Manufacturing & Supply Chain

The slow pace of Leonardo’s AW609 program has not benefited from the global pandemic.

ZeroAvia testbed crash; Lufthansa deploys riblets; MightyFly’s autonomous logistics; Wingcopter’s triple drop; Hydrogen startup funding.

Internal production headwinds slow but still persist.

Finland fighter bids submitted; Air Force One’s costs rise; Pentagon’s R&D nominee; and Top Aces win renewal.

Last month, PCX Aerosystems announced it was buying nearby Senior Aerospace Connecticut. This month, Greenbriar Equity Group announced it will buy PCX from RFE Investment Partners.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warned April 29 that there is a “lack of predictability” as to the expected recovery of the industry as trends have diverged in different regions, even though the company posted relatively good results for the first quarter.

Depressed commercial aerospace returns still could not dampen earnings or sentiments at Raytheon Technologies after the company April 27 reported its mildly better-than-expected financial results for the first quarter of 2021.

A common practice used by airlines to reduce fuel costs could undermine the objectives of a planned EU mandate to blend sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) with fossil jet fuel starting in 2025, an environmental organization has warned.

Recent moves by Boeing’s board collectively guarantee the corner office overlooking the Chicago River is Calhoun’s to lose.

The Global 7500 looks promising, but a merger or acquisition of the storied Canadian aircraft builder cannot be ruled out.

Airbus’ aerostructures production is a core part of its setup—a chance to take more work in-house—but pressure on suppliers is mounting.

General warns of Chinese space prototype; U.S. Army wants FVL upgrades; Singapore’s new operational tanker; and T-7 aft fuselage arrives.

While Ariane 6 is overcoming the last technical hurdles, reusability demonstration programs are making progress.

Morf3D, an additive manufacturing startup that once was the darling of Boeing new-investment efforts, has a new 90,000-sq.-ft. headquarters in Long Beach, California, and is now controlled by Japanese camera giant Nikon.

Spirit AeroSystems is now making several changes it had wanted to make eventually in a much quicker fashion—potentially turning its labor-intensive, 20th-century style factories into modern marvels of digitally driven lean manufacturing efficiency.

Long-sought changes have the potential to turn Spirit’s 20th-century-style factories into marvels of digitally driven lean manufacturing.

Startup ABL’s launcher is well-sized for Lockheed’s new satellite bus.

With the end of government support in the offing, French lobbying group GIFAS frets about a transition period for small suppliers.

The exemplary support the French government has provided to the country’s aerospace industry has proved effective damage control.

Racer’s development has involved industry and academia from across Europe.

The “fleet” of defense competitors has been growing in recent years, and new entrants may have different tactics, resources and goals.

With cargo demand rising since the beginning of the pandemic, Airbus sounds out the potential for A350 and A380 freighter versions.

KF-21 fighter development will strengthen economy and national defense, says South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in.

Ask the Editors: Embraer’s monopoly in regional jets could last for years, but that position is not as great as it sounds.

Agricultural eVTOL; Quiet electrics; South Korean UAM; 3D-printed RF; and Europe’s electric potential.