Defense

The Trump administration on Nov. 3 announced a potential sale to Taiwan of four weapons-ready General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. MQ-9B unmanned aircraft systems with weapons.

Paramount Labs, the research and innovation division of the Africa-based global aerospace and technology company, Paramount Group, in partnership with the South African Air Force (SAAF), today announced the successful completion of its newly launched robotics training programme by the first group of young students who enrolled as part of the ‘SAAF Eagles Robotics Club’.

NASA hastily packs up spacecraft for return trip home to avoid losing overflowing sample.

News in brief

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Eight months after deciding to opt for a single-phase delivery of the USS John F. Kennedy, the U.S. Navy awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries an undefinitized contract award of up to $315 million to pay for the new delivery strategy.

Britain and France appear to be taking steps to press ahead with the joint development of a future cruise and anti-ship missile, despite apparent ongoing differences about how to proceed with development.

Belgian Air Force officials have been flight testing Diamond’s DART-550 turboprop trainer as a potential replacement for its fleet of SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 aircraft.

Canadian officials have said the MAISR fleet will support special operations and conventional forces with persistent ISR coverage.

Boeing has delivered fuselage sections for the UK Royal Air Force’s first two E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning platforms.

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Fallout from commercial aviation business lost could eliminate businesses, create opportunities.

Falcon 9 engine issue delays first U.S.-launched ISS crew flight since the space shuttle.

It is easy to dismiss the proposal as a congressionally-mandated busy work for the Pentagon, and perhaps that’s all it is. And, yet, Israel’s military has demonstrated a unique capacity for strategic surprise. Could the idea of an MOP in Israeli hands be enough to create a deterrent effect in Tehran?

L3HARRIS has contract to missionize three new King Air 350ERs with full-motion video sensors, mission management system and communication datalinks

The U.S. naval aviation community is conducting a study on how to toughen existing rotary-wing and tiltrotor aircraft for combat post-2030.

INTERNATIONAL TEST PILOTS SCHOOL, Canada was selected by Airbus Defense and Space as training provider of choice for next three years.

Argentina’s plan to purchase Korea Aerospace Industries’ F/A-50 Golden Eagle light combat aircraft has been thwarted by an ongoing UK arms embargo.

The management of the UK’s nuclear weapons stockpile is to be brought back under government control from a Lockheed Martin-led private consortium.

Japan has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to commence development of the F-X fighter, making the company responsible for the complete aircraft, including propulsion.

Selected U.S. military contracts from the past week.

As the rest of the U.S. focuses on Tuesday’s U.S. presidential election, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida is preparing for two launches

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.

Five European countries are now actively exploring or investing in small satellite launch facilities.

At the time the picture was taken in daylight hours, the unknown aircraft was flying above California City in a racetrack pattern at an estimated altitude of 20,000 ft.