Defense

Japan’s defense ministry and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are working on bonding technology that would largely eliminate fasteners from aircraft structures and thereby greatly cut weight.

The U.S. Air Force is looking for companies that can launch a boost-phase missile warning satellite that is equal to or better than today’s Space-Based Infrared Systems by 2025.

The 65,000-ton HMS Queen Elizabeth will be commissioned by its namesake during a ceremony at the ship’s homeport of Portsmouth.

Japan’s Kawasaki C-2 airlifter begins a hunt for orders in the Middle East. Two General Electric CF6-80 turbofans power the 69-metric ton aircraft.

Brazilian-Emirati partnership delivers new design light-attack aircraft in two years.

The United Arab Emirates appears to be all-in on the Joint Strike Fighter, but has yet to allay concerns over protecting sensitive information.

Experts in nuclear policy caution that changes to limit the president's authority on ordering a first strike could disrupt the U.S.’s ability to deter attacks.

Boeing's future involvement in the multibillion-dollar Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) enterprise remains an open question.

Magellan Aerospace, a Canadian manufacturer of aerospace parts and systems, on Nov. 15 declared a groundbreaking on its new manufacturing and assembly facility near the Bangalore International Airport.

The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) has ordered five C295 twin-turboprop airlifters and is bolstering its fleet of Denel Seekers UAVs.

The U.S. Air Force B-52 squadron fighting Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East soon will be the first to field a key upgrade that will allow the venerable “BUFF” to carry eight additional smart weapons into battle.

The newly created national security launch subsidiary of Virgin Orbit has won its first contract from the U.S. Defense Department.

Japan has donated five Beechcraft C-90 surveillance aircraft it had previously agreed to lease to the Philippines.

Japan’s X-2 fighter technology demonstrator exceeded goals in tests, including a targeted level of stealthiness, a program official says.

Launch of the NOAA/NASA Joint Polar Satellite System-1 satellite from Vandenberg AFB, California, has been rescheduled for early Nov. 18.

British aerospace supplier GKN has been forced to begin a hunt for a new chief executive after CEO designate Kevin Cummings was ousted by the company’s board.

The U.S. Air Force’s need for a new escape system is driven by the prevalence of heavy HMDs and NVGs in modern fighter aircraft.

In this week’s roundup, Malaysia considers buying used Japanese P-3 Orions; Intelsat and General Atomics show they can swap beams between a satellite and a UAV; Russian Helicopters makes an early delivery; U.S. gathers three carriers in the Pacific; and Norway seeks air-to-air missiles.

Rear Adm. Mark Darrah says, “We’re going to move forward with our strategy."

Incumbent and legacy providers will remain under pressure as the latest annual defense policy bill solidifies Washington’s march toward more open and commercially oriented acquisition.

Swedish/Swiss Joint venture UMS Skeldar has introduced a new vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system.

Leading Northrop Grumman executives said Nov. 15 their company had prevailed in a contract bid dispute over a potential 10-year award from the U.S. Army.

Launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 spacecraft was tentatively rescheduled for early Nov. 16 after strong winds prompted the latest halt in the countdown on Nov 15.

India has announced plans to double its annual satellite launches starting next year.

Airbus is preparing to test fire precision-guided missiles and bombs as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon’s cannon from its C295 as part of its development work for an armed version of the airlifter.