed it will purchase an additional nine F-35s for its air force, making it the first European air arm to increase its F-35 order.

Compact avionics manufacturer uAvionix announced Oct. 8 that it has acquired startup display company AeroVonics, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, a move that diversifies its product line.

Thailand wants full access to the core software of the fighters it plans to buy in 3-5 years to replace some Lockheed Martin F-16s.

U.S. AIR FORCE reactivated 420th Flight Test Squadron Oct. 4 at Edwards AFB, CA, to plan, test, analyze and report on flight/ground testing of B-21 Raider. The squadron also tested the B-2.

Wednesday will see two space launches—an ILS Proton Breeze M rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome and a Pegasus XL rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Rolls-Royce Corp., Indianapolis, has been awarded a maximum $109,252,327 requirements contract.

Seaplane operator Harbour Air has installed a 540-kw (750-hp) electric motor in a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver.

GERMANY’s arms exports are on record-setting pace this year.

NASA’s Ionospheric Connection Explorer spacecraft is poised to launch Oct. 9 on a Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems Pegasus XL rocket from Cape Canaveral.

With Britain once again close to a no-deal Brexit, the government has started issuing guidance to the aerospace industry to get ready.

Boeing delivered nine KC-46A tankers to the U.S. Air Force in the third quarter and 21 overall so far this year despite a series of quality control issues and a newly discovered design flaw, the company announced on Oct. 8.

A senior House Democrat has warned that U.S. withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty would only benefit Russia and be harmful to allies, partners and national security interests.

In a ceremony at Dassault Aviation’s Bordeaux, France, factory, the government of India on Oct. 8 officially received the first of 36 Rafale fighters it ordered from France under a 2016 intergovernmental agreement.

Finland has capped the procurement budget for its HX future fighter program at €10 billion ($10.95 billion) and will allow tenders to offer fewer than the specified 64 aircraft.

Elbit Systems Ltd. has been awarded a $153 million contract to supply battlefield and medium-altitude drones to “an Army of a country in Southeast Asia,” possibly Vietnam.

Spanish defense electronics firm Indra has taken the lead in a European project to develop technologies for the traffic management of unmanned air systems.

Swiss helicopter manufacturer Kopter says it has restarted flight tests of its third prototype SH09 single-engine light helicopter with a new, improved gearbox.