Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Zurich-based advanced composites manufacturer Gurit is warning investors over lower 2018 financial results.

A story in the Dec. 19 issue of the DAILY should have said that Japan budgeted for two KC-46As in fiscal 2016-18.

View the Defense Market Intelligence Notes in PDF format.

BOEING has $90.4m U.S. Navy contract for studies/analysis related to MQ-25 engineering, manufacturing and development.

Weather bedeviled SpaceX’s second attempt this week to launch the first GPS III spacecraft, dubbed “Vespucci,” for the U.S. Air Force aboard a Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral.

AVIATION WEEK NETWORK estimates that of the 15,902 western-designed, rotary-wing aircraft in military service at the end of 2018, 14,604 (91.8%) were produced by just 10 prime contractors.

By Steve Trimble
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has submitted his resignation a day after President Donald Trump announced plans to withdraw military forces from Syria.
Defense and Space

By Steve Trimble
Lockheed Martin’s production system for the F-35 delivered 91 aircraft in 2018 to meet a planned output target.
Defense and Space

By Steve Trimble, Guy Norris
Nearly four months after Boeing’s victory in a competition for the MQ-25 contract, the president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. warns that the U.S. Navy’s selection criteria could drive medium-sized companies out of the running for such programs in the future.
Defense and Space

By Steve Trimble, Guy Norris
A long-delayed contract signing by India for MQ-9B Sea Guardians is now expected by mid-2020.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Airbus has completed the first autonomous flights of its VSR700 unmanned maritime helicopter demonstrator.
Defense and Space

By Thierry Dubois
After the launch of the CSO-1 military Earth observation sat, French Defense Minister Florence Parly emphasized the need for sovereignty in access to space.
Defense and Space

By Steve Trimble
A new hypersonic missile developed by Russia will enter service next year on a Strategic Missile Forces base near the border with Kazakhstan.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Japan will promptly research technology for electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
Blue Origin is deferring the 10th test flight of its reusable New Shepard suborbital launch vehicle until early 2019 following a scrub.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Flights to and from London Gatwick Airport in the UK are being deliberately disrupted by UAVs, more commonly known as drones, operating in the vicinity.
Defense and Space

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Navy and Huntington Ingalls Industries have reached an accord on a two-ship aircraft carrier buy, but a deputy defense secretary is holding up the deal.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
Three U.S., European and Russian International Space Station crewmembers descended safely to Earth early Dec. 20.
Defense and Space

HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LTD. performed first flight of third Light Utility Helicopter prototype Dec. 14.

Herman Claesen has been chosen to lead Eurofighter GmbH and will take the helm from Volker Paltzo on Jan. 1.

By Molly McMillin
Spirit AeroSystems plans to add 1,400 jobs over the next two years in Wichita and another 250 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to support growth in aerostructures work.

India’s GSAT-7A military comm sat, meant to be the mainstay of the country’s air force, has been successfully launched aboard a GSLV.
Defense and Space

By Marhalim Abas
Myanmar has put into service four Sino-Pakistani JF-17 fighters, becoming the type’s first export customer.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Japan appears to be planning to operate a fleet of at least six tanker-transports based on the Boeing 767, and probably 10.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Washington is hoping the Foreign Military Sale—covering four Patriot batteries and some 140 missiles—could prompt Ankara to re-consider its controversial deal with Russia to buy the S-400.
Defense and Space