Aircraft & Propulsion

The $4.94 billion deal confirms a long-awaited order to deliver 66 of the GE Aviation F110-powered F-16s for Taiwan and about 25 Pratt & Whitney F100-powered F-16s for Morocco. The US government approved export packages for both aircraft in 2019.

Leonardo has equipped one of its prototype AW169 twin-engine intermediate-medium helicopters with skidded landing gear as part of flight testing for a militarized version of the platform ordered by the Italian armed forces.

Turkey’s Baykar Makina has flown the second prototype Akinci medium-altitude/long-endurance unmanned aircraft system.

The F-16 Block 70/72 contract to be awarded on August 14 will use an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity format. As each foreign buyer signs an order, the Air Force will sign a task order under the ID/IQ contract to Lockheed, rather than renegotiating pricing for every foreign customer.

The first B-21 test aircraft is still being assembled in Palmdale, California, but the flying testbed allows the stealth bomber program to reduce risk.

The Russian military will upgrade one of its core multirole fighters–the two-seat Sukhoi Su-30SM.

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has confirmed it will be one of four competitors for an Australian lead-in fighter trainer requirement, proposing its T-50 family.

A Canadian start-up has unveiled a concept for a twin-engined, twin-boomed, close air support aircraft with a profile similar to the Vietnam-era North

The U.S. Air Force’s next chief; Growler tests new jammer; Army deploys ISR aircraft; and top-level support for HBTSS.

How the F-35 program is quietly replacing its logistics system known as ALIS with ODIN.

The HH-60W Jolly Green II combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter has completed its first-ever aerial refueling, marking the start of developmental testing.

Britain’s Royal Air Force (RAF) has taken delivery of its first Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules to be given a new center wing box replacement.

As domestic opportunities for helicopter sales shrink, the UK arm of Leonardo Helicopters presses hard for exports.

The Raytheon-built radar jammer confirmed safety-of-flight characteristics during the sortie by the VX-23 flight test squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.

Russian Helicopters announced Aug. 10 that the modernized Kamov Ka-52M attack helicopter made its first flight, taking off from Russian Helicopters’ subsidiary Progress in Arseniev in Russia’s Far East.

NATO’s Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Unit has taken delivery of its second Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

Israel has stood up its second front-line F-35 squadron and taken delivery of an aircraft to be used for flight testing new systems.

Bell unveiled plans for a new 140,000-ft.² manufacturing technology center Aug. 10 to support the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) effort.

The service wrapped up its business case analysis and is pushing for Next Generation Air Dominance to become a program of record.

The new Mi-8AMTSh-VN military helicopter intended for Russian special forces has started flight tests, Rostec Corp. subsidiary Russian Helicopters says.

A two-year evaluation has coalesced into plans to field a sea-based interceptor as quickly as possible.

France has taken delivery of the first of two Beechcraft King Air 350-based intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.

Hypersonic aircraft developer Hermeus is working with the U.S. Air Force to evaluate how the company’s Mach 5 concept could be modified into a high-speed executive vehicle, including potentially a presidential transport.

NRO’s new approach to satellites; Russia’s S-70 acceleration; defining “Attritable” in dollar terms; Collins’ training device.

Boeing does not expect to issue more debt to raise funds at this time, the company’s chief financial officer said Aug. 5, but management will “keep all our options open” through the "dynamic" COVID-19 and 737 MAX crises .