Aircraft & Propulsion

Thousands of drones and increased aircraft range are changing the airborne division’s tactics.

An air-launched self-defense weapon for tankers is now under study by four companies selected by the USAF for the first phase of a new acquisition program.

Since the early 2000s, the Albanian Air Force has undergone a fundamental transformation, retiring its entire fixed-wing combat fleet and evolving into a helicopter-based force

President Donald Trump on July 1 flew on the Qatar-donated 747-8i for the first time, marking the initial mission of the new Air Force One.

Dassault Aviation’s CEO says the company is open to cooperation on whatever comes after the demise of the New Generation Fighter.

Propulsion startup company Beehive Industries has revealed a goal to produce up to 8,000 jet engines for drones and uncrewed aircraft systems a year.

Ukraine ordered 16 single-seat Saab Gripen E fighters on June 30 for SEK 24.6 billion ($2.54 billion) for delivery in three-four years.

Canada’s Dominion Dynamics has raised a $100 million Series A round to further develop its Scout CCA and AuraNet command-and-control platform for the Arctic.

Aevex will scale up production of a long-range precision strike platform under a $50 million contract from the U.S. Air Force.

The tri-national Global Combat Air Program has emerged as the biggest winner from the UK government's Defense Investment Plan, although the funding comes at the cost of retiring helicopter and intelligence-gathering fleets as the military shifts some of those missions to uncrewed systems.

The Kopin Corporation, an electronics manufacturer, has received orders for its First Person Viewer from several companies participating in the Pentagon's Drone Dominance Program.

Anduril is playing a role in the development of the U.S. Marine Corps’ version of a Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

Collaborative combat R66; NASA open-fan demo; quantum heads to the field; and Sora’s subscale eVTOL bus.

A pilot in training accidentally activated the fuel shutoff valve during an initial qualification flight on the L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II, causing the armed overwatch aircraft to crash.

Poland has signaled it is ready to acquire its first tanker aircraft following discussions with the Spanish government.

The Swedish government has launched a review to study the economic, defense, security and foreign policy effects associated with potential plans for a future fighter program.

Airbus and Kawasaki Heavy Industries have signed an MOU to jointly study and develop an anti-submarine warfare variant of the U950 Eurodrone.

Historians may come to categorize military aviation as Before F-35 and After F-35, such is the Joint Strike Fighter’s impact on combat capability, interoperability, program execution and oversight.

Indonesia has settled its remaining financial obligation under the Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 Boramae fighter development program.

BAE Systems has reached the "business end" of developing its Future Combat Air Demonstrator, the aircraft that will pave the way for the fighter emerging from the tri-national Global Combat Air Program.

The Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft is participating in Exercise Valiant Shield, its first involvement in a major multinational exercise.

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

The U.S. Army’s first division to get the Bell MV-75 Cheyenne II has been practicing with Bell’s MV-22 tiltrotor ahead of the fielding in the coming years.

General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) says it is modifying the ground control station for the MQ-9A Reaper to also operate the larger MQ-9B model, with testing starting by year’s end.

Airbus Defense and Space is ramping up production rates of its C295 twin-turboprop airlifter to meet demand from domestic and international customers.