Defense

Tariff-free trade and the free movement of skilled workers are critical to aerospace—and both are at risk.

In this week’s Washington Outlook, hiring freeze complicates Pentagon weapons procurement, IATA response to Muslim immigration ban, defense budget tracker, testing Trump’s mettle, and the makeup of the NSC.

It is easy to identify victims of free trade agreements, but much harder to show there have been more winners.

Lockheed Martin is working with the U.S. Air Force to upgrade the stealth coating that allows the F-22 to fly undetected in enemy airspace.

Norwegian air accident investigators probing the loss of a CHC-operated Airbus H225 helicopter last April have begun focusing their attention on the certification aspects of the helicopter’s gearbox.

The new CEO of startup XTI Aircraft says raising financing to advance development of the TriFan 600 vertical-takeoff-and-landing business aircraft is his first priority.

With Houston hosting the Super Bowl for the third time, NASA’s Johnson Space Center is taking the opportunity to showcase the agency’s Mars exploration ambitions to visiting football fans.

The South Korean navy will assign its eight Leonardo AW159 Wildcat helicopters to Incheon-class frigates.

India has increased its defense budget to 2.74 trillion rupees ($40.8 billion) for the fiscal year beginning April 1, an increase of about 6% over the previous year.

A UK-developed large quadrotor that can fly unmanned or manned is being flight tested by the U.S. Army as it develops requirements for a future joint tactical aerial resupply vehicle (JTARV).

Russia’s TsAGI central aerohydrodynamic institute has conducted low-speed wind tunnel testing of an integrated wing/body concept for a heavy transport aircraft.

The USA's satellite solutions provider Kymeta says the Middle East is shaping up as a key market for its mTenna high-throughput satellite connectivity terminal for which aviation grade solutions are expected by the end of the decade and commercial solutions will go to market in Q2 this year.

Jon Lake looks at the Sikorsky S-70i helicopter as it continues to make inroads in the Middle East region.

Sukhoi and MiG benefit from Indian orders. But competition from U.S. and other Western nations is growing.

If Washington manages to cut taxes and regulations and that leads to a better economy, better prices for taxpayers and more U.S. jobs, then Trump and A&D CEOs should be lauded. If not. . . well.

India’s defense budget increases by 6%; IAI system provides electronic protection for avionics; a new drone database; Boeing’s latest tanker contract.

Defense contractors may well find that under the Trump administration some of what worked to create value over the past decade will not work as well.

Analysis of a meteorite of Martian origin confirms the now-cold and desert-like Red Planet was volcanically active for at least 2 billion years, a research effort shows.

Defense Secretary James Mattis has directed his deputy to develop a supplemental budget request for fiscal 2017 that increases the Pentagon’s topline funding as well as long-term plans to build a “more lethal” force.

The U.S. Marine Corps’ top aviator says he believes a side-by-side review of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and the F-35 will validate the need for the fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighter.

Northrop Grumman has bowed out of the competition for the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation training aircraft.

The U.S. Army and Air Force are awarding contracts to address an urgent operational need for counter-UAS systems.

Bell is planning to end production of its Model 206L LongRanger single-engine light helicopter later this year.

A British spending watchdog says there are high risks to the UK’s plans to spend £178 billion ($224.9 billion) on new defense equipment over the next 10 years.

The Israeli company is optimistic about its growth plan, despite increased global competition.