Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Bradley Perrett
A second, simplified version of the Long March 5 space launcher will be used to build the space station that China plans to complete by 2022.
Defense and Space

The U.S. Air Force is taking steps to rebuild pilots’ confidence in the F-35’s oxygen system at an Arizona Air Force base as the aircraft remains grounded through at least June 20.
Defense and Space

The Syrian Armed Forces have warned the U.S. of “serious repercussions” after a Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet belonging to the U.S. Navy shot down a Syrian Sukhoi Su-22.
Paris Air Show

The Missile Defense Agency has begun exploring potential high-altitude, long-durance UAVs capable of destroying intercontinental ballistic missiles in the boost phase with an airborne laser weapon.
Defense and Space

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Russian Helicopters has not brought any of its rotorcraft to Le Bourget this year. But a few weeks before the Paris Air Show, the Russian manufacturer reported the first horizontal flight of its newest Kamov Ka-62 medium twin.

IAI MLM will supply the Israel Air Force the latest generation of EHUD air combat maneuvering instrumentation pods, to be carried on conventional fighter jets.

By Tony Osborne
With the delivery by Leonardo of the 500th Eurofighter to the Italian air force, production of the multinational combat aircraft is entering its twilight years. Work is now underway to further slow production rates in a bid to be ready for potential future customers.

AIRBUS marked 10 years of operation forTerraSAR-X satellite, originally slated for 5 years of service.

The FAA has granted a supplemental type certificate (STC) for an updated digital avionics and cockpit for L3 Technologies’ AT-802L Longsword surveillance/light attack aircraft.

View the Forecast Friday: Western Scout Helicopter MRO Demand 2017-2026 chart in PDF format.

The new position is part of USAF Secretary Heather Wilson’s push to “integrate, normalize and elevate” space within the Air Force and wider Defense Department.
Defense and Space

The F-35A Lightning II multinational training center at Luke AFB, Arizona, will keep its jets grounded through June 20 or perhaps longer.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA’s Orion program will spend several weeks assessing performance and engineering data from Orbital ATK’s Utah desert test firing on June 15 of the Launch Abort System motor.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
Russia’s Progress MS-06 resupply mission capsule carried out an automated docking at the International Space Station’s Russian segment early June 16.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
China is making fairly quick progress in research aimed at eventual development of a reusable lifting-body space launcher.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Assembling a spacecraft in space appears to be a continuing option for China’s proposed manned lunar missions, one that would avoid the need to build an enormous Moon rocket.
Defense and Space

The vice chief of naval operations expects U.S. Navy student pilots grounded for months due to a spate of hypoxia-like cockpit incidents in the T-45 trainer will return to flight in the next few weeks.
Defense and Space

The clocks on the first spacecraft in India’s navigation satellite constellation have encountered technical problems, putting at risk the country’s plans to make the system available for public use by early next year.
Defense and Space

HUNTINGTON INGALLS INDUSTRIES launched 16th Virginia-class submarine Indiana.

China is making strides in its precision nuclear submarines, ballistic missile forces and weapons, among other advancements.

By Guy Norris, Molly McMillin
Valence Surface Technologies expects to see double-digit growth over the remainder of the decade as it ramps-up output to meet sustained growth in key defense programs.
Defense and Space

By Guy Norris
Virgin Orbit, the newly created small satellite launch Virgin Group company, is nearing completion of the first “pathfinder” LauncherOne test rocket.
Space

By Guy Norris
The California Air National Guard has relocated operations of its remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper fleet from Victorville in the Mojave Desert to March Air Reserve Base.
Defense and Space

By Jen DiMascio
Qatar and the U.S. signed an agreement for the purchase of $12.1 billion in F-15QA fighters.
Defense and Space

By Graham Warwick
The largest wind tunnel in the world has been damaged and shut down after wall panels detached and struck the drive fans on June 9.
Defense and Space