Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Tony Osborne
A series of software-based upgrades is planned for the international fleet of NH90 land-based and naval helicopters.
Defense

By Mark Carreau
Once again, the digging by NASA’s Mars InSight lander has come to a stop—and again, puzzling subsurface soil properties seemingly are to blame.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Airbus Helicopters is looking to combine artificial intelligence with its manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) technology to address concerns over pilot workload.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
The nascent Space Development Agency (SDA) has announced a “permanent director” following the sudden departure of Fred Kennedy in July.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Offshore helicopter operator NHV Group has secured a British air operator certificate in preparation for the UK’s impending departure from the European Union.

By Irene Klotz, Steve Trimble
A secretive, experimental spacecraft operated by the U.S. Air Force landed early on Oct. 27 after completing a record, 780-day journey in orbit.
Defense

FAA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR) have signed a memorandum of cooperation to identify data that should be shared when space launch and re-entry operations traverse the airspace of different countries.

EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY and AIRBUS signed statement of intent on their common interest to use the International Space Station’s Bartolomeo external platform for a “limited number” of scientific missions.

GERMANY took delivery of its first of 18 NFH90 Sea Lion maritime helicopters Oct. 24; two more planned for delivery before year’s end.

The U.S. Air Force has declared operational the polar-orbiting adjunct to the Advanced Extremely High Frequency Satellite system known as the Enhanced Polar System.

Oct. 28-30—Bahrain International Defense Exhibition & Conference, Bahrain International Exhibition & Convention Center, Bahrain, Middle East. For more information go to https://www.bahraindefence.com/

By Michael Bruno
“We expect to monetize Forcepoint to create value for our shareholders,” Raytheon Chairman and CEO Tom Kennedy said during a quarterly update from company leaders.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
The Colorado-based company plans to certify the battery-powered two-seat aircraft under FAA Part 23 rules, primarily for the flight training market.
Business Aviation

By Graham Warwick
Canadian seaplane airline Harbour Air, working with motor developer MagniX, has completed installation of the electric motor in a de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver under its ePlane project to electrify the aircraft.

By Mark Carreau
NASA’s Mars InSight lander is once again hammering its way into the crust of Elysium Planetia, a stretch of smooth plain on the red planet’s northern equatorial belt.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The Czech Republic has become the sixth nation to join the Dutch-led Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
The USAF has released the final requests for proposals to two companies for a dramatically reduced acquisition plan for light attack aircraft.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
XTI Aircraft says it has signed an initial agreement with a potential lead investor in its $25 million Series B funding round.

By Tony Osborne
The last RAF Tucanos performed a 10-ship formation flight over RAF Linton-on-Ouse, North Yorkshire, on Oct. 25, marking the end of the last basic fast jet training course to use the platform.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Northrop Grumman “looks forward” to submitting its bid for the U.S. Air Force’s Ground-based Strategic Defense intercontinental ballistic missile replacement program in December,
Defense

By Graham Warwick
First it was hypersonic missiles, now the U.S. is reacting to advances in directed-energy weapons by potential adversaries by exploring ideas for countering high energy laser (HEL) systems.
Defense

By Bill Carey
FAA and the German Aerospace Center have signed a memorandum of cooperation to identify data that should be shared when space launch and re-entry operations traverse the airspace of different countries.
Defense

By Thierry Dubois
The cabin electronics branch of Thales and telecom operator SES have demoed the use of a hybrid geostationary and medium Earth orbit sat network for improved inflight connectivity.
Defense

By Irene Klotz
The CST-100 Starliner's trial run to the International Space Station will set the stage for a crewed flight test as early as March 2020.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Germany looks set to have the largest NH90 helicopter fleet in the world as it gears up to equip its naval air arm with an all-NH90 force by the late 2020s.
Defense