Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Switzerland’s government plans to give the Swiss public the opportunity to vote on whether the country should buy new fighters and an air defense system.

Robert Lightfoot, who has been serving as NASA’s acting administrator since the inauguration of President Donald Trump, will leave the agency.

Spirit AeroSystems CEO and President Tom Gentile says he is watching what is happening at rival and supplier GKN Aerospace.

Spirit AeroSystems believes new additive manufacturing techniques it is developing could help the company eventually save 70% in costs on aircraft material.

Effective Space, a UK-based startup developing a fleet of in-space, satellite-servicing vehicles, plans to launch its first two space drones in 2020.

Sky Perfect JSAT Corp. and muSpaceTech have signed contracts with Blue Origin for launch services aboard New Glenn.

The makers of satellite-enabling systems are announcing new teaming arrangements to tap underserved broadband internet service markets.

Years after abandoning its MMRCA program, India is likely to start a fresh competition to replenish the depleting squadron of the Indian Air Force.

The U.S. FCC is investigating whether a startup sent four nanosats into space a month after its application to operate them was denied.

ELBIT SYSTEMS’ Spike 1000 guided bomb was declared operational on Israeli F-16C/D fighters.

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) is asking President Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to impose tariffs on imported steel and aluminum.

View the Aviation Week Forecasts: Western Tanker Family In-Service Fleets 2018-2027 chart in PDF format.

While not a firm order, the agreement could lead to Typhoon production being extended into the mid to late 2020s.

The USAF could ask Congress to reprogram funding to buy a light attack aircraft as soon as this year, the service’s top uniformed acquisition official says.

NASA and its European collaborators appear to have scored a second chance with a timely halt to efforts to launch the Mars InSight lander in March 2016.

India’s state-run space agency plans to launch its eighth navigation satellite, IRNSS-1I, by April.

Airborne Tactical Advantage Co.is gearing up for the U.S. Air Force’s Nellis Adversary Aircraft competition, with plans to offer the Dassault Mirage F1s.

KAI has resumed deliveries to Iraq of light-attack aircraft of the T-50 family following partial payment of overdue charges by Baghdad.

The Pop.Up fly/drive air taxi concept developed by Airbus and automotive design house Italdesign has been updated jointly with carmaker Audi.

Voom, Airbus’ on-demand urban helicopter service, has launched operations in Mexico City, its second market after Sao Paulo.

BOEING has $7.6m U.S. Air Force contract for the remanufacture of 571 rotary switches in air-launched cruise missiles.

Airbus’ next annual global supplier conference will be held this fall in Montréal, company and Quebec officials said March 6.

View the Fleet Snapshot: European Military VIP Helicopter Fleets chart in PDF format.

The cost to upgrade Lockheed Martin’s F-35 over the next six years could be more than $16 billion, according to an influential lawmaker.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera has denied that the country has ruled out developing an indigenous fighter, even as a second local newspaper casts doubt on the plan.