Defense

MQ-9Bs for Taiwan?; Collins’ $700 million ejection seat win; New carrier delivery strategy; and Air Force opens space structures lab.

The modernized Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bomber made its first flight with new NK-32 series 2 engines on Nov. 3, Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. reported.

The new chief executive of Kaman, which recently downsized to focus on aerospace and defense, expects to pursue mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and to implement a new business operating system to squeeze higher margins out of the supplier’s operations.

Roscosmos State Corp. plans to expand the Russian segment of the International Space Station with two new modules in 2021.

Triumph Group will at least announce the sale of the rest of its aerostructure business before April 2021, if not close on the deal, the supplier’s chief executive asserted Nov. 5.

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP announced two new orders worth $9.6m to manufacture E2-D landing gear for Northrop Grumman and F-18 landing gear parts for

Raptor Scientific, a new portfolio company by investment firm L Squared Capital Partners that is seeking to roll up aerospace and defense testing and measurement assets, has bought radar cross-section specialist Sensor Concepts, representatives said Nov. 5.

Lithuania has inducted its first ground-based Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System into service, becoming the first of the Baltic States to field such a capability.

The Army has not set requirements for the ALE family, but a table of “example excursions” included in the 33-page solicitation offers a glimpse of possible capabilities.

Rocket Lab is moving closer to potential reuse of its Electron small satellite launch vehicle, with plans to attempt a parachute recovery of the first stage as part of its next mission, the company said on Nov. 5.

Non-European Union countries such as the U.S. and UK are being allowed to participate in the EU’s PESCO defense cooperation initiative.

The French Air Force has declared the new Talios targeting pod operational on its Dassault Rafales equipped with the F3R upgrade.

Building common ground for space becomes NASA’s political mantra.

The US State Department has approved a possible $234 million foreign military sale (FMS) of 12 Textron Aviation Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers to Tunisia. Jon Lake reports.

This analysis is the first in a five-part series exploring Aviation Week Network’s new 2021 Military Aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul forecast.

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Defense Secretary Mark Esper has prepared a letter of resignation, NBC News reported. Even if President Donald Trump is re-elected Esper will leave

After 15 years of development, Karem’s Optimum Speed Tilt Rotor shows its potential on the test stand.

Seven years after the demise of the X-51 program, the Pentagon puts Boeing back in the running for hypersonic cruise missile programs.

One day after the election, U.S. defense policy leadership remains stable on Capitol Hill, but it is unclear whether Democrats or Republicans will control the Senate.

U.S. defense stocks made significant gains on Nov. 4 after election results ruled-out a so-called “Blue Wave” and bolstered prospects for a divided

Japan is focusing on maritime deployment instead of ground installation of additional Lockheed Martin Aegis systems.

BAE Systems, Boeing and Lockheed Martin have formally expressed interest in supporting Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) in the development of Japan’s F-X fighter.

SABENA TECHNICS has acquired AEROTECH PRO, France to expand its presence in military MRO markets. AeroTech Pro has access to 10,000 sq meter hangar

Four-time shuttle astronaut Mark Kelly was elected to the U.S. Senate on Nov. 3, defeating incumbent Republican Sen. Martha McSally to represent Arizona.