The aircraft entered service with the Brazilian Air Force in December 2022, marking a milestone in development of the next-generation version of the Swedish fighter. With Brazil’s selection of the Gripen E/F in December 2013, the program became a joint development effort, with Brazilian industry joining Saab’s supplier partners. The first series production Gripen E for Sweden was handed over in October 2023.
Credit: Saab
Nammo THOR-ER
In August 2023, the THOR-ER team from Norway and the U.S. twice test-fired a solid-fuel ramjet missile, demonstrating significant increases in effective range. The tests demonstrated new high-energy fuels, advanced air injection and throttling methods needed for future solid-fuel ramjet systems. The tests also highlighted international collaboration, involving the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center, Norwegian Defense Research Establishment and Nammo.
Credit: Nammo
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider
The U.S. Air Force’s B-21 Raider bomber flew for the first time on Nov. 10, 2023—eight years after contract award and less than a year after its public rollout at Northrop Grumman’s Plant 42 facility in Palmdale, California. The milestone opens the door for the company to begin low-rate initial production of the first new U.S. bomber in three decades.
Credit: U.S. Air Force
X-62A VISTA
The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School, Calspan and Lockheed Martin collaborated to transform the U.S. Air Force’s F-16D Variable In-flight Simulation Test Aircraft (VISTA) into the X-62 and enabled the first testing of synthetic artificial-intelligence pilots in a supersonic aircraft. This has provided the template for work on developing autonomy for the Air Force’s planned Collaborative Combat Aircraft family.
Credit: Lockheed Martin
Western Missile Integration for Ukraine
A challenge for the Ukrainian forces has been to erode the advantage of Russian’s much larger air force and air defense systems. A team from the UK rapidly figured out how to launch MBDA Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles from Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-24 aircraft, allowing Ukraine to hit military targets and supply lines deep inside Russian-held territory.
Credit: Ukrainian Air Force
Eren Ozmen, Sierra Nevada Corp., for Leadership
Ozmen and her husband, Fateh, purchased Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) in 1994 and have turned it into a multibillion-dollar force to be reckoned with in the defense industry. In 2023, SNC notched a win to provide the U.S. Army with airborne intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance services, putting itself in a strong position to win follow-on business.
Credit: Sierra Nevada Corp.
Continuing a long tradition of honoring innovators, extraordinary achievements and exemplary leadership in aerospace and other categories, Aviation Week’s editors announce the winners of the 66th Laureate Awards. This year’s awards honor 29 individuals, companies and programs across five industry sectors including defense.
The 2024 awards will be presented at a black-tie gala at the National Building Museum in Washington on March 14. That evening, editors also will reveal five Grand Laureates selected from the winners in each of the industry categories.