Defense

A new kind of air vehicle is entering the U.S. military arsenal, capable of performing several roles including strike, reconnaissance and target decoy duties.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

The airframer faces challenges on several fronts in leaving stubborn problems in its wake this year.

The United Arab Emirates’ principal defense company is eyeing partnerships to realize its engine and space ambitions.

Strong demand from allied customers has led to international sales accounting for a growing share of DRS’s overall revenue since 2021.

The move keeps the XA103 on track to move into ground testing of a physical prototype by the end of the decade.

Boeing is set to deliver to the U.S. Air Force a new schedule for the long-delayed two-aircraft fleet, with projections now placing delivery as late as 2029.

The fire at SPS Technologies remained active with “hot spots” but was contained as of 9:30 a.m. EST on Feb. 20.

The past month has shattered a decade-long era of relative fiscal and strategic certainty inside the Pentagon.

The Italian aerospace and defense company has suffered financially from low production rates on the Boeing 787.

A system for France and Italy to share information and tasking across militaries regarding their Earth-observation capabilities has entered service.

Pratt has secured another contract worth up to $1.5 billion to sustain the F119 engine over the next three years and keep the F-22 flying.

Day 4 of SHOW BUSINESS highlights a UAE-made unmanned ground vehicle from TAG Dynamics that is turning heads at IDEX, while elsewhere the rise of manned-unmanned air operations between drones and next-generation fighters comes under the spotlight.

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.

Former small-satellite launch company ABL Space Systems has rebranded to Long Wall as part of a wider transformation to focus on missile defense.

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.

Raytheon and other companies attended an industry day in Huntsville, Alabama, on Feb. 18.

The U.S. imported $47 billion in minerals from Canada in 2023.

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.

Copenhagen will create an Acceleration Fund to enable faster procurements to support the country’s defense and security.

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

BAE Systems’ acquisition of Ball Aerospace will help position the company for a potential role on the proposed Iron Dome for America missile defense project.

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 IDEX Day 3 edition of SHOW BUSINESS led with a story from Airbus discussing the possibility of UAE-based firms taking on A400M airlifter work to help the European manufacturer secure its first orders for the type in the Middle East.