In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, May. 23 2023

Credit: Kongsberg.

Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace AS has ramped up production capacity for its National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has additional capacity should users seek to modernize or buy it.

Credit: VoltAero.

Sky2Share, an aircraft fractional ownership company, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to buy 15 Cassio hybrid-electric aircraft.

Credit: Royal Netherlands Air Force.

The Netherlands is one of the founding members of NATO, and despite having one of the smaller air forces in Europe, it has been an active participant in coalition efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its front-line fighters, the F-16 family of aircraft, also have participated in NATO Air Policing missions over the Baltic States. 

Credit: National Guard.

Boeing earlier this month submitted a plan to involve Poland’s domestic defense industry in Warsaw’s AH-64 procurement at the same time the U.S. Army announced it plans to lease eight of the attack helicopters to Poland.

Credit: Leonardo UK.

UK aerospace engineering company 2Excel Aviation is preparing to begin flight testing a Boeing 757 airliner ahead of its conversion into a flight test aircraft (FTA) to support the tri-nation Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) development. 

Credit: MBDA.

MBDA is offering a range of munition options for Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) FA-50M light fighters, proposing the potential integration of Advanced Short-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAMs) and Brimstone air-to-surface missiles. 

Credit: Utair.

Russia’s largest helicopter operator, Utair Group, may ground 30% of its fleet this year due to a shortage of spare parts and components, the company’s CEO says.

Credit: NASA.

NASA has selected a new mission to study high-altitude ice clouds that form daily in Earth’s tropical and subtropical regions.

Credit: Boom Supersonic.

High-speed airliner developer Boom Supersonic has agreed to a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) deal with Ithaca, New York-based power-to-liquid producer Dimensional Energy to provide up to 5 million gal. per year for the Overture flight test program.