Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A shift to automated tools is being relied upon to transform a major weakness of the F-35 development program into a possible strength.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The technology driving the new, unmanned collaborative aircraft that will fly alongside the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance fighter is so ready that the service can skip any risk reduction activities and head straight into engineering and manufacturing development, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Matthew Jouppi
The service will focus on platforms to counter China including the B-21, NGAD and the F-35.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris, Jens Flottau
The OEM says longer certification timelines are a new fact of life as development woes and fixed-price contracts force first-quarter losses.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Molly McMillin
Despite the Russia-Ukraine war and volatility in the stock market, business aircraft activity at Textron Aviation has remained strong during the first quarter of 2022, company officials say.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Aircraft Industries, the manufacturer of the Let family of turboprop regional aircraft, is now back in Czech hands after being acquired from its Russian owners.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Brian Everstine
737-based E-7A, originally designed for Australia, to serve airborne warning and control mission.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A U.S. Navy proposal now under review would establish a dedicated training center for aircraft pilots and maintainers in foreign militaries, a service official said at Aviation Week’s Military Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Symposium here on April 27.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
With modification of the Cessna 172 Skyhawk and 208 Caravan to autonomous operation already under its belt, Reliable Robotics has received an Air Force Research Laboratory contract to demonstrate autonomous capabilities on U.S. Air Force aircraft.
Emerging Technologies

By Guy Norris
DARPA is seeking concepts and preliminary design proposals for a low-cost, wing-in-ground effect seaplane that, if taken to the next stage, could lead to the development of a full-scale X-Plane version.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A problem appeared on the floor of the F135 Heavy Maintenance Center here in late January: a late test had detected a worrisome vibration coming from a repaired power module inside an F-35A engine.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
Ahead of its centennial, legendary rotorcraft company Sikorsky Aircraft is seeing several opportunities for growth, the company CEO says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jen DiMascio
For its Defiant X helicopter, Sikorsky and Boeing have selected Honeywell’s engine and power systems technology.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Marine Corps says the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion reached the initial operational capability milestone on April 22, completing a 17-year journey from the award of the development contract in 2005.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble, Brian Everstine
A modernization effort for the Lockheed Martin F-35 will take three more years and cost about $741 million more to complete, the watchdog arm of Congress said April 25.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Poland looks set to choose between two U.S.-produced rotorcraft to fulfill its long-running attack helicopter requirement. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed on April 21 that Warsaw is mulling offers for two attack helicopters: one from Bell, likely for the AH-1Z Viper, and a second from Boeing for the AH-64 Apache.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Angola is the latest customer for the maritime patrol variant of Airbus’ C295 twin-turboprop airlifter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Airbus advances X-plane; BAE joins GE on hybrid; Seaglider takes to water; Cross-country on hydrogen; and manufacturing LH2 tanks.
Emerging Technologies

By Steve Trimble
Brazil announced plans to buy four more Saab Gripen F-39 fighters on April 22, raising the quantity in the initial batch of the single-engine aircraft to 40.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Brazilian Air Force formally inducted the first two Saab F-39E Gripens in a presidential ceremony at Santa Cruz Air Force Base in Rio de Janeiro
Aircraft & Propulsion

David Hambling
Donated drones used for the first time at scale in a high-intensity conflict.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jen DiMascio
Selling a bomber family; Serbia to consider Eurofighters; Brazil seeks MRTT tankers; and senators ask for Ukraine coordinator.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris, Steve Trimble
After spending decades in the laboratory, a new propulsion technology enters testing on weapon system.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Air Force speeds studies with Pratt on potential pressure gain combustion benefits for low-cost, high-performance supersonic propulsion.
Aircraft & Propulsion