Emerging Technologies

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

On its 75th anniversary, the service looks to a future using increased autonomy and a further migration of key missions to space.

Here is an overview of 10 of the service’s top priorities as it looks to shape its future force.

NASA has awarded TruWeather Solutions a $750,000 Phase II Small Business Innovation Research contract to test a network of ground-based weather sensors in Hampton, Virginia.

Apple plans to launch satellite-relayed emergency texting service to the iPhone 14 starting in November.

Emirates’ order of 50 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, with deliveries scheduled for 2024, will be equipped with Thales’ premier AVANT Up inflight entertainment solution.

Thales is finding customers that are taking up more technology features of its Avant Up inflight entertainment system.

Data-driven Cascade modeling tool to inform Boeing product development planning.

Northrop Grumman quietly developed a nickel-alloy combustor that could unlock a decades-long hurdle to rapid propulsion.

Two demonstrators and a startup fuel growing activity in advanced air mobility in China.

Inmarsat has been selected as the inflight connectivity (IFC) provider for Qatar Airways’ Boeing 787-9 and 737-10 fleet.

As freighter conversions accelerate, main deck doors, rollers and floors are being designed with features for greater efficiencies.

The move signals the growing importance of electric power in new aircraft designs.

As novel cockpits become a pressing need in civil and military aviation, sensors may enable the creation of metrics for human factors.

The aircraft is expected to begin remotely piloted test flights before the end of the year.

Lighter turbines; Seaglider advances; Recoverable satellites; Australian vertiport; and Korea’s UAM contestants.

Transferring integrated model-based system engineering (MBE) tools for aircraft design and production to the commercial sector is no slam-dunk.

The module will contribute to increased efficiency and lower fuel burn.

Ethiopian Airlines and Travelport have entered a new agreement which includes distribution on the Travelport+ platform, including New Distribution Capability (NDC) content from Ethiopian Airlines.

SpaceX joins race to connect mobile phones via low-Earth-orbit satellites.

DG plans to build the first of a planned 21 North American production sites in Louisiana.

Jamal Travel Agency is working with Amadeus to launch its B2B and B2C ecommerce platform.

UAE-based TPConnects will provide Oman Air IATA Pay services in India using the New Distribution Capability (NDC) Platform.

MagniX tests advanced batteries; DARPA pushes VTOL UAS capability; Jetoptera tests high-speed VTOL; and UK builds LH2 test facility.

Turbofan engine-makers face bewildering array of choices as they navigate toward as yet unknown power needs for next-gen single-aisles.