Program Management

NASA will stop work on the Human Landing System flight demonstration while the Government Accountability Office considers two protests of the space agency’s recent $2.9 billion contract award to SpaceX.

Raytheon Technologies has confirmed the U.S. Marine Corps’ fleet of aging Boeing F/A-18C/Ds will become the first U.S.-operated fighters to carry active electronically scanned array radars featuring gallium-nitride semiconductors.

The engine manufacturers developing the powerplant for the manned fighter component of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) are to create a joint venture to develop the engine.

The EU’s 2021-27 budget for space activities has received its final approval, from members of the European Parliament.

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.

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

Planning is now underway for the second flight, which could come as early as April 22.

CAPE CANAVERAL—Amazon has contracted with United Launch Alliance to deliver nine batches of its Kuiper broadband satellites into low Earth orbit aboard Atlas V rockets, the companies said on April 19.

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

With some 100 companies vying to enter the advanced air mobility industry, the competition was bound to get bloody sooner or later.

The U.S. Army plans to use like digital twins and advanced manufacturing to improve aviation sustainment.

New propulsion system test site under construction for larger Hermeus hypersonic turbine-based combined-cycle engine.

Boeing’s proposed small widebody is the only near-term opportunity for a large new conventional engine.

One area where innovation is truly taking off is electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. This innovation podcast series will focus on eVTOLs from a number of different design domains and disciplines.

German regional air mobility startup Lilium is to go public in a deal expected to provide up to $830 million in funds to complete certification, begin production and launch commercial operation of its piloted seven-seat Lilium Jet air taxi in 2024.

Airbus has launched an ambitious demonstration program for the use of superconducting technology aboard aircraft, aiming at a major improvement in the efficiency of electric propulsion.

Supersonic business jet developer Aerion has released the first image of a planned follow-on airliner concept designed for entry-into-service around the end of the decade which will cruise at higher Mach cruise numbers closer to the hypersonic region.

One of the bidders in the F-15EX propulsion competition thinks the U.S. Air Force’s plan to buy 144 aircraft is only the beginning.

Los Angeles-area rocket startup ABL Space Systems has closed a Series B investment round of $170 million, with the infusion going toward developing the 1,000-kg class RS1 launch vehicle and GS0 deployable launch system that should see its first launch this year.

Traditional engine-makers and startups position for emerging hybrid-electric power market.

Sustainability and environmental, social and governance investing are set to remake the A&D industry from the inside out.

Airbus and Dassault try to reconcile views in thorny FCAS negotiations as a political deadline nears.

Listen in as Nanoracks CEO Jeff Manber predicts that by the end of the year, private space companies will have more discretionary money to spend than the U.S. federal government.

The Pentagon is diversifying the U.S. early missile warning portfolio with a mix of satellite types and sizes in different orbits to prevent unwanted missile attacks.

With more than 75 first-round nominations, the 2021 Program Excellence Awards now has a list of 45 programs that will move on to Phase II.