On the heels of Germany’s proposal to purchase both Eurofighter Typhoons and Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets, Aviation Week editors discuss ongoing fighter competitions around the world on Check 6, highlighting one of the most dynamic markets in aerospace.

The Canadian government made a U.S. $70.1 million payment (CAD $98.7 million) in late April to the F-35 Joint Program Office to remain in the nine-member international partnership as a competition continues to replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s CF-18 fleet, the Department of National Defense (DND) said on May 6. 

Concerns that U.S. senators are writing amendments that could prevent the basing of U.S. Air Force F-35s in Britain because of the UK’s planned use of Chinese technology in its future 5G communications network have triggered alarm among British lawmakers.

The Pentagon has awarded 3M a $126 million contract to increase production to 26 million N95 masks per month beginning in October as the novel coronavirus spreads.

Germany’s selection of the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a replacement for the Panavia Tornado has triggered a public debate over the country’s role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence plans.

Over the next decade, the U.S. Army is injecting $8-$10 billion into the vertical lift market via two new Future Vertical Lift programs, but lower-tier suppliers must secure capital funding for tooling to manufacture these new technologies, according to a new report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

As the national debt grows to provide relief from the novel coronavirus, the Pentagon will prioritize modernization programs over funding legacy systems if there is a flat budget, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says.

Leaders of TransDigm Group, a key provider of niche aerospace and defense parts, said on May 5 they will lay off up to 25% of their workforce and take other actions as the company conserves cash to ride out the collapse in commercial air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.