As the number of smallsat constellations grows, international satellite tracking bodies see increased risk of space debris problems unless mitigations measures are adopted.
The outgoing chief of the U.S. “Mighty Eighth” Air Force has thrown his support behind a reengining of the Pratt & Whitney TF33 turbofan-powered Boeing B-52 heavy bomber.
Mitsubishi Aircraft is notably failing to restate the target for first delivery of the MRJ, instead saying it is committed to achieving certification in 2018.
The Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko ended with a bang and not a whimper, a planned crash into a deep pit in the comet, with final images sent on its way down.
Airbus Group is merging with the commercial airplane unit in a move that streamlines management and strengthens CEO Tom Enders. Cost efficiencies are a key target as the group battles with struggling programs such as the A380 and A400M.
On one side Amazon, Google, Uber; and the other FedEx, UPS, DHL—are all looking hard at the potential for autonomous and electric aircraft to bring new ways of transporting goods and people.
This week’s Washington Outlook: Virginia statesman praises Clinton; debate on reorganizing military space; and FAA probes Santa Monica’s airport closure plan.
The design space remains wide open for a potential second stretch of the 737 MAX family to counter the Airbus A321neo, Boeing says, but as assembly of the first 737-9 nears, the manufacturer appears to be leaning toward a simpler, lower-risk derivative.
Elon Musk outlines plan to build a transportation system to create a self-sustaining human “civilization” on Mars and make mankind a “multiplanet species.”
Environmental NGOs are less than sanguine about a proposed global market-based measure to offset aviation emissions, in part due to the initial voluntary phase.
AeroVironment’s Blackwing lets a submarine control unmanned underwater vehicles; Lockheed Martin’s Vector Hawk launches from a UUV; and General Atomics’ Predator flies pod that extends data-link networks—UAS show potential to bridge combat domains.
The U.S. Navy’s MIDS-JTRS terminal and tactical targeting networking technology waveform could equally support the Air Force’s future airborne networking architecture, defense companies believe.
The goal is to network the combat air forces so that F-35s and F-22s can rapidly share information with fourth-generation jets. But the stovepiped communications architecture of days past complicates this picture.
There is still disagreement over whether short-term aircraft demand has already peaked or is about to—or whether there is time left until the going gets much tougher.
In this week’s roundup, the U.S. Navy awards the first of two MQ-25 Stingray contracts; Europe takes another step toward a combat UAV; UK Defense Ministry backs space-based manufacturing; and Draken International helps the Japanese test a surface-to-air missile.
Business jet demand was once linked to a wide array of economic indicators, especially equities markets and corporate profits. Since 2008, these links have broken down.
