In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Sep. 28 2023

Credit: Jaunt Air Mobility.

Jaunt Air Mobility has confirmed plans to sell its quarter-scale air taxi technology demonstrator as a standalone product, which will be offered alongside its full-size Journey electric-vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicle.

Credit: Thibaud Moritz/Abaca Press/Alamy Stock Photo.

An annual report published in July by the French Defense Ministry says the country exported nearly €27 billion ($28.8 billion) worth of military equipment in 2022. 

Credit: MBDA.

The 2024 budget for the French armed forces will rise to €47.2 billion ($49.73 billion), an increase of 7.5% (€3.3 billion) compared to 2023. 

Credit: Aurrigo International.

An autonomous electric cargo transport ground vehicle is to be tested at the UK’s East Midlands Airport under a government-supported project involving UPS and autonomous vehicle developer Aurrigo International.

Credit: U.S. Missile Defense Agency.

Germany is proceeding with the purchase of Israel’s Arrow 3 anti-ballistic missile defense system.

Credit: Blue Origin.

More than a year after an inflight engine nozzle structural failure scotched a Blue Origin suborbital research mission, the FAA released a report calling for 21 corrective actions, including a redesign of the New Shepard BE-3 engine and nozzle components to improve structural performance.

Credit: U.S. Marine Corps.

Cargo-carrying uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) deployed in U.S. Marine Corps units could also carry and release munitions in combat situations, even if that role is not part of the official requirements, the program manager said on Sept. 28. 

Credit: Horizon Aircraft.

Canadian air taxi startup Horizon Air recently announced a design change from five to seven seats for its hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) aircraft, a move it says was intended to increase the commercial prospects of the aircraft in a variety of use cases.

Credit: Katsuhiko Tokunaga/Eurofighter GmbH

Credit: Boeing