Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The FAA has expanded the number of air traffic control (ATC) facilities covered by its Low-Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC), an automated process that allows drone operators to request and obtain authorization to fly in the vicinity of airports.

NASA has awarded a hotly competed contract to Maxar to build and fly a high-powered solar electric satellite bus that will become the base module of the agency’s planned lunar-orbiting Gateway.

First flight of the Sukhoi S-70 unmanned combat air vehicle could be delayed by a year.

India has once again test-fired the air-launched version of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile from its frontline Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter, paving the way for the induction of the missile into its air force.

U.S. Air Force scientists have demonstrated a technology that can be used to create secure communication links between satellites and the Earth and allow networking between quantum computers.

The USMC has been working with the DOD's CAPE office to determine whether buying the CH-47 instead of the CH-53K King Stallion is a viable option.

Raytheon has detonated the warhead of a proposed surface-launched missile for the U.S. Army for the first time, moving a step closer to a planned flight test later this year.

Saab is preparing to flight test a new jammer pod using the technologies from the electronic warfare system fitted to the new Gripen E fighter.

Britain has deployed six of its nine UK-based F-35s to Cyprus for the type’s first overseas exercise.

Infrastructure for standing up a new land-based, intercontinental missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle has been deployed in southwest Russia, the Ministry of Defense announced in Moscow on May 22.

Leading small drone manufacturer DJI has committed to installing surveillance receivers on new models weighing more than 250 grams by 2020.

Saab plans to have eight of its new-generation Gripen E combat aircraft flying by the end of this year as it ramps up flight testing.

Sikorsky can deliver the first CH-53K heavy helicopter to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) 36 months after a contract is signed.

Evidence for significant amounts of water ice in the permanently shaded polar regions of the Moon has become a significant lure for a sustained NASA led-human return.

Crane is going public with a hostile takeover attempt to buy Circor for $1.7 billion in cash.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines has signed a research agreement with Airbus to study hybrid and electric aircraft technology.

India’s space agency has launched its latest Earth observation satellite, Risat-2B.

British urban air mobility startup Vertical Aerospace has teamed up with engineering consultancy Atkins to develop infrastructure to support future UAM services.

GENERAL DYNAMICS ELECTRIC BOAT has $497m U.S. Navy contract for submarine industrial base development and expansion in support of Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, and the nuclear shipbuilding enterprise (Virginia, Ford class).

U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Barbara Barrett, former chair of the Aerospace Corporation, to be the next Air Force secretary.

Debate on a House Appropriations Committee bill to provide $690 billion to the Pentagon for fiscal 2020 included words of warning by the defense subcommittee chairman over the creation of the Space Force.

NASA plans to decommission the Spitzer Space Telescope in January 2020 after attempts to find a university or research agency to take over operations of the bellwether infrared observatory failed.

NASA and the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems demonstrated drone flights in downtown Reno, Nevada, on May 21 as part of the final phase of development of an unmanned aircraft system traffic management capability.

A government watchdog organization has recommended that the DOD conduct an independent schedule assessment for the USAF next-generation ground control system for GPS III sats, but the military disagrees.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority has launched a mechanism to collaborate with companies developing tech such as drone deliveries, airspace integration, urban air taxis and AI.