Aviation Week & Space Technology

One of the key features of the A&D industry is its close link to international politics.

Efficient aerodynamics and engines keep unmanned aircraft demonstrator aloft for 80 hr. and could slash operating costs for medium-altitude UAS.

Dueling global satellite Internet systems could be on the horizon if plans by SpaceX and OneWeb come to fruition.

Lockheed Martin sees China’s hypersonic advances as a rationale to resurrect extended-range Thaad project.

Although some political instability lingers, and rumors about Greece exiting the eurozone have resurfaced, the skies are looking a lot brighter for the privately owned Athens-based carrier.

While certification of Comac’s first airliner—the ARJ21—is a big step, the real test will be whether the company can provide adequate after-sale support.

All safety agencies and aircraft manufacturers agree that more stringent tracking standards are necessary, but approaches to delivering them differ.

Commercial engines set for major service entry milestones in 2015 while major military initiatives bank on upgrades and foreign sales in the short term and research for the long term.

Single-pilot commercial operations coming; advanced composites institute formed; unmanned news-gathering moves closer; agile manufacturing for ISR; near-zero-power sensors.

Work on air-launch space access projects hits all-time high as test flights loom.

New design tools are intended to help suppliers work with multiple manufacturers in a globalized aerospace industry.

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SpaceX’s near-term plans for U.S. government work have been thwarted by certification requirements.

While keeping its options open, Belgium seems to be leaning toward F-35 as the replacement for its F-16s.

Aviation Week editors discuss the reasons behind our selection of Vladimir Putin as Person of the Year for 2014.

In 2014, no other person has had a more sweeping impact on aerospace and aviation—for better or worse—than Russian President Vladimir Putin. And for all but the most cynical of observers, Putin’s far-reaching impact has definitely been for the worse. Because of this, he is Aviation Week's 2014 Person of the Year.

David C. Wajsgras (see photo) has been appointed president of Waltham, Massachusetts-based Raytheon’s Intelligence, Information and Services, succeeding Lynn A. Dugle, who plans to retire. Wajsgras has been corporate vice president/CFO and will be succeeded by Anthony F. “Toby” O’Brien (see photo). O’Brien has been vice president/CFO of Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems and was vice president-finance for Raytheon Airline Aviation Services and CFO of the then-Raytheon Aircraft Co.

Obama administration has made great progress in reforming export-control procedures, but benefits for the A&D industry are slow to materialize.

Like most abrupt macroeconomic changes, there are mixed implications for the defense sector from the recent drop in oil prices.

One size does not fit all: imports, partnerships and national independent programs all feature in Brazil’s defense acquisitions.

With a well-developed indigenous defense industry, Turkey seeks to become a major exporter, focusing on the Middle East and Central Asia.

Used to producing only for the domestic market, arms producers in Japan must adapt to successfully develop their export business.

The conflict in Ukraine has increased the visibility of Russia’s military transformation, which Putin began at the start of his first term as president.

Aviation Week’s Person of the Year is the figure who had the most impact—for better or, in this case, worse—on aerospace and aviation over the year. In 2014, Putin’s actions roiled defense, space and commercial aviation.

The fluctuating price of oil affects every A&D sector to varying degrees, some much more than others.