Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

New Zealand’s defense minister expects the government to approve an order for up to four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrollers next month.

Czech manufacturer Aero Vodochody is to announce additional orders for its L-39NG jet trainer at this year’s Farnborough Airshow.

Japan’s Hayabusa2 asteroid sample return mission maneuvered into position above its destination, the asteroid Ryugu, late June 26 Eastern Daylight Time.

A Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter aircraft produced under license by India’s state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) crashed during a test flight June 27.

The U.S. government has awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.12 billion contract to make 16 F-16V fighters for the Royal Bahraini Air Force.

Facebook is shuttering the development of its solar-powered Aquila flying-wing high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) unmanned system.

Harris Corp., Lynchburg, Virginia (W52P2J-18-D-0008); Motorola Solutions Inc., Linthicum Heights, Maryland (W52P1J-18-D-0009); Icom America Inc., Kirkland, Washington (W52P1J-18-D-0010); E.F. Johnson Co., Irving, Texas (W52P1J-18-D-0011)

On Tuesday morning the House Transportation Committee will discuss “Commercial Space Transportation Regulatory Reform: Stakeholder Perspectives” with witnesses from Blue Origin, SpaceX and United Launch Alliance.

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $1.12b U.S. Air Force contract for 16 F-16 V Block 70 aircraft for Bahrain.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is pursuing missile defense sensors to address one of the primary threats facing the nation: hypersonic missiles.

U.S. Navy acquisition executive Hondo Geurts says the CH-53K helicopter is on a “90-day bend in the curve” to prove it can meet its technical requirements.

NASA’s interest in leading a Mars sample return mission with international partnerships has struck a chord.

Australia will upgrade its facilities at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Butterworth air base in preparation for the deployment of Boeing P-8As.

Australia has cut its programmed force of Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime patrollers to six.

Boeing HorizonX Ventures has led a $16 million investment on Silicon Valley-based Matternet, an early leader in the emerging urban drone delivery market.

The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has expanded a contract agreement with Aerojet Rocketdyne to continue developing the AR1 booster and an upper-stage RL10C-X engine.

Counter-drone system provider Dedrone said it won first place in the third of three “ThunderDrone” rapid prototyping events.

When it comes to investing in space-related businesses, companies often have been reluctant to pursue what they perceive to be big risks. But the organizers of a new study on the size of the space market think change is coming.

General Atomics’ SkyGuardian UAV is to make a transatlantic crossing for its international debut at this year’s Royal International Air Tattoo.

Potentially blinding laser weapons are increasingly being pointed at U.S. military aircrews.

A pilot was killed when an A-29 Super Tucano crashed in New Mexico while participating in a U.S. Air Force light attack experiment, the service said.

To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. For a complete list of Aviation Week Network’s upcoming events, and to register, visit www.aviationweek.com/events (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.)

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $364.6m U.S. Army contract for Army Tactical Missile (Atacm) and Launching Assembly Service Life Extension program for the U.S. and Romania.

Transport Canada has selected four organizations for a pilot project to conduct proof-of-concept trials of flying unmanned aircraft systems beyond visual line of sight in civilian airspace.

One of the USAF's top acquisition programs, the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, will complete its critical design review by year’s end, a senior official says.