Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Diamond Aircraft Industries has flown the first multi-engine hybrid-electric aircraft, a demonstrator developed jointly with electric motor supplier Siemens.

The Chinese J-31 stealth fighter program is being developed for domestic military service under government contract, an official source says.

The rocket that is intended to introduce reusability into the Chinese government space sector, Long March 8, will do so in phases, officials said.

As the U.S. races to field hypersonic strike missiles, DARPA is moving to tackle the next major problem: defending against similar hard-to-intercept weapons under development or already fielded in China and Russia.

Chinese space contractor Sast has begun development of what it presents as a larger Long March 6 launcher version.

A Czech propulsion company will launch a new small turbofan engine next year for Western-built cruise missiles, a company official told Aerospace DAILY.

The Turkish government has signed framework agreements that will kick off the domestic development of an engine for the indigenous TF-X combat aircraft.

General Dynamics Electric Boat has awarded Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division a $197 million contract modification to purchase major components and commodity material and begin advance construction on the first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN 826).

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $350m U.S. Air Force contract for Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) production support, incl. JASSM, Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, JASSM-ER, other variants.

DASSAULT’s first Rafale fighter for India performed its debut flight Oct. 30. Despite being first built, it will be the last (36th) to be delivered, serving as a technology proofing platform.

Boeing has so far not suffered significantly from the trade war between the U.S. and China, a comment by the head of the company’s Chinese operations suggests.

Kratos Defense and Security Solutions will deliver six unmanned air systems of an undisclosed type for an unnamed, “national security” customer, the company said.

Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.) will most likely take the reins of the House Armed Services Committee. He is unconvinced the current $716 billion defense budget should stand and opposes new spending on nuclear weapons.

A JAXA resupply spacecraft departed the ISS Nov. 7 and prepared to deploy the experimental HTV-7 Small Re-entry Capsule (HSRC).

Leonardo Helicopters has issued safety directives to operators of its AW169 helicopter to inspect tail-rotor components following a fatal crash.

Roberto Battiston, who has led the Italian Space Agency since May 2014, said he was stripped of his position, effective immediately.

Two new radars exhibited this week by electronics contractor Cetc reveal a new interest in wide-area fire control sensors for Chinese fighters.

The Avic Advanced Heavy Lifter (AHL) helicopter has grown again, to the point that it is now 40% heavier than when first described nine years ago.

Chinese launcher builder Calt is studying designs for a rocket for manned missions beyond Earth orbit.

An Avic division says the JF-17 fighter is now equipped with the world’s first air-cooled radar with an active electronically scanned array (AESA).

Australia expects its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightnings to have a maritime strike capability by the end of 2023.

Competitors will be required to conduct two separate launches to low Earth orbit within weeks of each other from two different sites.

Another round of new, stealthy-looking unmanned aircraft systems made a biannual debut at China’s largest air show, but this time with a key difference.

Elbit Systems is expected to complete the acquisition of state-owned Israel Military Industries (IMI) next week for $520 million.

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $130.4m U.S. Navy contract in support of F35 Block 4 Pre-modernization Phase II effort.