Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The United Arab Emirates Air Force (UAEAF) has ordered five C295 twin-turboprop airlifters and is bolstering its fleet of Denel Seekers UAVs.

Two private jet operators have begun accepting a new form of payment for charter flights—bitcoins.

The U.S. Air Force B-52 squadron fighting Islamic State terrorists in the Middle East soon will be the first to field a key upgrade that will allow the venerable “BUFF” to carry eight additional smart weapons into battle.

The newly created national security launch subsidiary of Virgin Orbit has won its first contract from the U.S. Defense Department.

Made In Space the Silicon Valley 3D printing startup, is fashioning a metal fabrication capability for the in-space production of aluminum, stainless steel and titanium components.

Japan has donated five Beechcraft C-90 surveillance aircraft it had previously agreed to lease to the Philippines.

Japan’s X-2 fighter technology demonstrator exceeded goals in tests, including a targeted level of stealthiness, a program official says.

Launch of the NOAA/NASA Joint Polar Satellite System-1 satellite from Vandenberg AFB, California, has been rescheduled for early Nov. 18.

British aerospace supplier GKN has been forced to begin a hunt for a new chief executive after CEO designate Kevin Cummings was ousted by the company’s board.

BOEING has $11.3m U.S. Air Force contract for QF-16 full-scale aerial target lot 5B.

The launch of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/NASA Joint Polar Satellite System-1 spacecraft has been rescheduled for early Nov. 15 following the call for a 24-hr. delay late in the first countdown on Nov. 14.

View the Leader Spotlight: Dirk Hoke, CEO, Airbus Defense & Space in PDF format.

Rear Adm. Mark Darrah says, “We’re going to move forward with our strategy."

Incumbent and legacy providers will remain under pressure as the latest annual defense policy bill solidifies Washington’s march toward more open and commercially oriented acquisition.

Swedish/Swiss Joint venture UMS Skeldar has introduced a new vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system.

Leading Northrop Grumman executives said Nov. 15 their company had prevailed in a contract bid dispute over a potential 10-year award from the U.S. Army.

Launch of the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 spacecraft was tentatively rescheduled for early Nov. 16 after strong winds prompted the latest halt in the countdown on Nov 15.

India has announced plans to double its annual satellite launches starting next year.

LEONARDO debuted the M-346FA (Fighter Attack) light attack version of its M-346 trainer at the Dubai Airshow.

This week sees the Dubai Airshow get underway in the United Arab Emirates, with more than 160 aircraft on display and more than 1,200 exhibitors.

The Rand Corp., Santa Monica, California, has been awarded a $21,281,475 modification (0020) to contract W91CRB-15-D-0022 for 35 individual research studies on matters of strategic importance to the U.S. Army.

Airbus is preparing to test fire precision-guided missiles and bombs as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon’s cannon from its C295 as part of its development work for an armed version of the airlifter.

Meggitt CEO Stephen Young will retire at the end of April 2018.

Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has completed development work on its L-39CW engine and avionics upgrade program.

The program will remove obsolescence and add new capabilities to the fleet, senior UAE officials told journalists here on the third day of the Dubai Airshow.