Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Brian Everstine
Russian fighter jets have increased their operations near and over U.S. locations in Syria in recent weeks, a U.S. Air Force lieutenant general says.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
Archer Aviation has closed a deal for a local government incentives package.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Graham Warwick
U.S. startup PteroDynamics has closed a $7.5 million seed funding round and teamed with Leidos to bid for a DARPA X-plane project.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force has laid out an operating plan for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, the uncrewed loyal wingman systems it plans to fly alongside fighters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau
Russia’s replacement Soyuz MS-23 at the International Space Station has been equipped with custom launch and re-entry seat liners for three crewmembers.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Leonardo executives believe their AW09 single-engine helicopter could achieve similar levels of success as the company’s twin-engine AW139.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A top U.S commander did not provide details, but the category of long-loitering, uncrewed aircraft includes fixed-wing aircraft, solar gliders and balloons.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Graham Warwick
Airbus-backed advanced battery developer Amprius Technologies plans to build its first gigafactory in Brighton, Colorado.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Tony Osborne
Sikorsky has pushed back certification and market entry of its S-92A+ upgrade two years to 2025 and shelved plans for a future S-92B.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Lufthansa Aviation Training has declared its intent to be the European launch customer for Diamond Aircraft’s eDA40 electric training aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Nigeria’s Army has ordered a dozen MD 530F Cayuse Warrior light attack/scout helicopters from U.S. manufacturer MD Helicopters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force has approved production of the Boeing MH-139 Grey Wolf helicopter, with an award of $285 million for the first batch of aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
Lonestar Data Holdings, a startup developing a data center for Moon-based operations, has raised $5 million in a seed round.
Commercial Space

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force wants to formally kill its KC-Y “Bridge Tanker” program as it accelerates its future Next Generation Air Refueling System.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force will buy three new General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B SkyGuardian remotely piloted aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Ukraine has about 60 aircraft remaining, but those have been made “worthless” in the face of highly effective Russian air defenses.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent a destruct command to the new H3 rocket March 7 after a successful initial liftoff.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The UK and German air forces have linked arms to undertake a joint air policing mission from Estonia.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Austrian startup CycloTech is to begin outdoor flight testing of its CycloRotor electric propulsion testbed.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Steve Trimble
The F-35 Joint Program Office suspended F-35 deliveries and halted production flight operations after the Dec. 15 crash of a Lockheed-owned F-35B.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The contractual milestone ends a four-year negotiating process with the F-35 Joint Program Office as the U.S. Air Force evaluates a replacement engine.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
Airborne testing for the Korea Aerospace Industries KF-21 fighter with an active electronically scanned array radar is underway.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The new owners of MD Helicopters are envisioning raising production to 50 helicopters a year by 2025.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Although fighters and long-range missiles have topped Ukraine’s urgent cries for more weapons from the West, attack helicopters also are on the list.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Craig Caffrey
China’s defense budget is set to increase by 7.1% for fiscal 2023, rising from CNY1,450.4 billion to CNY1,553.7 billion ($224.9 billion).
Budget, Policy & Operations