The $1.24 billion fixed-price development program, with production options for 23 aircraft total, can proceed into the assembly, test and evaluation phases.
After encountering significant turbulence over Saudi Arabia on the final leg, solo pilot Bertrand Piccard landed the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) in Abu Dhabi on July 26, completing the first solar-powered around-the-world flight.
Efforts are underway within the U.S. Air Force’s bomber community to prepare for the introduction of computer-frying microwave energy weapons in the coming 5-10 years.
The U.S. Air Force has decided not to recover a weather satellite that stopped responding to commands earlier this year after an investigation determined the spacecraft is not repairable.
Key capabilities required for routine commercial deliveries by small unmanned aircraft are to be flight tested by Amazon in the U.K., in partnership with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
It is difficult enough to overhaul an American nuclear-powered aircraft carrier without the added worry of cleaning up possible radiation damage caused by an outside source five years ago.
American aircraft carrier CVN 77 USS George H.W. Bush left Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) earlier this month after completing a 13-month planned incremental availability (PIA), the U.S. Navy says.
The U.S. Strategic Capabilities Office (SCO) is pursuing a “super version” of Raytheon’s long-range decoy drone by adding new electronic warfare capabilities and a datalink for networked operations and dynamic retargeting.
As the region prepares for fallout from the recent international tribunal ruling against China in South Sea territorial disputes with the Philippines—and given Beijing bluster in rejecting the decision—Asia-Pacific countries are beefing up their air forces with American aircraft.
Imagery of the large asteroid Ceres from NASA’s Dawn mission shows a conspicuous absence of large craters, hinting at internal processes that could be erasing evidence of impacts.
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.) July 25-27—AIAA Propulsion and Energy Forum and Exposition (Propulsion and Energy 2016), Salt Lake City, Utah. For more information go to www.aiaa.org/research/
SPACE SYSTEMS LORAL has $20.7m Darpa contract for robotic arm flight hardware for first phase of Robotic Servicing of Geosynchronous Satellites (RSGS) program. LOCKHEED MARTIN and PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. completed initial production test flight of first PC-21 destined for the Australian Defense Force under the AIR 5428 Pilot Training System program July 21. Initial seven-year program valued at AUS$1.2b ($900m).
Drone delivery service provider Flirtey and convenience store operator 7-Eleven have made the first delivery by autonomous unmanned aircraft to customer’s home, in Reno, Nevada. The FAA-approved test was conducted with the Nevada Institute for Autonomous Systems (NIAS) test site. Two delivery flights were made from a 7-Eleven in Reno. Flirtey’s multicopter hovered and winched the package down into the customer’s back yard. Flirtey and 7-Eleven plan to work together to expand drone delivery tests.
Germany has set out its ambitions to become a more reliable and steadfast military partner and lead the way in securing the future of Europe’s defense industry.
Space policy and programs rarely rise to the top of the list of issues discussed during U.S. presidential elections, but if one Washington-focused consulting company’s report is an indication, NASA supporters have reason to be optimistic regardless of change of control in the nation’s capital.
An international crew of astronauts and scientists are in the midst of a 16-day Mars analogue mission to evaluate tools, equipment and procedures for deep space exploration while submerged within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off the state’s Atlantic coast.
In a push toward transparency and the reduction of corruption, Indonesia says its future major arms buys will be conducted under government-to-government arrangements.
The Airbus Group-sponsored Perlan 2 stratospheric glider is en route by container ship to El Calafate in southern Argentina from where it will continue flights aimed at setting a new world gliding altitude record by soaring to 90,000 ft. in mountain waves and the polar vortex.
The Textron AirLand Scorpion has become the test case for a new airworthiness initiative by the U.S. Air Force that could make non-program of record military aircraft more attractive to international buyers.
The U.S. Air Force is planning to perform a business case analysis for so-called Adversary Air (ADAIR) capabilities to plug what it sees as a “significant gap” in training requirements.
