Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Boeing says an upgraded Lockheed Martin F-16 is no substitute for its Cold War-era air superiority fighter.

President Donald Trump is remaining consistent when it comes to one aspect of who will run the U.S. Export-Import Bank under his administration: it will be a critic.

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.) Apr. 18-29—Rotorcraft Asia 2017, Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore. For more information go to www.rotorcraft-asia.com/

ULA, NASA, and Orbital ATK have declared themselves prepared for an April 18 liftoff of Orbital’s seventh NASA-contracted resupply mission to the ISS.

The aircraft will conduct training with other Europe-based U.S. and NATO aircraft for the next few weeks as part of the European Reassurance Initiative.

Arconic Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld, who led the breakup of Alcoa last year and the formation of his aerospace-focused successor, has left the top positions.

Irish air accident investigators probing the fatal crash of an Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92 last month have confirmed that the helicopter was flown into terrain that did not appear on the aircraft’s Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System.

Germany’s E.ON electricity company is partnering with Dutch renewable energy startup Ampyx Power to demonstrate the potential of airborne wind energy systems.

Israel’s Urban Aeronautics is talking to potential partners and investors about developing a four-seat “flying car.”

NASA is seeking input on the technical barriers to greater use of larger vertical-takeoff-and-landing UAVs for civil missions.

German startup E-volo has unveiled the Volocopter 2X production version of its two-seat electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) air taxi.

The technology can be used to protect the leading edges of wings; horizontal and vertical stabilizers; engine inlet lips; and vanes and aircraft nose cones and is suitable for commercial; regional; business aircraft; rotorcraft; and unmanned aircraft.

The aircraft will conduct training with other Europe-based U.S. and NATO aircraft for the next few weeks as part of the European Reassurance Initiative.

Step by step, Silicon Valley-based Made In Space, Inc., is making good on its name, literally forging an off-the-planet manufacturing capability.

Keeping warships for only 20 years rather than the usual 30 may be an economical policy, Australian researchers have found.

DRS LAUREL TECHNOLOGIES has $8.8m U.S. Navy contract for Cooperative Engagement Capability transmission processing equipment sets.

The UK House of Commons’ defense committee has launched an inquiry into the Royal Air Force’s response to the country’s 2015 Strategic Defense and Security Review (SDSR).

View the Forecast Friday: Western Maritime Aircraft New Deliveries 2017-2026 chart in PDF format.

EUROFIGHTER delivered 500th production Typhoon to the Italian Air Force April 11 at Leonardo Aircraft Division’s Turin site.

Within the next decade, Rostec plans to modernize Russia’s tactical weapons systems.

View the Defense Market Intelligence Notes in PDF format.

The UK defense ministry is challenging industry and academia to develop unmanned systems that can supply troops on the front-line.

A U.S. Special Operations MC-130 dropped the largest non-nuclear bomb the U.S. has ever deployed on Islamic State terrorists in a series of caves in Afghanistan.

The Pentagon’s Tomahawk strike on Syria may have struck 57 out of 59 confirmed targets, but a top U.S. general says the U.S. can and must do better.

In Houston, home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, a funding drive is underway to restore the aging landmark Apollo Mission Control Center for enhanced public viewing.