DEFENSE Northrop Grumman has scrapped plans to offer BAE Systems’ Hawk for the $1 billion U.S. Air Force T-38 replacement program, opting instead for a clean-sheet trainer. Subsidiary Scaled Composites is to fly a prototype by year-end. A competition is expected to begin in fiscal 2016, and Boeing also plans a clean-sheet design (page 58) .
Crash shows helicopter’s strong point; U.K. government backing inflates hybrid airship; unmanned aircraft to help manage crises; UAS tolerates crashes, wins prize; two biofuels from one algae.
How lower-cost unmanned vehicles can help high-end manned platforms survive in hostile airspace is a focus of new programs in the Pentagon research agency’s budget request.
Patrick Piedrafita has been appointed head of the A350 program at Airbus. He has been head of the A330-family program and succeeds Didier Evrard, who is now executive vice president-programs. Following Piedrafita is Eric Zanin, who has been head of procurement operations. Klaus Roewe, who has been head of the A320neo program, is now head of the A320-family program and succeeds Daniel Baubil, who is now senior adviser to Evrard.
Chief executives of major airlines in Europe and the U.S. have requested their respective governments ensure fair competition and limit Gulf carriers’ air service—but are such moves the right approach?
After nearly three decades, India is sending its indigenous lightweight fighter aircraft to its air force, although full operational capability and a naval version are still in the works.
While India’s government complains that Dassault will not provide quality guarantees for Rafale fighters built in India, France says that the original request for proposals did not call for one.
The system is competing to meet the requirements of Crowsnest, a British Royal Navy program to provide an organic AEW capability on the new Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.
An official Chinese report outlines the efforts that Avic’s factories and research institutes are putting into advanced manufacturing technology, from friction-stir welding to resin-transfer infusion.
“It has been communicated at the highest levels that India and Russia need to have something to show for the program this year,” says an Indian defense ministry official. But crucial issues remain to be resolved.
India now allows foreign companies to own 49% of joint ventures, but without the ability to control more decisions, global investors are finding other ways to enter the market there.
With FAA approval to use unmanned aircraft for aerial photography and a deal with Planet Labs to buy satellite imagery, Woolpert plans to bring the two together to enable new geospatial information services.
