Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

A Defense Department decision to acquire 144 F-15EX aircraft rests partly on an internal cost comparison with the F-35A that assumes a long-term 51.7% advantage for Boeing’s twin-engined fighter on cost per flying hour, a Joint Staff spokesperson confirms to Aerospace DAILY.

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Startup XTI Aircraft has completed assembly of the 65%-scale proof-of-concept model for its TriFan 600 ducted-fan hyrid-electic VTOL business aircraft.

AIRBUS DEFENSE AND SPACE completed construction of Spain-led Characterizing Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) in preparation for launch later this year. its TriFan 600 ducted-fan hyrid-electic VTOL business aircraft.

U.S. Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan says the executive branch will nominate the Space Force chief of staff in “weeks, not months.”

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch teamed March 29 to advance a much-delayed International Space Station (ISS) power storage battery upgrade on the port side of the six-person orbiting science lab.

The Czech Republic could be next to sign up to the program, which already has the backing of Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway.

British aerospace and defense trade association ADS has vented frustration at the British Parliament’s continuing chaotic indecision over the country’s departure from the European Union.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is concerned the U.S. Air Force launch services procurement strategy will not yield a fair and open competition.

Airbus’ UK factories “could well remain competitive,” even after Brexit, outgoing CEO Tom Enders said Mar. 29.

“We are about to squander European integration,” Airbus CEO Tom Enders said March 29 in Munich. “I am concerned that Germany is isolating itself."

The JAS 39 Gripen is a Swedish, delta-wing canard, single-engine, multirole fighter produced by Saab. As of March 2019, 164 Gripens of all variants were in service across Europe, Africa and Asia.

SIERRA NEVADA CORP. has $317m U.S. Air Force contract for Precision Strike Package program for AC-130W, AC-130J.

Tactical Robotics has teamed with crop protection company Adama to perform a joint feasibility study of using Tactical Robotics’ Cormorant for aerial spraying.

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DARPA was the sole customer for Rocket Lab’s fifth Electron mission, which lifted off at 7:27 p.m. EDT from Mahia Peninsula in New Zealand.

The Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent program to replace the Minuteman III ICBM is considering a proposal to use two suppliers for solid rocket motors.

A routine inspection discovered “potentially fleet-wide issues” with the drogue chute for the B-1B’s ejection seat.

An appellate body of the World Trade Organization has upheld European and Airbus claims that the U.S. side of an ongoing airliner manufacturing subsidies dispute failed to withdraw subsidies that Airbus proponents assert has led to $15-20 billion in harm.

Russian state holding company Rostec says Indonesia's pending order for 11 Sukhoi Su-35 fighters will go through.

GENERAL DYNAMICS has $92.9m U.S. Defense Logistics Agency contract for Warfighter Information Network-Tactical Increment 1 system.

Andrew Marshall, the founder of the Pentagon’s Office of Net Assessment (ONA) and a master strategist, died on March 26.

India’s March 27 anti-satellite test likely took out the 740-kg (1,630-lb.) Microsat-R satellite, according to space situational awareness experts.

The U.S. Air Force has started detailing the roles of future bases for the B-21 bomber.

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said on March 27 that her country has submitted a request to the Trump administration to acquire new F-16V fighters.