The four-way competition for a pair of National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts remains on track for award this year despite work restrictions stemming from concerns about the spread of the coronavirus, the U.S. Air Force said on March 24.
In the midst of shutdowns and work restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, United Launch Alliance and the U.S. Air Force 45th Space Wing at Cape Canaveral AFS here are preparing for the March 26 launch of an Atlas V rocket carrying the sixth and final member of the Air Force’s Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellite network.
Startup Sabrewing Aircraft has postponed the public rollout of its Rhaegal unmanned cargo aircraft because of COVID-19 restrictions, but continues to work toward flying the hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) prototype this year.
EPlane, an electronic marketplace startup for aviation aftermarket parts and MRO, announced March 24 that it landed $9 million in new funding from Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corp.
The U.S. Navy’s multibillion-dollar aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has a certified flight deck and carrier air traffic control center (CATCC), making the warship eligible to qualify pilots.
CPI Aerostructures of Edgewood, New York, said March 24 it will remain open and operating after state officials branded it an “essential business” to keep going while Albany leaders otherwise roll out a shelter-in-place mandate for New York residents.
Following a warning last week of coming cutbacks—and on the heels of previously announced cost-saving goals months ago before the COVID-19 pandemic—major Tier 2 provider Triumph Group on March 24 said it will eliminate 500 staff and contractor jobs by May 1.
Piaggio Aerospace has extended the deadline for potential buyers to submit expressions of interest in the business from April 3 to May 4 because of the ongoing emergency caused by the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19, it said.
Nigeria’s air force is expecting to take delivery of its first of three JF-17 Thunder fighters from Pakistan next November as the African country bolsters its air arm against insurgent threats.
Spirit AeroSystems, Boeing’s provider of aerostructures and its largest supplier, on March 24 said it will halt work at its Wichita and Tulsa, Oklahoma, facilities after Boeing the day before announced a temporary shutdown of its Puget Sound facilities in Washington state.
Representatives from NASA’s Commercial Crew Program are joining the SpaceX investigation into why a Falcon 9 engine shut down early during launch last week, NASA said on March 23.
As the U.S. Marine Corps redesigns its force to meet the demands of the National Defense Strategy, the service will drastically reduce the number of F-35s in its squadrons by 37.5%.
Libya’s Government of National Accord is contracting with Airbus for a fleet of twin-engine light helicopters for use by the country’s interior ministry, ministers have said.
Workers at Italian aerospace companies Avio Aero, Leonardo and MBDA have gone on strike over concerns about continuing to work despite the COVID-19 outbreak.
