Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Graham Warwick
BAE Systems is preparing for the potential rapid transition, from demonstration to production, of a low-cost optical seeker that will equip precision-guided munitions with the ability to navigate autonomously when GPS is denied and to automatically detect, identify and home onto fixed, moving and relocatable targets.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The U.S. State Department has approved a likely German purchase of six Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules airlifters through the Foreign Military Sales system.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Acquisitions remain a priority at defense and federal services provider CACI International.
Defense

By Mark Carreau
NASA's SpaceX-contracted Dragon resupply mission capsule departed the International Space Station (ISS) and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on May 5.
Defense

By Irene Klotz
A United Launch Alliance Atlas V blasted off from a fog-shrouded launchpad at Vandenberg AFB, California, on May 5 to send NASA’s InSight spacecraft and a pair of experimental cubesats on their way to Mars.
Space

BOEING and DIEHL DEFENSE agreed to cooperate on GBU-54 Laser JDAM weapon systems in Germany.

Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control of Dallas has been awarded a $145.2 million contract modification by the U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

View the Aviation Week Forecasts: Western Attack Helicopter Family In-Service Fleets 2018-2027 chart in PDF format.

By Jen DiMascio
House lawmakers are considering draft legislation that would stop short of restricting the delivery of the F-35 to Turkey, despite increasing concern on Capitol Hill about strained relations with the Eurasian nation due to its purchase of an advanced Russian air-defense system.
Defense

By Irene Klotz
A sporty-looking black-and-white Falcon 9 rocket was rolled out to Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center for a static engine hotfire before SpaceX’s newest booster, known as Block 5, lifts off on its debut flight.
Defense

By Bradley Perrett
Lockheed Martin’s proposal for Japan’s next fighter program is based on the F-22 Raptor, says the Nikkei newspaper.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The British government is considering establishing its own constellation of navigation satellites.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Airbus Aerial has completed missions mapping and inspecting runways using drones and is now offering the service to airports worldwide.
Defense

The Advanced Turbine Engine Company is heading into a preliminary design review on the Alternate Concept Engine, a next-generation U.S. Army engine initiative.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Are government contract officers easing up when it comes to getting more bang for the buck for taxpayers? Not according to the chief executive of Leidos.
Defense

By Michael Bruno
Orbital ATK apparently has been on a spending binge of business investments as the closing of the company's purchase by Northrop Grumman nears.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
U.S. truck maker Workhorse Group has joined the ranks of companies flight testing full-size eVTOL aircraft.
Defense

The U.S. Air Force has announced its existing Boeing B-1B and Northrop Grumman B-2A bomber bases as “reasonable alternatives” to host the Northrop B-21 Raider.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
BAE Systems has partnered with British UAV developer Prismatic to develop a high-flying competitor to Airbus’ Zephyr UAV.
Defense

By Guy Norris
Firefly Aerospace is targeting an operational tempo of one mission every two weeks as it ramps up tests of the Lightning and Reaver engines.
Space

GENERAL DYNAMICS has $23.3m U.S. Air Force contract for BLU-134/B improved lethality warhead.

Boeing announced May 1 that it has struck a $4.25 billion deal to acquire Miami-headquartered aircraft parts distribution, composites and aftermarket supplier KLX Inc.’s Aerospace Solutions Group.

South Africa’s Paramount Group has added Boeing subsidiary Aviall to the team offering the Bronco II light attack/reconnaissance aircraft for the U.S. market.

View the Leader Spotlight: Brig. Gen. Mark Odom, U.S. Army Training & Doctrine Command in PDF format.

By Mark Carreau
The U.S. GAO has cited a troubling trend in cost and schedule growth among 26 major NASA projects, with a combined cost estimate of $61 billion.
Space