Aviation Week & Space Technology

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.

Green Rotorcraft program is testing fuel-saving diesel-cycle engine, advanced blades and electric tailrotor.

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.

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

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

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.

South Korea’s role in the world defense market is expanding.

In brief: The cascading effects of Putin’s annexation of Crimea in the airline, aerospace and defense sectors.

India is seeking to build its military export trade, and its effort have caught the attention of China, its rival in such endeavors.

It looks as if the F-35 could meet its key performance parameter requirements, but that is a narrow definition of success.

The plan to terminate the U-2 is reversed, reopening a debate at the Pentagon about high-altitude reconnaissance platforms.

Jan. 27-29—Microelectronics Reliability and Qualification Working Meeting. The Aerospace Corp., El Segundo, California. See www.cvent.com/d/9rqnfl Feb. 1-3—Routes Americas. Denver. See www.routesonline.com/events/172/Feb. 1-3 Feb. 3-6—National Business Aviation Association Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference. San Jose, California. See www.nbaa.org/events/sdc/2015/

Feb. 2-3—MRO Middle East, Dubai. March 5—Laureate Awards, Washington. April 14-16—MRO Americas, Miami.

While recent airline crashes in Asia are creating pressure for improved tracking of flights, other initiatives to prevent crashes are arguably more important.

Landing people on Mars is a goal on which there is widespread consensus.

One approach to long-range ‘replacements’ for the venerable 757 is clearly defined with Airbus’s launch of its A321LR model.

In the wake of recent accidents, ICAO will draft new performance-based tracking and distress alerting standards for all airliners beyond 2020.

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

Scaled Composites’ Speaks I would like to take exception to the unsupported assertion by Graham Warwick in “Designer Aircraft” (AW&ST Dec. 15/22, 2014, p. 16) that since Scaled Composites was acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2007, “its priorities have shifted.”