Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The re-engined version of the world’s heaviest helicopter—the Russian Mil Mi-26—will take off in 2023.

NASA will join the departments of Homeland Security and Energy to enhance a national strategy for detecting and responding to the threat of impacts from NEOs.

FAA acting administrator Dan Elwell called on the UK and world governments to accelerate the pace of bilateral aviation talks ahead of Brexit in March 2019.

The agreement represents the next step in a saga to replace the service’s Eisenhower-era KC-135 tankers that has lasted close to two decades.

The European Union/Surrey Space Center-led RemoveDebris satellite experiment was deployed from the International Space Station early June 20.

France is taking the lead in Franco-German efforts to produce a new European fighter aircraft.

Brussels may delay a decision on its selection of a future fighter to examine proposals from France and options to upgrade its existing F-16 fleet.

The second aircraft will pick up flight testing that was halted when the first S-97 was damaged in August 2017.

Fresh off an investment infusion, MAG Aerospace said it has acquired North American Surveillance Systems and unidentified related entities.

Elbit Systems will buy state-owned IMI Systems, the weapons maker once known as Israel Military Industries, for about $495 million up front.

ITALY’s F-35 production on June 15 began work on first European-built F-35 for the Netherlands.

On Wednesday, China is expected to launch two Beidou navigation satellites aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang spaceport.

General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc., Williston, Vermont, has been awarded a $17,879,488 firm-fixed-price contract for machine gun barrels.

Retired NASA astronauts Eileen Collins, Terry Virts and Scott Parazynski want those who follow them to succeed.

The U.S. Senate has voted to lay the groundwork for blocking transfers of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter to Turkey.

Bell Helicopter plans to add 360-deg. pilot’s vision capability to its V-280 Valor demonstrator this year.

Work is underway on AN-9—the first of 29 F-35As to be assembled for the Royal Netherlands Air Force—at Italy's Cameri facility.

Bell is to collaborate with France’s Safran on development of a hybrid-electric propulsion system for its electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing on-demand air mobility concept.

President Donald Trump on June 18 directed the Pentagon to establish a “Space Force” as a sixth branch of the U.S. armed forces.

To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. For a complete list of Aviation Week Network’s upcoming events, and to register, visit www.aviationweek.com/events (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.)

BOEING has $1.5b U.S. Navy contract for life cycle upgrades of F/A-18A/B, C/D, E/F and EA-18G aircraft for the Navy and foreign military sales customers.

Liebherr Aerospace & Transportation has partnered with automotive giant General Motors to develop a fuel-cell auxiliary power unit (APU) for future single-aisle aircraft.

Airbus has handed over the first public service versions of its H175 super-medium twin-engine helicopter to launch customer Hong Kong Government Flying Service.

So far, so good for NASA when it comes to 2019 U.S. congressional appropriations in support of a White House directive to return to the Moon.