Aircraft & Propulsion

The U.S. Army could buy up to eight Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems in fiscal 2023, two years early, Col. Scott Anderson said on July 23.

After a highly anticipated Boeing F-15J upgrade project was halted and Lockheed Martin was chosen for the Japanese F-X next-generation fighter, Boeing is now in a holding pattern ready to support Japanese fighter programs.

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has passed a bill that would temporarily block the U.S. Air Force from its effort to develop a so-called “Bridge Tanker.”

Sukhoi rolled out the model of a new fighter aircraft during the MAKS show in Russia targeting the export market. Aviation Week editors discuss the design and its prospects in a crowded market.

Greece’s new Rafales; Army Starts FLRAA competition; Indonesia buys T-50s; and the U.S. Air Force rationale for Global Hawk retirement.

A video released on July 22 by the contender for the U.S. Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) shows the SB-1 lifting to a hover an external load that the Sikorsky-Boeing described as 5,300 lb.

Bristow Helicopters, the provider of the UK’s Search and Rescue helicopter service, is set to operate a rotary-wing unmanned air system for SAR duties this summer.

The UK Ministry of Defense has completed its planned purchase of the General Atomics Protector medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed air system, signing an order for 13 aircraft.

In a global market awash in fighter options, Russia thinks it’s delivered an elusive winner.

The U.S. Army has sent requests for proposals to a Sikorsky/Boeing team and Bell for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft contract.

The UK and Japan are looking to “accelerate discussions” on joint developments around future combat aircraft.

Greece's defense minister traveled to France to accept his country's first Rafale from Dassault.

UK advances drone swarms and combat cloud capabilities to enhance networked warfare.

Russian government and industry officials formally presented the Sukhoi Checkmate fighter mockup to President Vladimir Putin on the first day of the MAKS Airshow on July 20, and told reporters the Light Tactical Aircraft (LTA) has secured an “anchor customer.”

Turkey’s Baykar Makina has lifted the lid on a jet-powered unmanned combat air vehicle concept which the company hopes to fly as a prototype in 2023.

Bell has begun assembling the first UH-1Y Venom utility helicopters for the type's first export customer.

Sustainable aviation fuel, synthetic training and electric aircraft form the RAF’s road map for a more ecological defense future.

A startup led by electric vertical flight guru Mark Moore has emerged from stealth mode to develop ultraquiet electric propulsors, initially for U.S. military unmanned aircraft.

A video has leaked showing the Sukhoi Checkmate fighter design two days before its scheduled reveal at the MAKS air show. The video confirms the

An automatic-takeoff-and-landing capability is scheduled to be released to the operational fleet of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. MQ-9 Reapers owned by the U.S. Air Force next year.

Billions of euros have begun flowing into the European FCAS program to support demonstrator development.

A covered, full-scale model of a new Russian stealth fighter branded by Rostec in English as “Checkmate” was photographed being moved into a display position on July 15 at Zhukovsky Airbase, the site of next week’s MAKS airshow outside Moscow.

In its latest defense white paper, the Japanese defense ministry names China as its main security threat and for the first time includes the stability of Taiwan in the annual report.

U.S. Navy can use KC-46 tankers; Space nuclear-propulsion concepts chosen; Germany’s space command; and India’s 10th P-8.

The U.S. Air Force has now cleared the Boeing KC-46A to refuel any probe-equipped aircraft from the centerline drogue system on any operational mission, but the tight restrictions remain on the use of the refueling boom and wing aerial refueling pods for operational tasks.