Defense

North Korea’s acceleration of missile testing could see the U.S. expand its antiballistic missile system as the Missile Defense Agency also speeds development of tech to counter-maneuvering hypersonic glide weapons.

“Though the review is still in process, the SM-3 Block 2A interceptor and Aegis Combat System have been eliminated as the potential root cause,” MDA Director Lt. Gen. Sam Greaves tells Aviation Week.

UAC president Yury Slyusar said July 19 that the light transport is now expected to take off in the first half of 2018, almost a year behind the initial schedule.

Supersonic-airliner startup Boom Technologies believes sufficient research has already been conducted for the FAA to set a standard.

Textron Aviation revenue decreased $25 million during the second quarter of 2017, with a decline in demand for Caravan and King Air turboprops and lower volumes on Beechcraft T-6 military trainers.

A South Korean government watchdog has criticized the Korea Aerospace Industries Surion military helicopter project amid an investigation into corruption at the company.

An instructor pilot from the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB noticed he was lightheaded and short of breath during a local training flight on July 10.

India’s space agency and NASA have begun building hardware for the joint Nisar dual-frequency synthetic aperture radar satellite, due for launch in 2021.

Congress is weighing the return on investment from its high-priority but costly Mars 2020 rover and Europa Clipper missions.

Russia’s Mil Mi-38 heavy transport twin engine helicopter finally has a customer.

The reentry vehicle of Hyunmu 2C notably features fins, implying it is maneuverable and terminally guided. In the latest test, it fell within about 5 m of the target.

Fighter, maritime patrol aircraft and artillery pieces are on France and Germany “must develop” list, as they seek to form a tighter relationship.

Several foreign nations will be sending representatives to watch the U.S. Air Force’s light attack experiment.

Russian aircraft corporation MiG has been thrown a lifeline by the Russian government.

The quarter-scale aircraft, a flying wing 3 m (10 ft.) in length and span, made a 7-min autonomous flight on July 18, completing a pre-programmed course over the Overberg test site.

Earth-i is planning to launch a constellation of Earth observation spacecraft that will provide full-color video images at high-frequency revisit rates.

Iran’s first homegrown “Kosar” military training jet could begin flying within five or six months after recently starting ground testing.

Aircraft Industries’s (LET) next-generation L-410 high-wing twin turboprop will enter production in 2018, company officials confirm.

Logos Technologies has flown its Redkite wide-area motion imagery sensor on a second Class 3 tactical unmanned aircraft system.

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) has demonstrated the automatic takeoff and landing of a tiltrotor unmanned aircraft system (UAS) on a moving ship.

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is adding its voice to a growing chorus calling on the White House to withdrawal its nomination of former Rep. Scott Garrett (R-N.J.) as the next Export-Import Bank chairman.

French airport operator Groupe ADP and civil aviation authority subsidiary DSNA Services have unveiled their Hologarde integrated counter-drone system.

The Russian military intends to buy more Sukhoi Su-35 fighters and Tu-160M2 bombers while next-generation systems continue development.

The U.S. Air Force is looking closely at the future of close-in warfare, but the service’s top general says that future may not include a direct replacement for the A-10 Warthog.

The future of Russian manufacturer United Aircraft Corporation’s defense products is likely to be smaller and more focused on new designs.