“USAF Prepares Industry for Cutbacks,” warned an Aviation Week & Space Technology headline, followed by a story that discussed the death of aircraft companies, shuttering of facilities, a Pentagon briefing to industry leaders with “a blunt warning of things to come” and a diminished role for manned aircraft in national defense. That article didn't appear recently, however. It was written in 1957—the first time the Laureate awards were presented.
Even as the Obama administration pushes to have the FAA fund itself with the traveler-paid Airport and Airway Trust Fund, the White House predicts the fund's balance will grow steadily over the next decade. White House budget documents lay out a road map to wean FAA from general-fund contributions. As of 2015, the FAA budget request would have the trust fund cover 93% of FAA's operations, as well as its Airport Improvement Program, facilities and equipment, and research, engineering and development accounts.
The new P-8, a linchpin of the U.S. Navy's low-profile maritime patrol force, has been pushed into the limelight from its traditional mission of submarine-hunting to join the massive search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared March 8.
SpaceX delayed its third commercial cargo flight to the international space station (ISS) because of “payload contamination” problems in the unpressurized “trunk” of its Dragon spacecraft, but don't try to find out what those problems are. “We've had some issues with payload contamination that we will be addressing,” says Sam Scimemi, ISS program director at NASA headquarters, during a March 14 Space Transportation Association presentation. “We're going to have to assess that and replace some parts and get the rocket ready for launch again.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's move to annex the Crimean Peninsula is a “wake-up call,” says NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, who urged Europe to increase defense spending—particularly in the missile defense, cyber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance arenas. “Developments in Ukraine are a stark reminder that security in Europe cannot be taken for granted,” he said last week. Russia's actions must have consequences, he warned.
The U.S. Navy/Northrop Grumman X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) team broke a barrier in 2013, proving that a stealthy, unmanned aircraft can operate on and around the aircraft carrier deck and clinching the Laureate for Aeronautics and Propulsion.
AgustaWestland has begun flying the first fully configured HH-101 Caesar combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) helicopter destined for the Italian air force (AMI). The first AMI HH-101 flew in a green configuration in February and underwent a short test flight at Yeovil, England, on March 17 (see photo). AMI has 12 of the helicopters on order. Company officials say the aircraft are the most advanced versions of the AW101 flying.
Italy's long-struggling aerospace and defense giant, Finmeccanica, is changing shape as it works to overcome debt and the effects of reduced government spending.
In late 2012, Dassault Aviation and the French defense armaments agency (DGA) made history, sending Neuron, Europe's first stealthy unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) into flight. The feat, which required political finesse and helped establish Europe as a place for unmanned technology, earned the Neuron team Aviation Week's 2014 Defense Laureate.
Conducting operations in bitter Arctic winters is a part of everyday life for the Royal Canadian Air Force's (RCAF) search-and-rescue helicopter crews. Every year, RCAF SAR crews pluck hundreds of people from dangerous situations on sea and land across the vast Canadian wilderness. But one operation particularly resonated with Aviation Week's Laureate judges. The mission, on Feb. 9, 2013, tested the crew in challenging conditions, but their courage, resourcefulness and quick thinking prevailed and has won them plaudits on both sides of the Atlantic.
Many of the advances in aerospace can be traced to those who serve or once served in their country's military. The fact is that national defense has been a key impetus to technological achievement throughout the industry's history, and its practitioners have helped provide welcome security from external threats as well as inspiration for the people under their protection.
India imports nearly three times as many arms as China and Pakistan, a Swedish-based research institute says, firming the country's position as the world's leading buyer of military weapons: 65% of its hardware. India increased its arms imports by 111% over the past five years, compared with 2004-08, and now accounts for 14% of the world's weapons imports, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) says in a new report last week. The second-highest importers, China and Pakistan, each account for 5% of international defense imports.
NEW DELHI — The Indian air force (IAF) has decided to “urgently” buy 106 PC-7 Mk. 2 Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) from Pilatus, pulling the plug yet again on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is also making an aircraft for training junior pilots. The BTAs will be acquired from the Swiss company under the “Buy & Make (Indian)” category, in accordance with India’s defense procurement policy. India is already taking delivery of PC-7 Mk. 2 aircraft from Pilatus under a contract for 75 such aircraft signed in 2012.
LONDON — AleniaAermacchi has rolled out the first of 30 M-346 jet trainers destined for the Israeli air force. The aircraft, which made its first flight on March 15, was rolled out in Israeli air force colors during a special ceremony at the company’s facility in Venegono, Italy, on March 20. AleniaAermacchi will deliver nine M-346Is to Israel this year, with the first pair due to be formally handed over in the country on July 10.
LONDON — Saab officials say they are confident Swiss voters will approve a May 18 referendum to buy JAS-39E Gripen combat aircraft. Speaking March 19 during the company’s annual Gripen seminar in Stockholm, Richard Smith, Saab’s campaign lead for Switzerland, said he was optimistic about the vote despite recent polling conducted by the Institute Leger and published in the Swiss newspaper SonntagsBlick, which suggested that around 60% of Swiss voters are against the purchase.
Justifying its decision to award Lockheed Martin follow-on work on the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (Lrasm) without a competition, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) says changing contractors would incur a 60-month delay in a program seen as responding to an urgent requirement.
The U.S. Defense Department’s proposed fiscal 2015 budget calls for a dip in rotorcraft spending compared to enacted fiscal 2014 spending, according to an exclusive Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) analysis of budget data. The AWIN analysis shows the Pentagon spending about $9.9 billion for rotorcraft and related programs in fiscal 2015, compared to about $10.4 billion in fiscal 2014.
Canada is to upgrade another four of its 18 Lockheed CP-140 Auroras, taking the fleet of modernized maritime patrol aircraft to 14, extending its life and delaying the need to buy a replacement multi-mission aircraft to 2030, the Department of National Defense says. Canada has been considered a potential customer for Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon, to follow India and Australia, which is also planning to buy Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft for maritime patrol. Canada has been looking at the RQ-4 Global Hawk for Arctic surveillance.
‘WAKE UP CALL’: Referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s move to annex the Crimean Peninsula as a “wake up call,” NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen is calling on Europe to increase defense spending – particularly in areas such as missile defense, cyber and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. “Developments in Ukraine are a stark reminder that security in Europe cannot be taken for granted,” Rasmussen said at the Brookings Institution.
