Aircraft & Propulsion

Sierra Nevada Corp. and Turkish Aerospace Industries are making a surprise pitch of their Williams International FJ44-4M-powered Freedom Trainer for the T-X program.

Germany gives Sea Lion room to succeed as it mulls other helicopter acquisitions.

Sens. Cochran and Wicker lend Republican clout to the company’s low-risk entry for the U.S. Air Force T-X trainer competition under a Trump presidency.

Drawing up a concept that emphasizes weapon load and endurance over maneuverability, designers at the Japanese defense ministry have come up with an aircraft that is longer than the F-22 and has a considerably greater wingspan.

Tom Kennedy outlines why he thinks the U.S. Air Force will want the kind of low-risk T-X trainer Raytheon is offering.

Fiscal 2017 U.S. defense budget includes plans to replace Afghan fleet of Mi-17 helicopters.

The Bell 412 will be built and assembled on both sides of the Pacific. FHI’s manufacturing setup will be a second production line, says Bell.

Operators are seeing wrinkles in the low-observable coating that could eventually peel off and compromise the fighter’s stealth.

Possible changes to the NH90 helicopter include more payload, enhanced electro-optical system and teaming with unmanned aircraft.

Just off the coast of San Diego on the USS America, the JSF is fundamentally changing the way the U.S. Marine Corps operates from amphibious assault ships.

Company offers to make an advanced version of its Super Hornet in India for its air force and export customers.

The F-15 and F/A-18 production lines could extend into the early-2020s with fleet-size orders from Qatar and Kuwait.

There is renewed focus on Tranche 1 Eurofighters as air forces look at how to keep them in service for the long-haul.

Surveying the Navy’s diverse new weapons portfolio, from the LRASM anti-ship cruise missile to extended-range versions of Harpoon and JSOW.

Britain’s Chinook Digital Automatic Flight Control System upgrade will bring the oldest of Chinooks to the capability of its newest.

Two companies offering airborne aggressor services vie for 10-year contract from Canadian Armed Forces.

Defense training by commercial operators is commonplace in Europe, but aerial aggressor work has yet to take off.

The first operational F-35A squadron’s participation in an upcoming theater security package will signal the U.S. military’s capability and credibility.

Private companies in the U.S. are buying up whole fleets of F-5s, A-4s, MiG-21s and F-16s to fly "bandit" training forces.

Aviation Week visited the U.S. Air Force’s first operational F-35 squadron to get an inside look at how maintainers fixed a problem with faulty insulation on the aircraft’s avionics cooling lines.

In this week’s roundup: the U.S. reports $33 billion in foreign sales; Indian council recommends the purchase of 83 more Tejas combat aircraft; Boeing wins electronic warfare upgrade contract; and Indonesia considers Gripen and F-16 fighters.

The Air Force has selected Northrop Grumman to build a beam-control system for a self-defense laser it hopes to deploy on fighters.

Exercise Bersama Lima 16, held in Malaysia Oct. 4-21, provided the first opportunity for RAF Typhoons to be pitched against the Su-30MKMs of the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Despite potential schedule and cost growth, the service is “comfortable” that Northrop’s B-21 will meet the technical requirements at a reasonable price.

The new U.S. president will likely have to choose between upgrading the nuclear arsenal and funding critical conventional weapons replacement programs.