Defense

By Graham Warwick
Northrop Grumman is working to improve the availability and flexibility of the RQ-4 Global Hawk to boost the high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft’s usefulness in any future peer conflict.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Anatoly Zak
The first Russian robotic lunar lander of the post-Soviet era is nowhere ready for flight, industry insiders say, despite official promises to launch a mission next year.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Germany’s selection of the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a replacement for the Panavia Tornado has triggered a public debate over the country’s role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence plans.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Irene Klotz
A week after winning a $135 million NASA contract to support work on its fully reusable, deep-space transportation system, SpaceX conducted a successful static test fire of a full-size, second-stage Starship prototype.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
Greece is to lease Israeli Heron medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air systems to patrol the country’s maritime borders.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lee Hudson
Over the next decade, the U.S. Army is injecting $8-$10 billion into the vertical lift market via two new Future Vertical Lift programs, but lower-tier suppliers must secure capital funding for tooling to manufacture these new technologies, according to a new report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris
Space startup Firefly Aerospace aims to complete the first launch of its two-stage Alpha rocket as early as September and says testing of engines and site preparation remain on track despite the threat of potential disruption related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commercial Space

By Bradley Perrett
China has confirmed plans to send a spacecraft to Mars and the Chang’e 5 mission to the Moon by the end of 2020.
Space

By Lee Hudson
As the national debt grows to provide relief from the novel coronavirus, the Pentagon will prioritize modernization programs over funding legacy systems if there is a flat budget, Defense Secretary Mark Esper says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
Leaders of TransDigm Group, a key provider of niche aerospace and defense parts, said on May 5 they will lay off up to 25% of their workforce and take other actions as the company conserves cash to ride out the collapse in commercial air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marketplace

Robert Ulibarrí to Facility General Manager-Discovery Park District (Purdue University), in West Layfayette, IN, of Saab.
Defense

By Mark Carreau
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine expressed confidence May 4 that the agency’s quest for a nearly 12% budget increase will fare well in Congress despite a mounting deficit linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Space

By Michael Bruno
L3Harris Technologies’ turn toward simulation and training serving commercial air travel is coming back to haunt it as the company now forecasts lower organic revenue and earnings per shares (EPS) for 2020 due to a COVID-19 falloff.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
As part of long-term ambitions to develop a high-speed, long-range commercial transport system, Virgin Galactic and its subsidiary The Spaceship Company have signed a Space Act Agreement with NASA to help foster the development of technology for high Mach-capable vehicles.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Landing gear specialist Héroux-Devtek of Canada said May 5 it will cut its workforce 10% or 225 employees, most in Quebec, and close its Alta Precision plant in Montreal due to the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Marketplace

By Tony Osborne
Sweden has issued a tender to find a basic training aircraft in a move that will restructure the Swedish Armed Forces’ flight school.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bradley Perrett
China has launched its new manned spacecraft with the first flight of the Long March 5B, a rocket version intended mainly for missions for building a forthcoming space station.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Airbus is developing a removable refueling boom for its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to meet a requirement for the European Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Startup Sabrewing Aircraft is to re-engine its Rhaegal-A turbo-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned cargo aircraft with Safran Helicopter Engines’ Ardiden 3 turboshaft before the technology demonstrator’s first flight, planned later this year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bradley Perrett
Boeing expects to go into production no later than the mid-2020s with the Airpower Teaming System, a loyal wingman drone it is developing in Australia.
Aircraft & Propulsion

BOEING AUSTRALIA rolled out first Loyal Wingman unmanned aircraft prototype for RAAF; aircraft also serves as foundation for Boeing Airpower Teaming
Defense

Edge, a new UAE-based defence and technology company, launched in Abu Dhabi on November 5 with a suitably explosive, high-tech and high-profile reveal. Jill Stockbridge reports.
Defense

The rapid degradation of the security panorama in neighbouring Burkina Faso has served as a catalyst for a limited aircraft procurement effort by Togo. But air force modernisation can be a slow, and often uphill, journey.
Defense

By Jen DiMascio
MQ-25 clears system design review; U.S. approves FMS to Philippines; Northrop, Raytheon’s NGI team; defense industrial base reopenings.
Defense

News in brief
Defense