Aviation Week & Space Technology

Although not huge spenders, South American countries aim to develop local defense capabilities.

Even flagging helicopter products are finding customers in the midst of defense spending hikes.

EHang goes public; eVTOL megadeals coming in 2020; Microturbine hybrid range extender; autonomous cargo UAV demo; grappling OneWeb sats.

A blueprint that could define a dramatic shift in the U.S. approach to airpower after 2030 could emerge next year

It may be one of NATO’s biggest economies, but Germany is struggling to meet the alliance’s 2% of GDP target and grow its armed forces.

Demand seems tepid for more autonomous commercial aircraft, while experts challenge artificial intelligence.

NATO’s London meeting in December exposed deep divisions among alliance members.

There are increasing signs across the region that demand and profitability will be under pressure in 2020, although airlines are still planning to renew their fleets and introduce new aircraft types.

IATA is forecasting higher profits for the airline industry in 2020. But it had to revise its 2019 forecast down twice, and there is a large degree of uncertainty going into 2020, including trade tensions that continue to weigh heavily on airlines. The timing of the return of the Boeing 737 MAX is also adding uncertainty to airline planning and the capacity outlook. Aviation Week Network Executive Editor for Commercial Aviation Jens Flottau discusses the issues with Air Transport World Editor-In-Chief Karen Walker and Aviation Week Regulatory Reporter Ben Goldstein.

Modified Beaver seaplane becomes first commercial aircraft to fly on all-electric propulsion.

Lockheed tests ground-launched long-range missile; Japan to keep making F-35s; Space Fence nears start of ops; NATO training center opens.

The test focused on validating the wake-prediction model used to assess the optimum cruise location for the in-trail aircraft.

Cathay Pacific has been forced to scale back operations and defer deliveries, while Hong Kong Airlines has had to seek more funds to ensure its survival.

After three spacewalks, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is almost ready to resume collecting cosmic rays.

Synthetic training environments should be founded on common terrain and threat databases, military leaders say.

Airbus and Boeing are betting on increased narrowbody use for long-haul flying, which comes at the expense of larger models that once dominated the segment.

Addressing the FAA’s safety oversight concerns could be a multiyear effort for Malaysia’s regulator, which is the latest in Asia to be downgraded.

The new associate administrator will oversee the space station, Commercial Crew program, SLS and Artemis.

Wisk JV stirs up UAM; SkyPorts funding boost; Jaunt goes for BAE; Ehang plans eVTOL sightseeing; Volocopter impresses spectators; Vahana eVTOL completes flying.

The fury of space launches, the love of flight in a woman’s eye, heart-shaped vapor trails and the world’s largest aircraft are among the most compelling photos.

Winners include a pyrotechnic mushroom cloud, a night approach to Ecuador, a banking Israeli F-35, warbirds that still take flight and dazzling space launches.

Amid renewed interest for space programs in Europe, ESA will be able to fund Earth-observation and space vehicle projects.

As Beijing’s power begins to gain influence around the alliance’s soft underbelly, NATO is taking notice.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

This year’s Aviation Week Photo Contest winners include a Canadian Snowbirds pilot, aerospace engineers, a space policy expert and a commercial pilot.