Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Maxim Pyadushkin
An uncrewed Russian Progress MS-16 resupply ship successfully docked with the International Space Station Feb. 17 at 1:27 a.m. EST, delivering 2.5 tons of various supplies.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Intellectual property appears to be at the heart of new disagreements between France and Germany over the Future Combat Air System, defense analysts have suggested.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
Raytheon Technologies is registering concerns over Lockheed Martin’s proposed acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJR) due to continuing consolidation in rocket and missile propulsion providers, the chief executive of Raytheon told an analysts conference Feb. 17.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Michael Bruno
The U.S. aerospace industry provided a foreign trade surplus of around $43 billion in 2020, the U.S. Commerce Department reported this month, a notable achievement amid the onset of COVID-19 but almost half the sector’s 2019 level.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Turkey’s defense industry organization, SSB, has signed agreements with local industry to produce power systems for the country’s future indigenous combat aircraft, TF-X.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Most details remain secret about the U.S. Air Force’s requirements for replacing the Boeing E-4B fleet, but two small details announced since December point to an acquisition of used 747s.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bill Carey
Iceland’s air navigation service provider Isavia ANS announced Feb. 17 that it has implemented satellite-based surveillance of aircraft in its airspace.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Tony Osborne
Proposed development of modular aircraft by British startup Aeralis has caught the eye of the UK Royal Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Renewable fuel producer Fulcrum BioEnergy has partnered with refinery operator Essar Oil (UK) to build a facility in northwest England to convert municipal solid waste into sustainable aviation fuel.
Emerging Technologies

By Graham Warwick
Finland has launched a research project to reduce the cost of producing synthetic fuels, or e-fuels, using renewable electricity and sequestered carbon dioxide.
Emerging Technologies

By Lee Hudson
U.S. Special Operations Command is planning to host a flight demonstration this fiscal year for the highly debated Armed Overwatch program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jen DiMascio
The U.S. Air Force’s program to replace the Minuteman III nuclear ICBM, the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent, cleared its first major design review in November, prime contractor Northrop Grumman announced Feb. 16.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
The Italian Army has selected the General Electric (GE) CT7 engine for its new Leonardo AW249/AH-249 attack helicopter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Aviation Week Staff
Axiom Space will speed the growth of its workforce and construction of the world’s first commercial space station with a $130 million infusion.
Commercial Space

By Lee Hudson
The Italian Navy flagship, the aircraft carrier ITS Cavour (CVH 550), has arrived at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, to become F-35B certified.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Under a U.S. Air Force contract, Yates Electrospace is to scale down its Silent Arrow disposable unmanned cargo glider for deployment from the Bell Boeing CV-22 Osprey special operations tiltrotor transport.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Danish lawmakers have agreed on a 1.5 billion Danish Krone (DKK) ($244 million) package to bolster the defense of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, strengthening Denmark’s presence and surveillance capabilities in the North Atlantic and Arctic.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
A selection of the Saab Gripen by Finland as its future combat aircraft could lead to greater integration between the Swedish and Finnish air forces, Sweden’s defense minister has suggested.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
The potential demand forecast for tens of thousands of delivery drones and air taxis means there is a growing need for propellers and rotors with better performance, lower noise and easier producibility.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The UK’s Royal International Air Tattoo has joined the growing list of 2021 aerospace events canceled over the uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Airbus has said it could be “useful” if the trinational Future Combat Air System (FCAS) countries France, Germany, and Spain could build three new-generation fighter demonstrators to support developments in their respective state.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
SpaceX delivered 60 more of its Starlink broadband satellites into orbit on Feb. 16 though it lost the first stage booster during a failed landing attempt, breaking its string of 24 successful touchdowns.
Space

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Russia successfully launched the Progress MS-16 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Feb. 14.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Airbus’ new H160 twin-engine medium helicopter is to operate on oil and gas missions in the Gulf of Mexico on behalf of energy giant Shell.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Germany is undertaking an airframe life extension for its Panavia Tornado fleet which will allow the type to operate through to 2030.
Aircraft & Propulsion