Aircraft & Propulsion

The Airbus CEO says talks with Leonardo and Thales to fix an overcapacity problem in European satellite development and production could lead to creating a combined entity modeled on missile-maker MBDA.

Edge Group Chairman Faisal Al Bannai says the company’s defense export ambitions could still reach a major milestone this year with more than half of bookings coming from abroad.

The company completed the detailed design review (DDR) for the XA102, developed for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Adaptive Propulsion (NGAP) program.

The Air Force is looking for sustainment engineering and logistics services for the QF-16 optionally crewed Viper.

In its annual report, published Feb. 19, Pilatus says the situation with suppliers post-COVID “remains challenging.”

Several new agreements involving defense platforms and companies are expanding India’s MRO sector.

The Navy for years has talked about the absurdity of using an MH-60 to deliver a few pounds of replacement parts and has now moved to fund a large cargo drone.

The Australian Army’s Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters have attained initial operating capability (IOC), 15 months after the aircraft were delivered.

L3Harris is in opening discussions about providing a podded version of its ALQ-254 Viper Shield EW system for use on Lockheed Martin F-16 Blk. 70/72s.

Saab and Hensoldt have signed a vague agreement to consider joint efforts in aircraft self-protection.

Raytheon and the U.S. Army are in talks with potential export buyers of the Coyote counter-drone system, the company says.

India’s navy has turned to private enterprise to find a way increase the capacity of its carrier air wings.

The strained relations between airframer HAL and the Indian Air Force were on full view during Aero India.

Airbus is in discussions with companies in the United Arab Emirates over a workshare on the A400M to secure its first Middle East order for the airlifter.

Edge Group’s Powertech engine business is looking to secure the first partnership agreements to underpin its ambition to develop a broad range of engines.

The first of two Army Theater-Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next Airborne aircraft deployed to South Korea on Feb. 12.

The Royal New Zealand Navy is waiting for the government in Wellington to select a new fleet of naval helicopters to replace its Kaman SH-2G(I) Seasprites.

German defense electronics company Hensoldt says it has secured a $367 million contract for work on the Eurofighter Mk. 1 radar for use by Germany and Spain.

President Trump revived a long-dormant proposal to sell Lockheed Martin F-35s to India during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

After losing the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft and scout programs, Sikorsky is pinning its development hopes on two competitions.

A secretive DARPA office has a new project: a large hypersonic bomber prototype. The Aerospace Projects Office keeps a low profile, even by DARPA standards.

The aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman collided with a merchant vessel in the Mediterranean Sea, the latest incident for the carrier in the past three months.

Indonesia's Republikorp has signed joint venture agreements with Turkey's Baykar and Roketsan which could lead to production in the Southeast Asian nation.

European artificial intelligence company Helsing says it will supply 6,000 of its new HX-2 attack uncrewed air systems (UAS) to Ukraine.

Rheinmetall is due to start delivering to the Netherlands simulators for Embraer C-390 transport aircraft under a recently agreed deal.