Which Military Training Aircraft Will Dominate The Future?

By Craig Caffrey May 10, 2021
Though four trainers are emerging as leaders, competition in this segment is fierce.
Light Attack and Advanced Training
U.S. Armed Overwatch Competition Restarting After Six-Month Hiatus
Special Operations Command has selected five aircraft for a demo this summer, continuing the long quest to acquire a light attack fleet.
audra.avizieni… Mon, 05/10/2021 - 08:00
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Deja Vu?

China Launches Eighth Trio Of Yaogan-30 Reconnaissance Sats
China launched the eighth trio of Yaogan-30 electronic reconnaissance satellites on a Long March 2C two-stage rocket at 2 11 p.m. EDT on May 6 from Xichang spaceport in southwest China’s Sichuan Province.
andy_savoie@av… Fri, 05/07/2021 - 21:38
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Which Aircraft Will Congress Let The U.S. Air Force Retire?

By Jen DiMascio May 07, 2021
In a long-running drama, the U.S. Air Force and Congress have been at odds over which aircraft to retire and which ones to keep. Though the Biden administration has yet to release its budget, the Air Force’s hit list already includes the KC-10 and KC-135 tankers as well as the RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Lawmaker Pressures USAF To Appoint Space Acquisition Chief

By Jen DiMascio May 07, 2021
The leader of the U.S. House committee in charge of defense spending wants the Pentagon to move faster to appoint an executive in charge of space acquisition, but the Air Force is suggesting that Congress could play a role in speeding up the process.
Space
U.S. Navy Moves Closer To First AARGM-ER Flight Test
The Northrop Grumman Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile - Extended Range is on track to stage the first live fire test from a Boeing F/A-18E/F this spring.
steve.trimble@… Fri, 05/07/2021 - 19:15
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Perseverance Captures Ingenuity Sound On Mars

By Guy Norris May 07, 2021
As NASA prepares to attempt the fifth flight of the Ingenuity helicopter on Mars, the agency has released audio of the rotorcraft recorded by instruments on the Perseverance rover.
Space
NASA Astronaut Urges Future Space Tourists To Pack Smart
Careful preplanning and packing of supplies will be an essential part of Inspiration4, the world’s first all-commercial astronaut mission planned for launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center later this year, NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins says.
andy_savoie@av… Fri, 05/07/2021 - 16:29
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KSC Director: NASA’s Commercial Partnerships Should Continue

By Mark Carreau May 06, 2021
NASA’s  Kennedy Space Center is on course to continue evolving its infrastructure in partnership with the commercial launch sector to support a growing number of rocket launches from Florida’s Space Coast in the coming years, according to Robert Cabana, the center’s director.
Space
U.S. Navy Sets Flight Demo For T-44 Replacement Bidders
The system performance demonstration will be held in April-May, 2022, for the Multi-Engine Training System contract.
steve.trimble@… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 20:36
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Boeing, NASA Targeting Uncrewed Starliner Test In July

By Jen DiMascio May 06, 2021
Boeing and NASA plan to conduct an uncrewed Orbital Flight Test-2 of the Starliner CST-100 crew capsule at 2:53 p.m. EDT on July 30, pending range approval, the company said May 6.
Commercial Space

U.S. Air Force B-1Bs Return To Flight

By Jen DiMascio May 06, 2021
The first U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers returned to flight operations on May 3 after a safety stand-down, Air Force Global Strike Command said on May 6.
Budget, Policy & Operations
SAFRAN

SAFRAN was selected by Bell Textron to supply landing gear system for V-280 Valor.

amy.hardcastle… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 17:31
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EGYPT

EGYPT plans to order another 30 Dassault Rafale fighters, increasing fleet to 54.

amy.hardcastle… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 17:30
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Philippines Committed To Fighter Program, Shows Off Up-Armed FA-50

By Chen Chuanren May 06, 2021
Despite significant national resources and funding committed to the containment of COVID-19, the Philippines said it is still pursuing the acquisition of a multirole fighter aircraft under the Armed Forces of Philippines Modernization projects.
Aircraft & Propulsion

UK Could Help India Develop Tejas Mk. 2

By Tony Osborne May 06, 2021
The UK could help India develop a larger variant of its Tejas combat aircraft as part of a new strategic partnership between the two countries.
Aircraft & Propulsion
Space Force Readies Cloud-Based Digital Platform For Release
The U.S. Space Force is close to establishing an unclassified version of a cloud-based, digital platform that will allow guardians to collaborate with contractors to design new software applications for satellites, Maj. Gen. Kimberly Crider said on May 6.
steve.trimble@… Thu, 05/06/2021 - 12:42
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China To Build UAV Industrial Base In Zigong

By Chen Chuanren May 06, 2021
China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAIG) has signed a project agreement with Zigong Municipal People’s Government to build a dedicated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) industrial park in the city that will eventually see an annual output of 100 medium to large drones.
Aircraft & Propulsion

SpaceX Sticks Starship Landing

By Guy Norris May 06, 2021
SpaceX successfully landed a full-scale Starship prototype after a high-altitude flight test on May 5, marking a key milestone towards the development of the company’s next generation launch system.
Space

Contenders Make Final Commitments To Finnish Fighter Contest

By Tony Osborne May 06, 2021
Bidders in Finland’s fighter contest must include the whole suite of aircraft, weapons, training and support in their €9 billion package.
Aircraft & Propulsion

The Week In Defense, May 6-13, 2021

By Jen DiMascio May 06, 2021
Egypt to buy more Rafales; A Space National Guard proposal; Navy training system to start production and the U.S. halts Minuteman test.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Blue Origin Solicits Bids For July 20 First Crewed Launch

By Jen DiMascio May 05, 2021
Blue Origin plans to send human crewmembers to suborbital space for the first time on July 20 on its New Shepard rocket, the company said in a May 5 statement.
Commercial Space

USAF Eyes Autonomous Inspector Small Spacecraft Tech

By Lee Hudson May 05, 2021
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory is asking industry for ideas for small, autonomous spacecraft that could inspect and repair other satellites in geosynchronous orbit—and to ultimately develop a flight experiment concept.
Space

Grob 120TP Selected For Swedish Basic Training

By Tony Osborne May 05, 2021
Sweden has chosen Grob’s 120TP turboprop as the basic trainer for its air force.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

WHO'SNEWS: LOCKHEED MARTIN

May 05, 2021
Christian Marrone to Senior Vice President of Government Affairs of Lockheed Martin.
Defense and Space