As it begins an assessment of potential replacements for the U-28A spy plane, the Air Force Special Operation Command says manned intelligence-gathering platforms are here to stay, despite the rise of remotely piloted UAVs.
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate has elected to maintain the $1.13 billion Juno mission spacecraft at Jupiter in its current 53-day orbit rather than attempt a once-planned propulsive maneuver that would cut the orbital period to 14 days but introduce unwanted risk.
India has conducted the final test of its indigenously developed cryogenic rocket stage prior to its operational debut aboard the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk. 3 rocket in the coming months.
Embraer has completed the first dry refueling contact of a receiver aircraft with its KC-390 in a milestone test for the new airlifter’s aerial refueling system.
In observance of the Presidents Day holiday in the U.S., Aerospace Daily & Defense Report will not be publishing on Tuesday, Feb. 20. The next issue will be dated Wednesday, Feb. 22.
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LOCKHEED MARTIN has $95.4m U.S Navy contract for Trident II (D5) missile production and D5 Deployed Systems Support through Feb. 4, 2018. BOEING has $68.7m U.S Navy contract for research, development, integration and testing of P-8A Poseidon aircraft through January 2022. BAE SYSTEMS has $42.9m U.S Navy contract for USS Vicksburg (CG 69) fiscal 2017 special selected restricted availability (SSRA) through September 2017.
In recent weeks, Russia has sailed a surveillance ship in international waters off the East Coast, buzzed the USS Porter in the Black Sea with its military aircraft and deployed a new cruise missile in defiance of an arms control treaty. While members of Congress are calling for “immediate action” in response, President Donald Trump’s response is unclear. Although Trump said the incidents are “not good,” he told reporters he did not think Russian President Vladimir Putin was testing him.
The 15-year ASDOT requirement, expected to go to tender later this year, could be worth up to £1.2 billion and aims to deliver red-air aggressor and electronic warfare training under a single umbrella program.
Northstar Aviation has begun initial studies on an armed variant of Bell’s 429 twin-engine medium helicopter to meet the needs of a Middle Eastern customer.
The A330s will be pooled between the MMF member nation but based in Eindhoven with forward operating bases located in those countries. The idea is to regenerate and boost Europe’s inflight-refueling capabilities.
The U.S. Air Force’s long-running attempt to the replace the UH-1N Huey has hit another snag, with helicopter manufacturers telling the service that their airframes cannot meet the stated requirements without some modification.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) aims at building a rotorcraft in the class of the Sikorsky S-92 and Russian Helicopters Mi-17, initially to meet what it sees as the needs of the Indian air force.
Saab Grintek Defense (SGD) will transfer its technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) for in-country maintenance of Saab’s Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) system in India.
