Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Tony Osborne
British air accident investigators are probing the first-ever loss of a Leonardo AW169 twin-engine helicopter that crashed on Oct. 27.
Defense

The Indian Coast Guard’s 17 Dornier aircraft will get an advanced technology upgrade to make them more potent for surveillance in the country’s maritime zones.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
A new fighter based on the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor stands a high chance of becoming Japan’s next combat aircraft, the Mainichi newspaper said.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
Private discussions between the U.S. Air Force and the commercial space launch industry broke onto a public stage on Oct. 27.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
Damage from Hurricane Michael to multiple Lockheed Martin F-22s stuck on a Florida U.S. Air Force base also shook the service’s confidence in existing data about the structural integrity of its aging facilities.
Defense

Pakistan has announced plans to launch its first-ever human spaceflight mission in 2022, the same year that its South Asian arch-rival India proposes to begin its own manned human space program.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The first flight test aircraft, 39-8 unleashed an IRIS-T short-range air-to-air missile over the Vidsel weapons range earlier in October, Saab announced on Oct. 26.
Defense

By Lee Hudson
UTC Aerospace Systems (UTAS) has completed a 600-kt. F-16D Viper dual-shot Advanced Concept Ejection Seat-5 (ACES-5) sled test.
Defense

SIKORSKY has $717.4m U.S. Navy contract for logistics/repair support for 98 CH-53 and MH-53 aircraft weapon replaceable assembly components and related equipment.

Researchers working with Airbus have tested a visual pattern that causes birds of prey to avoid airport areas where there is a high risk of collisions with aircraft.

By Graham Warwick
The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is planning an experiment using a high-energy laser or high-power microwave to conduct precision airborne strike and aircraft self-defense.
Defense

By Steve Trimble, Jen DiMascio
An exo-atmospheric SM-3 Block IIA interceptor scored a kill against a ballistic missile target on Oct. 26, marking the second successful test for the developmental weapon in four tries.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Selection of the MQ-9B would make Belgium the second country to choose the Sky Guardian after the UK, which has chosen the platform as the basis for its Protector UAS program.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
“It is a lost opportunity to strengthen European industrial cooperation in times when the EU [European Union] is called upon to increase its joint defense efforts,” Airbus said.
Defense

By Jen DiMascio
Pentagon Comptroller David Norquist will be preparing two fiscal 2020 budgets—one at $700 billion and another 4.5% larger—to illustrate tradeoffs.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
Demand for eventual reuse has prompted redesign of China’s Long March 8 space launcher.
Defense

By Marhalim Abas
Based in New South Wales, the squadron is operating two types of drone, the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle and Schiebel S-100 Camcopter.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Spirit AeroSystems is withdrawing its application for European Commission approval of its acquisition of Asco Industries so it can address a hang-up.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
The long-planned second version, intended for launching satellites to geostationary transfer orbit, could be flown next year if development is begun soon, a source says.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
Japanese program planners hope the country’s next fighter will make its first flight in 2025, local researchers believe, although separate reports put this target in doubt.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
A senior Russian defense official says analysis by the Russian military indicates the swarming drone attack must have been orchestrated by a U.S. Navy P-8 flying off the coast of Syria.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
Taiwan’s program to upgrade Lockheed Martin F-16A/Bs to the F-16V standard is running behind schedule, with completion now due in 2023, a year later than previously planned.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
“Textron Systems is now positioned to be a global provider of unmanned capabilities across all three domains," President and CEO Lisa Atherton said.
Defense

GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS INC. has $192.7m U.S. Army contract for Gray Eagle performance-based logistics.

Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), will decide before the end of the month on the vertical lift part of the IDF’s acquisition plan.