Defense

By Lee Hudson
After about a four-month delay because of issues related to the spread of the novel coronavirus, the U.S. Army has completed a successful live-fire test of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Jen DiMascio
The Pentagon appears willing to consider permanently paying companies a greater percentage of the costs associated with the work underway on contracts.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Lee Hudson
As the U.S. Space Force determines how to organize acquisition, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office must remain independent with a direct line to the chief to stay on the cutting edge, according to the office’s director.
Space

By Steve Trimble
The F-16 Block 70/72 contract to be awarded on August 14 will use an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity format. As each foreign buyer signs an order, the Air Force will sign a task order under the ID/IQ contract to Lockheed, rather than renegotiating pricing for every foreign customer.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The first B-21 test aircraft is still being assembled in Palmdale, California, but the flying testbed allows the stealth bomber program to reduce risk.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Maksim Pyadushkin
The Russian military will upgrade one of its core multirole fighters–the two-seat Sukhoi Su-30SM.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
What makes the ongoing aerospace workforce cuts so tragic is that up until the start of this year, the aircraft manufacturing and MRO sectors were desperate to hire more workers–and in three to five years, they might be again, albeit probably not at the same pre-pandemic levels.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The new Mayhem program seeks to create a “larger-scale, expendable, air-breathing, hypersonic, multimission flight demonstrator,” according to an Air Force Research Laboratory request for information published on Aug. 13.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Mark Carreau
NASA’s Osiris-Rex sample return mission spacecraft is on a path to execute a brief landing on the rocky surface of the asteroid Bennu on Oct. 20 following a successful second rehearsal of the steps necessary to execute the descent and ascent earlier this week, according to the mission team.
Space

By Bradley Perrett
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has confirmed it will be one of four competitors for an Australian lead-in fighter trainer requirement, proposing its T-50 family.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Samuel Archer
AVIATION WEEK NETWORK forecasts that the world’s fleet of western-designed fighter aircraft will generate $322.1 billion in maintenance, repair and
AWIN Knowledge Center

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

Unfavorable weather has prompted Arianespace to push back the planned launch of the Galaxy 30, MEV-2 and BSAT-4b spacecraft from Friday to no earlier
Defense

By Michael Bruno
As public companies reported their latest quarterly results, one segment stood out for its near-universal positivity: space.
Space

By Irene Klotz, Bradley Perrett
NASA’s Perseverance rover has company during the seven-month journey to Mars.
Space

By Jen DiMascio
The U.S. Air Force’s next chief; Growler tests new jammer; Army deploys ISR aircraft; and top-level support for HBTSS.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
Defense Secretary Mark Esper has charged Ellen Lord, undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, with leading a review of certification standards and industrial base gaps.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Lee Hudson
During what was supposed to be a routine training flight, a bullet struck a U.S. Air Force UH-1N Huey helicopter, forcing the pilot to conduct an emergency landing in Manassas, Virginia.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Molly McMillin
Engineered Propulsion Systems (EPS) has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Wisconsin, while Chinese and “other foreign interests” are poised to buy the company’s assets and intellectual property.
Marketplace

By Mark Carreau
Initial data from NASA’s Osiris-Rex mission spacecraft indicate the probe successfully left its low orbit over the asteroid Bennu on Aug. 11 to carry out a 4 1/2-hr. second close-approach rehearsal in preparation for a brief landing to gather surface material for return to Earth.
Space

By Lee Hudson
How the F-35 program is quietly replacing its logistics system known as ALIS with ODIN.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
Northrop Grumman's first B-21 test aircraft entered the assembly process last year and overall is "coming along nicely," according to the U.S. Air Force program manager.
Program Management

TEXTRON AVIATION was selected by ATI Engineering Services to provide two multi-mission Cessna Grand Caravan EX aircraft for RWANDA DEFENSE FORCE (RDF)
Defense

By Irene Klotz
Operations at Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico have been suspended after the telescope’s reflector dish was damaged by a snapped cable, the University of Central Florida (UCF), which co-manages the National Science Foundation facility, said on Aug. 11.
Space