Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

With fewer than 70 days before Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU), aerospace still has no real sense of the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

Singapore has announced it will acquire a small number of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to prepare for the eventual retirement of its F-16 fleet.

The few known details and the likely choice of engines suggest China’s new tactical bomber will be conceptually like the retired U.S. F-111.

Austrian aerospace provider FACC on Jan. 17 reaffirmed its financial guidance for its current fiscal year issued from last October.

Sounding rocket launches for NASA’s Grand Challenge Initiative-Cusp have been continuing despite the ongoing partial U.S. government shutdown.

DYNCORP INTERNATIONAL LLC has $18.5m U.S. Army contract for aviation field maintenance services.

Israeli drone delivery provider Flytrex has raised $7.5 million in a Series B investment round led by Benhamou Global Ventures.

The White House has resubmitted four nominations to fill vacancies on the board of the U.S. Export-Import Bank.

MDA and U.S. Northern Command will present a plan to accelerate efforts enhancing missile defense tracking and discrimination sensors, including addressing advanced missile threats.

The U.S. Air Force has started searching for ideas to improve the HGU-55/P helmet worn by F-15, F-16 and F-22 fighter pilots.

Switzerland has boosted the readiness of its air defense system to provide air policing of its airspace for 16 hr. a day, 365 days a year.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) has said it will perform regular F-16 training flights in 2019 with the aircraft using biokerosene fuel.

Startup Relativity Space, which is developing a 3D-printed small satellite launcher, plans to fly from Cape Canaveral’s Space Launch Complex 16.

Collins, a unit of United Technologies created in late 2018 by the merger of avionics maker Rockwell Collins and equipment supplier United Technologies Aerospace Systems, will provide flight-deck avionics and an enhanced vision system.

Dassault is set to begin delivering Rafale fighters to export customers India and Qatar this year.

India’s indigenously designed and developed Light Combat Helicopter has carried out an air-to-air missile test on a moving aerial target.

The first U.S. missile defense review in nine years will present the Space Sensor Layer as a necessary upgrade for U.S. forces to confront a growing array of hypersonic boost-glide and cruise missiles.

FRENCH ARMY deployed MBDA’s MMP missile for the first time in theater Dec. 10-22 in Mali.

NASA retirees Christopher Kraft and Peggy Whitson are among four aerospace pioneers selected for induction into the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame during an April 12 ceremony.

The chief of Portugal’s air force says he could abandon the country’s planned purchase of the Embraer KC-390 because of the turbofan-powered airlifter’s high price.

General Atomics is teaming with Belgian industry to support the country’s future fleet of SkyGuardian medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS.

Manufacturers of equipment to counter UAS say the tech is available and express frustration that airports are not being more proactive in meeting the threat.

Bulgaria’s Parliament has given its OK for the country’s government to begin negotiations with the U.S. to purchase Block 70-model Lockheed Martin F-16s.

Astranis Space Technologies has signed a contract with Pacific Dataport to provide broadband communications service to Alaska.

Embraer said it plans to deliver 90 to 110 executive jets in 2019, along with 85 to 95 commercial jets, 10 A-29 Super Tucanos and two KC-390 aircraft.