Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Within the next decade, Rostec plans to modernize Russia’s tactical weapons systems.

View the Defense Market Intelligence Notes in PDF format.

By Tony Osborne
The UK defense ministry is challenging industry and academia to develop unmanned systems that can supply troops on the front-line.
Defense

A U.S. Special Operations MC-130 dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb the U.S. has ever deployed on Islamic State terrorists in a series of caves in Afghanistan.
Defense

The Pentagon’s Tomahawk strike on Syria may have struck 57 out of 59 confirmed targets, but a top U.S. general says the U.S. can and must do better.
Defense

By Mark Carreau
In Houston, home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a funding drive is underway to restore the aging landmark Apollo Mission Control Center for enhanced public viewing.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
With the delivery by Leonardo of the 500th Eurofighter Typhoon to the Italian Air Force, production of the multinational combat aircraft is now entering its twilight years.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
Airbus Helicopters and Romanian aerospace firm Industria Aeronautică Română (IAR) have signed an exclusivity agreement on local sales of the H215M.
Defense

By Thierry Dubois
Lobbying group Gifas is concerned that a notable proportion of small- and medium-sized enterprises in the French aerospace industry are posting losses.
Defense

India is looking to aggressively market its homemade Tejas light combat aircraft and the upgraded Advanced Hawk trainers it builds with BAE Systems to international buyers.
Defense

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $69.6m U.S. Navy contract for development, integration, and production of the Navy’s AN/SQQ-89A(V)15 surface ship undersea warfare systems.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Director Betty Sapp is getting asked by members of Congress more and more frequently what the space spy agency needs to move faster.

Bell Helicopter’s FC-X mockup concept demonstrator is proving to be more than just a talking point.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
German startup E-volo has unveiled the Volocopter 2X production version of its two-seat electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) air taxi.
Defense

The planned structural modifications will extend the service life of up to 300 F-16 C/D Block 40-52 aircraft from 8,000 to 12,000 flight hours.
Defense

By Jen DiMascio
Canada halted flights on its CH-148 Cyclones after one of the Sikorsky helicopters experienced a change in its descent rate during a training flight.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
NASA has resumed subscale flight tests of a flying-wing aircraft being developed to potentially fly in the atmosphere of Mars.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The new version of Leonardo’s advanced jet trainer, called the M-346FA (Fighter Attack), is currently flying in prototype form.
Aircraft & Propulsion

India this month could finally move forward on a $5.8 billion contract for 800 very short range air defense (Vshorad) systems for the Indian Army.
Defense

By Tony Osborne
The UK Defense Ministry plans to restructure the Royal Marines to reflect the need for additional manpower in the Royal Navy.
Defense

KONGSBERG DEFENSE SYSTEMS has NOK150m ($17.4m) Australian Department of Defense contract for integration of Joint Strike Missile on the F-35.

On Wednesday morning U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein will appear at the Heritage Foundation to discuss “Rebuilding Air Force Readiness.”

Selected U.S. military contracts for April 3, 2017 U.S. MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY Raytheon Co., Tucson, Arizona, was awarded a competitive cost-plus

Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis says he has personally reviewed U.S. intelligence about an April 4 chemical attack in the town of Khan Shykhun and has no doubts that the Syrian regime is responsible.
Defense

By Graham Warwick
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has demonstrated autonomy for unmanned combat aircraft in a manned/unmanned teaming experiment supporting the U.S. AFRL's Loyal Wingman program.
Defense