Defense

The Democratic Republic of Congo has announced orders of Paramount Industries’ Mwari advanced reconnaissance, surveillance, and precision strike aircraft along with the integration of a weapon management systems and command and control base.

The 2023 National Defense Report released Sept. 12 laid out the new acquisition plans as part of an effort to bolster Taiwan’s asymmetric capabilities.

The U.S. plan for TacAir has many strands, providing multiple opportunities for angst—or catastrophe.

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

Northrop Grumman is starting tests on the next stealth bomber, while industry is floating multiple concepts for collaborative combat aircraft.

Ansett Airlines, the owner of the Apex Flight Academy, has been developing the renamed Goshawk special mission aircraft since 2021.

The Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft system has been cleared for initial operating capability by the U.S. Navy.

AeroVironment makes two loitering munitions: the anti-personnel Switchblade 300 and the anti-armored vehicle Switchblade 600.

The request for information (RFI) was published on Sept. 15 by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.

NASA pledged to be transparent in its data, but it declined to identify the director to shield him or her from potential harassment.

A policy review document released this week shows it will take seven years to complete.

Launch operator Mozambique has logged 70 flight hours on the Paramount Mwari light attack and observation aircraft.

South Africa’s Paramount Group is seeing strong demand for the upgrade of older Russian-built helicopters.

Livermore, California-based Aalyria describes itself as a software-defined and optical networking communications pioneer.

The Type II Loitering Munition has been developed entirely in-house, including the seeker, warhead and propulsion, according to an NCIST engineer.

The Taiwan Space Agency's three-stage satellite launch vehicle measures 82 ft. in length, has a diameter of 7.2 ft. and a takeoff mass of 37 tons.

Featuring wingfold design similar to the AeroVironment Switchblade 600, Taiwanese company Hutron's H2B weighs 33 lb. (15 kg), including an 11-lb. warhead.

Leonardo Helicopters has revealed a model of what it calls a “mature concept” of the 2-3-metric-ton rotary-wing UAS demonstrator, which the OEM hopes to fly in 2025.

Beta has been working with AFWerx and Agility Prime for more than three years.

The UK Army’s Long-Range Area Effects Demonstrator is exploring how the Extended-Range Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System could carry different payloads.

The fate of Taiwan's Teng Yun II, or “Cloud Rider,” UAS will be decided after operational testing has been completed after a 16-year development path.

The National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology is self-funding development of the Albatross II to attract orders by Taiwan’s Navy and Coast Guard.

NASA is working with at least six companies interested in operating orbital outposts.

The U.S. government has cleared South Korea to move forward with a previously approved plan to buy a second batch of Lockheed Martin F-35As.

MARSS unveiled its Interceptor anti-drone system last year.