Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Bill Carey
There is movement on the FAA’s long-awaited draft rule to require a means of remotely identifying drones from the ground, despite the postponement of its release from September to December.

By Guy Norris
As Virgin Galactic continues to transition flight testing to its New Mexico operations site, the company’s sister production unit, The Spaceship Company, has announced completion of fuselage and wing mating for the spaceline’s second suborbital vehicle at its Mojave site in California.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
An unmanned glider has been launched from a stratospheric balloon at 111,434 ft. altitude on a scientific flight to test an airglow monitor (AMON).

By Steve Trimble
The USMC has released plans to select multiple vendors to perform “concept advancement” studies on the Attack Utility Replacement Aircraft, a high-speed rotorcraft to replace the UH/AH-1 fleet.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
Boeing began assembling Japan’s first KC-46 Pegasus aircraft after being awarded a foreign military sales contract in December 2017.
Defense

By Bill Carey
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Iridium Communications a $738.5 million contract to provide services from its new Iridium Next constellation of satellites.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
The USAF canceled acquisition plans for a new boost phase missile interceptor after the undisclosed contractor became unwilling to accept a cost-sharing agreement.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
L3Harris Technologies has showcased its Venom adversary air mission software suite integrating air-to-air capabilities using commercial-off-the shelf components.
Defense

QINETIQ announced Banshee NG target for simulating high-speed aerial threats.

L Squared Capital Partners announced it has committed $60 million of equity to Raptor Scientific, LLC.

Oct. 15-17—MRO Europe, London, U.K. For more information go to https://events.aviationweek.com/en/home.html

This week the U.S. House of Representatives takes up a continuing budget resolution to fund the government from Oct. 1 and provide more time to pass full-year appropriations.

RAYTHEON has $427.3m U.S. Army contract for Common Sensor Payload systems, spare parts and engineering and system support services.

Solid State Scientific Corp., Hollis, New Hampshire, has been awarded a $59,000,000 firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee hybrid contract for Air Force Weather Enterprise (AFW) Product-as-a-Service/Infrastructure-as-a-Service.

By Steve Trimble
A group of high-altitude RQ-4 unmanned aircraft systems will be drafted into service to support an upcoming series of hypersonic missile flight tests, the commander of the Air Force Flight Test Center (AFFTC) says in an interview.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
General Atomics has been awarded a £100 million contract by the UK defense ministry for test and evaluation activities required to bring the UK’s new Protector medium-altitude, long-endurance air system to the front line.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Elbit Systems of America will continue to look for bolt-on acquisitions providing specialty technology and L3Harris is expected to continue divesting parts of its newly combined business portfolio now that the companies have closed the sale of a night vision business.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command is interested in alternatives to Fairchild Dornier 328 turboprops to support future troop transport missions, Lt. Gen. Jim Slife says.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
The Air Force Association has awarded General Atomics a Citation of Honor because of the company’s advocacy of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and aerospace education.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
The Japanese defense ministry wants to spend ¥20 billion ($190 million) on development of the country’s next combat aircraft in the coming fiscal year, the Gendai business magazine reported, citing a ministry official.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will demonstrate the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Agile Condor technology using a MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).
Defense

By Mark Carreau
Seeking to raise the bar for achievements in space, NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wants the U.S. to lead the team that someday discovers extraterrestrial life.
Space

By Lee Hudson
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems says its Multi-Mission Control and Metis systems will reduce MQ-9 aircrew manning by 50%.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has taken delivery of its first F-35 to be assembled in Italy.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
The decision clears Northrop to submit an independent bid for the Ground-Based Strategic Deterrent contract on Dec. 13, as Boeing decided in July to withdraw plans to make a competing offer.
Defense