Defense

NASA has narrowed from 12 to two the number of mission candidates under consideration for the agency’s fourth $1 billion New Frontiers class of planetary science missions.

The U.S. aerospace and defense industry celebrated a key victory in Washington on Dec. 20 as the Republican-controlled Congress passed a major tax overhaul.

The AFRL has tapped Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to produce swarms of autonomous cruise missiles capable of wreaking havoc on enemy air defenses.

The FAA will craft a proposed regulation from the recommendations of an advisory group that met to consider ways of remotely identifying and tracking drones.

The Irish Air Corps (IAC), one of Europe’s smallest air arms, has ordered a fleet of Pilatus PC-12s as part of its fleet modernization.

The Indian Air Force has issued a request for proposals for 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to be built by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Restore-L, a NASA-initiated mission to demonstrate telerobotic satellite servicing technologies in low Earth orbit, has cleared its preliminary design review.

Elbit Systems of America is set to reap up to $176 million as a subcontractor to DynCorp International to support U.S. Army C-26s and UC-35s.

Embraer’s KC-390 twin-engine airlifter has achieved its initial operating capability, a key milestone in preparation for the type’s entry into service in 2018.

Myanmar has put into service six Yakovlev Yak-130 twin-engine trainer and light attack aircraft ordered from Russia in 2015.

Facing three major refueling deficiencies, Boeing will not begin deliveries to the Air Force until 2018. Airbus A330 MRTT winning non-U.S. competitions.

Boeing has taken the wrapping off its proposal for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray program.

The Senate Banking Committee on Dec. 19 narrowly rejected the Trump administration’s nominee to head the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

The U.S. Army is trying to figure out why Sierra Nevada Corp. was the only prime contractor to bid for its Fixed Wing Utility Aircraft (FUA) program.

Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to be delivered to Singapore next year have been improved for operation by smaller crews and landing in worse visibility conditions.

Development of a version of the MBDA Meteor air-to-air missile with an advanced Japanese seeker is increasingly likely.

Eight Boeing AH-64Es being delivered to the Indonesian Army are likely to be partly maintained by state-owned Indonesian Aerospace.

The FAA has declared no-drone zones over seven Department of Energy (DOE) facilities.

India has begun integrating the air-launched version of its BrahMos supersonic cruise missile on its fleet of Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters.

Lockheed’s stealth fighter will continue to draw focus in 2018 and beyond as several nations look to modernize.

British parliamentarians say a lack of transparency over costs and a poor response to media reports could undermine confidence in the UK’s purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy prioritizes sustaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal and building up capability in missile defense, space and cyberspace.

Thales is fleshing out its expansion into so-called digital offerings with a Dec. 17 announcement that it will buy digital security company Gemalto.

Stratolaunch Systems successfully conducted the first taxi tests of the company’s enormous six-engine, air-launch rocket carrier aircraft on Dec 17.

A committee of British MPs is urging the UK’s defense ministry to undertake a comprehensive review of its equipment spending.