Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has said it will perform regular F-16 training flights in 2019 with the aircraft using biokerosene fuel.

Startup Relativity Space, which is developing a 3D-printed small satellite launcher, plans to fly from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 16.

Collins, a unit of United Technologies created in late 2018 by the merger of avionics maker Rockwell Collins and equipment supplier United Technologies Aerospace Systems, will provide flight-deck avionics and an enhanced vision system.

Dassault is set to begin delivering Rafale fighters to export customers India and Qatar this year.

India’s indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter has carried out an air-to-air missile test on a moving aerial target.

The first U.S. missile defense review in nine years will present the Space Sensor Layer as a necessary upgrade for U.S. forces to confront a growing array of hypersonic boost-glide and cruise missiles.

FRENCH ARMY deployed MBDA’s MMP missile for the first time in theater Dec. 10-22 in Mali.

NASA retirees Christopher Kraft and Peggy Whitson are among four aerospace pioneers selected for induction into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame during an April 12 ceremony.

The chief of Portugal’s air force says he could abandon the country’s planned purchase of the Embraer KC-390 because of the turbofan-powered airlifter’s high price.

General Atomics is teaming with Belgian industry to support the country’s future fleet of SkyGuardian medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS.

Manufacturers of equipment to counter UAS say the tech is available and express frustration that airports are not being more proactive in meeting the threat.

Bulgaria’s Parliament has given its OK for the country’s government to begin negotiations with the U.S. to purchase Block 70-model Lockheed Martin F-16s.

Astranis Space Technologies has signed a contract with Pacific Dataport to provide broadband communications service to Alaska.

Embraer said it plans to deliver 90 to 110 executive jets in 2019, along with 85 to 95 commercial jets, 10 A-29 Super Tucanos and two KC-390 aircraft.

NASA believes it is resolving recent difficulties with the Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3.

Israel’s state-owned Rafael is offering to buy the public company Aeronautics.

Isotropic Systems has raised $14 million in Series A venture capital in a round led by Boeing HorizonX Ventures.

Aireon has signed a $200 million credit facility agreement with a group of independent investor funds, but led by Deutsche Bank.

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $131.6m U.S. Air Force contract for C‐5 sustainment.

This week, the longest government shutdown in U.S. history wears on, with no immediate end in sight.

Navistar Defense LLC, Lisle, Illinois, was awarded an $8,069,336 fixed-firm-price Foreign Military Sales (Iraq) contract for Navistar transport and cargo vehicles.

A previously-confirmed Chinese strategic bomber and a newly acknowledged stealth “fighter-bomber” are both now under development, according to the Defense Intelligence Agency.

The deployment of ScanEagle unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on U.S. Coast Guard national security cutters is on hold because of the partial government shutdown.

The USAF is calling for startups and small businesses to submit proposals for Pitch Day as part of a rapid contracting effort.

Airbus’ Silicon Valley outpost A3 (“A-Cubed”) has competed the second Vahana electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) technology demonstrator.