In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Jul. 19 2023

Credit: Blue Origin.

With the demand for U.S. national security space launch (NSSL) services expected to surge, the Space Force plans to add a third provider to its list of contractors capable of handling the full range of its mission requirements. 

Credit: Raytheon.

The Space Development Agency (SDA) wants to take its existing playbook for testing near-term tracking and transport experimental satellites and shift it toward the next generation of missile tracking constellations with an eye on classified threats.

Credit: Sundry Photography/Alamy Stock Photo.

Intel is ramping up aerospace and defense semiconductor manufacturing with the addition of two industry heavyweights to a dedicated Pentagon chipmaking program that it is leading.

Credit: U.S. Air Force.

A proposed sale of 969 Raytheon AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Amraam) to Germany entered the congressional notification phase on July 19 after being approved by U.S. government officials, the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DCSA) said. 

Credit: Textron eAviation.

Textron eAviation has begun wind tunnel testing of its Nexus electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicle as its works toward flying a full-scale demonstrator by the end of 2024.

Credit: AeroVironment.

The Brazilian Army has announced plans to acquire the country’s first tranche of 20 loitering munitions, adding the one-way attack weapon category to the military’s growing inventory of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS). 

Credit: Tony Osborne/Aviation Week.

The UK Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter pilots are set to receive BAE’s Striker 2 helmet-mounted display as part of a national upgrade of the aircraft. 

Credit: Airbus.

Airbus has secured Chinese certification for its H175 twin-engine, super-medium helicopter, even as the Chinese industry has developed a local version of the aircraft.