Aircraft & Propulsion

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

Space and defense company Redwire will build Long Range Reconnaissance prototypes for the U.S. Army.

A hybrid-electric aircraft is looming larger in Vertical Aerospace’s future.

Rheinmetall is in talks with Boeing and Lockheed Martin about potential collaboration on cooperative combat aircraft.

Archer has announced a pair of strategic acquisitions that it says will accelerate efforts to field a hybrid VTOL aircraft for the U.S. military.

NATO military commanders and politicians see more potential in the use of drones, but this shouldn't come at the expense of “legacy” systems, a think tank says.

Washington has green-lit Australia's FMS request for a Baseline 2 upgrade package for its MC-55A Peregrine ISR and electronic warfare aircraft.

Electro Optic Systems is close to securing a second order for its 100-kW-class counter-drone laser system, CEO Andreas Schwer says.

When it comes to buying fighters, Jakarta is once again shuffling the deck.

After losing NGAD to Boeing, Lockheed plans to develop the F-35 to fill the gap.

Laser-guided rockets help the U.S. Air Force down drones cheaply, though pilots say it is not as easy as it looks.

A component failure and a design flaw combined to cause the loss of a Northrop Grumman B-2 bomber 2.5 years ago, a newly released accident investigation report says.

Red Cat Holdings is suing a former executive for allegedly joining a competing drone business ahead of a major U.S. Army procurement.

Spain has reportedly scrapped plans to acquire the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter after apparently choosing to spend the funds in Europe instead.

Thailand’s Royal Thai Air Force has secured cabinet approval to acquire Saab Gripen E/F fighters.

Hanwha Systems has rolled out the first mass-produced active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar for the KAI KF-21 fighter.

The Canadian government has awarded MDA Space two contracts to provide the Navy's Halifax-class frigates with up to six new uncrewed aircraft systems.

Startup VerdeGo Aero is to build the first prototype of its VH-4T-415 turbine-based hybrid-electric powerplant.

Companies hoping to snag a contract for the U.S. Army’s future arsenal of “Launched Effects” (LE) munitions must be ready to deliver within six months of contract award.

U.S. Air Force researchers want proposals for new automation technologies that would allow boom-equipped uncrewed aircraft to refuel crewed aircraft.

First in line among the Austrian Air Force’s modernization priorities is the replacement of Austria’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet, which remains in the earliest T1 configuration.

Daedalean, a Swiss developer of certifiable artificial-intelligence (AI)-based avionics, is to be acquired by Destinus Group.

Several NATO countries have become the first to contribute to the new PURL initiative to arm Ukraine with U.S.-made defense equipment.

The UK is proceeding with a program to replace its Grob G115 Tutor elementary training aircraft and plans to launch a formal tender next October.

The People’s Liberation Army Navy has dropped its strongest hint yet that flight operations have commenced onboard its newest aircraft carrier Fujian.