Aircraft & Propulsion

RAF high-speed testbed plan provides hypersonic debut opportunity for Reaction Engines heat exchanger and propulsion technology.

Original concepts for an “attritiable” Loyal Wingman are diverging in favor of a mix of greater and lesser advanced platforms.

Leonardo Helicopters has been awarded a £60 million ($71.7 million) contract to build and fly an uncrewed rotary-wing aerial system technology demonstrator.

The U.S. Air Force is ruling out taking the British route of acquiring used Boeing 737 business jets to quickly convert to its new E-7A Wedgetail standard and requiring new build aircraft, though the company says it could accelerate its military line to speed up the program if there is enough demand.

Textron Aviation said on July 20 that a new variant of the Cessna Citation Longitude can perform the maritime patrol aircraft mission.

Seoul’s most complex aircraft project bolsters its drive toward independent weapons production and export.

The engine-maker is using digital design tools and rapid manufacturing processes to accelerate Orpheus engine development.

F-35 price to rise under latest agreement; Czech Republic to buy F-35s; Raytheon flies HAWC; and Embraer’s new C-390 partner.

The OEM rivalry was on full display at Farnborough as they elbowed each other for the autonomous refueling spotlight.

An agreement must be reached between Airbus and Dassault Aviation in the coming weeks on the Franco-German-Spanish Future Air Combat System program or Dassault will go ahead with an unspecified Plan B, says the company’s chairman and CEO, Eric Trappier.

Phantom Works is looking at making these loyal wingman aircraft more independent but work other aircraft as needed.

Phantom Works continues to invest in the future of combat aircraft as the U.S. Air Force and Navy plan for next-generation fighters.

The F-35 JPO, Lockheed and Rolls-Royce are working with GE on the effort.

The company is hard at work on its jet trainer and prototype indigenous fighter.

The agreement will cover production at a cost that the company says will beat inflation.

Leonardo UK, Thales UK and Chemring will work with the UK Defense Ministry on next-generation aircraft survivability equipment.

BAE will help Embraer market the C-390 transport to countries in the Middle East, starting with Saudi Arabia.

The KAI KF-21 flew for more than 30 min. on the afternoon of July 19.

Leonardo says it could be ready to build the AW149 for the UK requirement by year-end if needed.

Boom says the Overture will be capable of takeoff at derated thrust settings, helping reduce noise.

Kathy Warden discusses the JWST, growth in the space market, the B-21 family of systems and a goal for the fighter market.

Rolls-Royce engineers have used digital tools and rapid manufacturing techniques to develop an entirely new turbofan engine concept from scratch in just 18 months.

A seemingly abandoned idea to air launch tiny, swarming drones from fast-moving jets appears to be back on the U.S. Air Force’s research agenda.

The U.S. Air Force is exploring having just one pilot fly its newest tanker in a move Air Mobility Command says could be needed to operate with more agility in war.

On a day of big announcements, Aviation Week editors discuss the latest developments in defense at Farnborough Airshow 2022.