Globally the F-16 fleet is expected to generate $49.3 billion in MRO demand over the next 10 years even as it shrinks from 2,792 aircraft in 2020 to 2,278 by 2029.
X-37B - The Air Force recently launched the sixth OTV mission, so it will be up and running. More than 20 years after initial development, the X-37B is beginning to serve its original goal – reducing the cost of space missions, as the Orbital Test Vehicle was launched for a sixth mission. See its the journey and what's to come.
Aviation Week Network forecasts that over the next ten years, 677 new, Western-designed helicopters performing maritime missions will be built, 114 will be re-engined/remanufactured, and 355 will be retired.
The U.S. has found itself in bind after bind over the issue of 5G networks. It needs faster, secure communication networks. But a recent FCC decision to allow Ligado Networks to build an L-band ground-based 5G cellular networks is under fire from industry groups, airline pilots and even the Pentagon over the potential for its signals to disrupt GPS devices.
Aviation Week Network forecasts that over the next ten years, 282 new Western-designed military scout helicopters will be built, 25 will be remanufactured, and 503 will be retired.
China plans to increase defence spending in 2020 despite the expectation of dramatically reduced economic growth, maintaining pressure on neighboring countries to protect their own defence budgets from cuts.
The launch of Argentina’s Earth-observation Saocom 1B satellite, scheduled for late March aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, has been postponed due to travel restrictions imposed to combat COVID-19.
Data from Aviation Week Network analyses the western tanker aircraft in-service currently, and forecasts the number of deliveries and retirements for western tankers that will be in service in ten years time, including which tanker is likely to be the world's most common through 2029.
A 40-year-old idea to improve strafing accuracy by transferring flight control of a manned fighter to the autopilot to aim the gun is being revived as the U.S. Air Force looks internally for innovations that can be demonstrated and delivered quickly.