Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

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. 11-12—Airline Engineering & Maintenance: Middle East, Abu Dhabi, UAE. For more information go to www.aviationweek.com/events

By Mark Carreau
NASA astronaut Shane Kimbrough and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Andrey Borisenko departed the six-person International Space Station early April 10.
Defense and Space

The Tomahawk cruise missiles launched in response to Syria’s latest chemical weapons attack damaged or destroyed more than 20 Syrian fighters, the Pentagon says.
Defense and Space

The odd-looking hybrid electric UAV that Aurora Flight Sciences is building for DARPA could be weaponized and adapted for the U.S. Marine Corps’ “MUX” mission.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
Scientists may have unraveled an explanation for the thin atmosphere that seems to come and go from Ceres, the largest of the Solar System’s main belt asteroids.
Defense and Space

By Graham Warwick
The FAA has issued its first airspace restrictions that specifically apply only to UAVs.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
The Roketsan Laser-UMTAS (L-UMTAS)/Mizrak laser-guided missile was fired from the modified first prototype Hurkus-A in a demonstration on a weapon range in central Turkey.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Australia has chosen the Raytheon and Kongsberg Nasams missile system for short-range air defense of deployed forces.
Defense and Space

The decision not to offer an aircraft for the OA-X demonstration this summer makes it the second major defense contractor in two weeks to opt out.
Defense and Space

NORTHROP GRUMMAN’s MQ-4C Triton completed testing and a successful first flight of an improved software suite that enables Early Operational Capability deployment in 2018. LOCKHEED MARTIN has $129.4m U.S. Navy contract for work on the TR-3 integrated core processor and related subsystems to alleviate diminishing manufacturing sources constraints projected under F-35 production Lot 15 through March 2019.

The chief economic advisor to President Donald Trump said April 4 that air traffic control (ATC) reform—including privatizing ATC—could be a major element of the new administration’s infrastructure buildup, but that general aviation should not fear paying more for it. “We’re probably not even going to tax general aviation,” said Gary Cohn, director of the National Economic Council.

AVIATION WEEK NETWORK forecasts the global fleet of Western C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) aircraft will grow significantly over the next four years

Despite Russian claims, Pentagon officials say all 59 Raytheon-built Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles fired against Syria’s Shayrat airfield on April 7 reached their intended targets.
Defense and Space

The strike on Syria's Shayrat airfield was the single biggest Tomahawk cruise missile bombardment since strikes on Libya in 2011.
Defense and Space

As potential adversaries develop advanced counter-space and cyber capabilities, the Pentagon appears to be accepting the reality that war will inevitably extend to space.
Defense and Space

The U.S. Navy wants to buy 130 additional Super Hornets over the next five years for $13.6 billion as part of an effort to beef up its strike fighter fleet.
Defense and Space

By Jay Menon
India will soon supply indigenously-developed lightweight torpedoes to Myanmar in a deal worth about $38 million.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Airbus is stepping up support for partner Indonesian Aerospace as the Asian state company struggles with late deliveries and a military customer dissatisfied with product support.
Defense and Space

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $581.8m U.S. Navy contract for air vehicle initial spares, including F-35 common spares; F-35A, F-35B and F-35C unique spares, and aloft spares packages/deployment spares packages and reprogramming lab spares required to support the fighter’s delivery schedule through April 2021. SEEMANN COMPOSITES INC. has $9.1m U.S. Navy contract for materials and manufacturing technologies for unmanned underwater vehicles through Sept. 15, 2020.

On April 5 the Senate Armed Services Committee met in executive session and favorably reported the nomination of Heather Wilson to be the next Secretary of the U.S. Air Force by a vote of 22-5. The nomination now goes to the floor of the Senate for a full vote. A former Air Force officer, Wilson also served in Congress as a Republican representing New Mexico’s 1st Congressional District from 1998 to 2009.

By Jen DiMascio
In an attempt to get ahead of business trends, Lockheed Martin is combining its civil and commercial space lines of business into one unit.
Defense and Space

The head of U.S. Transport Command says the planned retirement of 59 Boeing KC-10 Extenders may need to be reconsidered.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development is opening a credit line for countries wishing to purchase Brazilian defense equipment.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is prepared to extend her current stay aboard the International Space Station for another three months.
Defense and Space

By Michael Bruno
Boeing's Global Services business unit, announced last November, will be operational in July.
Defense and Space