Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Thierry Dubois
The European Space Agency (ESA) is reviewing its plans for the series of maneuvers that the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) will perform soon to circularize its orbit around Mars with minimum fuel consumption.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
The British government has launched a consultation concerning the safety and privacy of unmanned aerial systems as it looks to widen their use in society.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
China is researching heavy-lift launchers and plans to send a probe to Mars in 2020, according to a new government white paper.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
An emerging U.S. commercial space sector stands to benefit if the Trump administration can decide sooner rather than later whether NASA is to continue with efforts to transition its human spaceflight pursuits from low Earth orbit to deep space.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
After decades of underinvestment, the coffers of Europe’s defense budgets are beginning to swell once again, driven by the perceived threat from Russia.
Defense and Space

By Maxim Pyadushkin
Russia’s defense spending will begin to decrease for the first time in a decade, but the drop-off is coming at a time when its forces are showcasing their strength.
Defense and Space

In 2017, China can be expected to roll out new military capabilities and increase spending.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett
Japan’s fiscal 2017 defense budget request asks for a 2.3% increase over 2016’s, continuing the upward trajectory that began when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe took power in December 2012.
Defense and Space

By Bradley Perrett, Kim Minseok
The South Korean parliament has refused a defense ministry request to spend 30% more on Lockheed Martin F-35 acquisition in 2017 than originally planned.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Britain’s decision to leave the EU has had some tangible effects on the plans set out by the 2015 Strategic Defense and Security Review.
Defense and Space

By Graham Warwick
Gyroplane specialist Groen Aeronautics has begun development of an optionally piloted autogyro aimed at the market for a simple, low-cost and high-payload vertical-takeoff-and-landing unmanned aircraft. &
Defense and Space

The U.S. Air Force has launched its highly-anticipated T-X next-generation trainer competition, issuing a request for proposals on Dec. 30 that will likely be answered by five or six industry team already vying for the $16.3 billion contract opportunity.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Turkish Aerospace Industries will market its indigenous clean-sheet twin-engine utility helicopter under the designation T-625, company officials have confirmed.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The Serbian government is to order nine H145M helicopters from Airbus as it pushes to modernize the country’s defenses after years of under investment.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Leonardo acquires full control of Sistemi Dinamici in a bid to widen its unmanned helicopter portfolio and consolidate its capabilities as a systems integrator.
Defense and Space

The U.S. Air Force has launched another multi-billion dollar aircraft competition, this time to replace its fleet of second-hand Boeing 707-300-based Northrop Grumman E-8C Jstars tank hunters that first deployed as part of Operation Desert Storm in 1991.
Defense and Space

By Maxim Pyadushkin, Bradley Perrett
The Sukhoi Su-35 is taking its place as China’s most powerful fighter, following the beginning of deliveries on Dec. 25.
Defense and Space

Missile shields are second to the F-35 when it comes to international revenue for Lockheed Martin.
Defense and Space

The Tu-154B-2 belonging to the Russian air force had stopped off in Sochi en route to Russia’s coastal airbase in Latakia, Syria, but went down less than one mile (1.5 km) from shore moments after takeoff.
Defense and Space

This is the final issue of Aerospace Daily & Defense Report in 2016. The next issue will be dated Jan. 3, 2017. In the meantime, subscribers can visit

AIRBUS HELICOPTERS and THALES TDA ARMEMENTS have Occar contracts covering upgrade of 24 French Tiger HAD aircraft to Mk. 2 configuration. BOEING has $207.5m U.S. Navy contract for 51 full-rate production Lot 90 Harpoon weapon systems, components, and spares for Egypt (20); Korea (19); and Brazil (12).

Air Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will take over as India’s chief of air staff on Dec. 31 following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha. Dhanoa will be the 25th chief of the IAF since India’s independence in 1947. The appointment was formally announced Dec 17. He was commissioned in the IAF in June 1978 as a fighter pilot. The Air Marshal has mainly flown the MiG-21 but has experience across the entire spectrum of IAF fighter aircraft, from the Jaguar to the MiG-29 and Su-30 MKI.

A new Chinese satellite will give China an independent way to monitor carbon dioxide levels worldwide.
Defense and Space

The Pentagon has selected Boeing to develop a tactical pod for a laser weapon system planned to one day equip the U.S. Air Force’s fighter aircraft.
Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
The company plans to launch either a Roketsan UMTAS anti-tank weapon or the Cirit 70mm lightweight missile from one of the prototype Hurkus-As before the IDEF 2017 defense show in Istanbul.
Defense and Space