Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The White House has retreated from establishing a separate U.S. military department for space but claims it is a future priority, a senior Trump administration official says.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s initiative to privatize Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is meeting increased opposition.

The USAF awarded roughly $738.7 million in launch services contracts Feb. 19 to the United Launch Alliance and SpaceX for future Pentagon and NRO missions.

Cargo UAV startup Sabrewing Aircraft is getting fresh funding and should be able to complete a full-sized preproduction prototype of its Rhaegal vehicle and begin “preliminary” flight testing in time for another key funding infusion eyed in the third quarter.

A China shipbuilder has unveiled a new small unmanned aircraft system UAS that appears to be a copy of the Boeing Insitu Integrator.

The factory for the first U.A.E.-built manned combat aircraft will be completed by year’s end to support the Calidus B-250.

Russian manufacturer Kalashnikov unveiled a new small loitering munition during the IDEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

Two Indian Air Force Hawks of the Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team collided in midair Feb. 19 while rehearsing near the Yelahanka airbase in Bengaluru.

Boeing and Embraer are in talks with five countries to buy the KC-390, including at least two that have opened discussions since the two manufacturers announced a formal partnership.

A strange new twist has emerged in the ongoing drama around Russian deliveries of the S-400 air defense system to China last year.

The UAE Armed Forces opened the IDEX exhibition on Feb. 17 with a fly-past of the country’s recently inaugurated armed Black Hawk making its public flying debut at the show.

A new close-in anti-air weapon system for the Russian Navy has entered operational service “quite recently,” a senior Russian industry executive says.

RAYTHEON has $15m U.S. Special Operations Command contract for Silent Knight Radar Operational Flight Program (OFP) for Socom fixed-wing aircraft.

The Indian Air Force has received its first batch of four heavy-lift CH-47F Chinook helicopters, which it plans to induct by the end of this year.

View the Aviation Week Forecasts: Top Western Trainer & Light Combat Aircraft Deliveries/Retirements 2019-2028 chart in PDF format.

Company CEO Hakan Bushke says his company has had “fruitful discussions” with the UK and other partners on FCAS as he presented the company’s 2018 annual results Feb. 15.

The Israeli Air Force has purchased seven Leonardo AW119 single-engine light helicopters to support helicopter training.

FRENCH ARMED FORCES performed first two MBDA Meteor missile test firings aboard Rafale fighters from Cazaux air base Feb. 13.

A Kansas technical college is paying people to move to Wichita, Kansas, to train for jobs with local aviation and manufacturing operations.

In observance of the President’s Day holiday in the U.S.

The U.S. Navy will hold an industry collaborative exchange in March to improve tactical aircraft programs.

A Kansas technical college is paying people to move here to train for jobs with local aviation and manufacturing operations.

Astronics, a key sub-tier supplier of aircraft passenger seat power and other products to the aerospace and defense industries, has closed the sale of its semiconductor business unit.

NASA is considering buying two more seats on Russian Soyuz capsules flying to the International Space Station.

India will soon begin an ambitious program to develop a Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (Sport).