In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Feb. 27 2023

Credit: U.S. Marine Corps. The Taliban claims to have repaired about half of the U.S.-provided aircraft that were damaged during the final days of the American withdrawal from Kabul, with about 4,300 personnel from the former Afghan Air Force (AAF) joining the group, according to a new U.S. inspector general report.

Credit: Wisk. Archer Aviation says it will enter another round of mediation with rival Wisk Aero at the end of March.

Credit: NASA. Nicola Fox, who has led NASA’s Heliophysics Division since 2018, has been named the agency’s Science Mission Directorate’s associate administrator.

Credit: Gareth Sewell / Alamy Stock Photo. The oil-and-gas helicopter market is enjoying a rebound after struggling with a surplus of supply, suggests the head of Safran Helicopter Engines, Franck Saudo.

Credit: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. Belarusian separatists claim to have destroyed a Russian Beriev A-50 airborne early warning aircraft, a platform that has been a key node in Russia’s air war in Ukraine. 

Credit: Vertaxi. Chinese startup Vertaxi has raised 150 million yuan ($21.6 million) to support development of its Matrix 1 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi.

Credit: NASA/Joel Kowsky. SpaceX scrubbed a crewed flight for the first time after a technical problem, with liftoff of the NASA-backed Crew-6 mission to the International Space Station derailed by an issue with the Falcon 9’s engine ignition system.

Credit: Aero Vodochody. Czech aircraft manufacturer Aero Vodochody has opened a new production line for its L-39NG jet trainer. 

Credit: Reuters/Alamy Stock Photo. The largest aerospace worker union in North America said Feb. 25 it reached a tentative agreement with Lockheed Martin, the leading defense prime by annual sales, covering around 4,000 employees at several Lockheed aerospace and Skunk Works sites.

Credit: NASA TV. Russia’s Soyuz MS-23 crew transport capsule autonomously docked to the seven-person International Space Station (ISS) late Feb. 25 to replace its ailing Soyuz MS-22 predecessor.