Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

AVIATION WEEK NETWORK estimates that of the 15,902 western-designed, rotary-wing aircraft in military service at the end of 2018, 14,604 (91.8%) were produced by just 10 prime contractors.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has submitted his resignation a day after President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw military forces from Syria.

Lockheed Martin’s production system for the F-35 delivered 91 aircraft in 2018 to meet a planned output target.

Nearly four months after Boeing’s victory in a competition for the MQ-25 contract, the president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. warns that the U.S. Navy’s selection criteria could drive medium-sized companies out of the running for such programs in the future.

A long-delayed contract signing by India for MQ-9B Sea Guardians is now expected by mid-2020.

Airbus has completed the first autonomous flights of its VSR700 unmanned maritime helicopter demonstrator.

After the launch of the CSO-1 military Earth observation sat, French Defense Minister Florence Parly emphasized the need for sovereignty in access to space.

A new hypersonic missile developed by Russia will enter service next year on a Strategic Missile Forces base near the border with Kazakhstan.

Japan will promptly research technology for electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs.

Blue Origin is deferring the 10th test flight of its reusable New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle until early 2019 following a scrub.

Flights to and from London Gatwick Airport in the UK are being deliberately disrupted by UAVs, more commonly known as drones, operating in the vicinity.

The U.S. Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries have reached an accord on a two-ship aircraft carrier buy, but a deputy defense secretary is holding up the deal.

Three U.S., European and Russian International Space Station crewmembers descended safely to Earth early Dec. 20.

HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LTD. performed first flight of third Light Utility Helicopter prototype Dec. 14.

Herman Claesen has been chosen to lead Eurofighter GmbH and will take the helm from Volker Paltzo on Jan. 1.

Spirit AeroSystems plans to add 1,400 jobs over the next two years in Wichita and another 250 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to support growth in aerostructures work.

India’s GSAT-7A military comm sat, meant to be the mainstay of the country’s air force, has been successfully launched aboard a GSLV.

Myanmar has put into service four Sino-Pakistani JF-17 fighters, becoming the type’s first export customer.

Japan appears to be planning to operate a fleet of at least six tanker-transports based on the Boeing 767, and probably 10.

Washington is hoping the Foreign Military Sale—covering four Patriot batteries and some 140 missiles—could prompt Ankara to re-consider its controversial deal with Russia to buy the S-400.

SpaceX passed on its backup opportunity on Dec. 19 to launch the U.S. Force’s first GPS III satellite while it continued assessing a sensor issue that aborted an initial launch attempt on Dec. 18.

POLISH AIR FORCE UNIVERSITY took delivery of two Robinson R44 Raven IIs for military helicopter training on. Dec. 14.

While Washington gears up for the year-end holidays, space activity is at a fever pitch.

PAE Applied Technologies LLC, Fort Worth, has been awarded $72,000,552 for modification P00074 to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N00421-14-C-0038).

Acquisition of nine more Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye surveillance aircraft and four additional Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tankers is in the works.