Aircraft & Propulsion

A new Royal Air Force strategy lays out plans for the introduction of larger systems after having developed small, swarming platforms.

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

The U.S. Navy will buy Group 2 solar-electric uncrewed aerial systems from Kraus Hamdani Aerospace to be used by U.S. Marine Corps units.

The U.S. Air Force wants to modify 326 of its Boeing C/KC-135 aircraft to have commercial access to both secure and nonsecure satellite communications.

Safran Helicopter Engines has won a £241 million ($305.2 million) contract to support the RTM322 engines used on the UK Royal Navy’s Merlin helicopters.

Greek lawmakers have OK’d the country’s military to purchase 35 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to modernize the army’s rotary-wing fleet.

Sweden is beginning to ponder what follows the Gripen as it looks to preserve its national combat aircraft development capability.

Boeing’s new leadership in Commercial Airplanes and at the top are likely just the beginning of major changes at the manufacturing giant.

North Macedonia’s government has signed a contract with Italy’s Leonardo to purchase a fleet of new transport helicopters for the country’s military.

France will send newly developed loitering munitions to Ukraine for its war with Russia, Minister of Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu has announced.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has linked up with Aerotor to propose a large, VTOL uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) to perform a range of military roles.

The Ecuadorean Air Force FAE’s strategic decisions reflect a pragmatic approach to security needs, emphasizing adaptability and efficiency in the face of evolving challenges.

Ukraine appears to have turned to converted ultralight aircraft to act as long-range one-way attack drones in a bid to extend its reach in Russia.

France’s defense materiel agency has begun flight tests of a new optronics sensors system destined for the next upgrade package for the Dassault Rafale.

The Pacific deployment is intended to build interoperability between the three partner nations in the next-generation European Future Combat Air System.

In a wide-ranging interview, Culp talks about the new company’s future and says he has no interest in taking his turnaround skills to Boeing.

An impromptu question between a Hong Kong-based reporter and a Chinese general offer a brief update into the development status of China's H-20 stealth bomber.

After years of scattered attempts to keep pilots in service failed to change the trend, the Air Force is renewing outreach to its aircrews.

The U.S. Navy has begun modifications to its P-8 sub-hunting fleet with delivery of the first aircraft to Boeing for the Increment 3 Block 2 update.

Hybrid-electric aircraft developer VoltAero is preparing to test a more powerful piston engine from Kawasaki.

Of the 215 used fighters expected to transfer ownership in the coming decade, 132 of them (about 61%) will be F-16s, according to Aviation Week’s Fleet Discovery Military database.

The first Marine AH-1Z arrived has at Bell’s Amarillo Assembly Center in Texas to begin the first installations, which will increase onboard power generation.

The team of MAG Aerospace and L3Harris say their first prototype under a new U.S. Army effort for high-altitude ISR has taken its first flight.

The “successful” sortie of the first Tejas Mk1A, bearing company serial number LA-5033, lasted 18 min. and was flown by chief test pilot KK Venugpal.

Now in its fourth year, the European Commission-led EDF aims to support defense research, development and cooperation among member states.