One day after Thales Alenia Space launched its Sentinel-1B Earth-monitoring satellite to a 700 km orbit, the Franco-Italian spacecraft manufacturer signed initial contracts to build a stratospheric platform capable of many of the same remote-sensing functions.
Flying demonstrations at this year’s Farnborough Airshow will face more challenging restrictions on aerobatic maneuvers as a result of the fatal Shoreham, England crash last August.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have initiated trials of new laboratory equipment intended to enable routine gene expression analysis of biological specimens in orbit
Northrop Grumman likely will keep its so-called independent research and development (IRAD) spending relatively elevated in coming years “because we see the business imperative,” Chairman, CEO and President Wes Bush said April 27.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station deployed an Earth observing microsatellite developed and assembled by Filipino researchers and engineers with guidance from experts from Japan’s Hokkaido and Tohoku universities early April 27.
A Europeanized Soyuz delivered five small spacecraft to low Earth orbit April 25, including the Sentinel-1B radar Earth observation satellite developed for the European Commission’s Copernicus environmental monitoring and security program.
DCNS has won a competition to help build 12 submarines for Australia, offering a design for diesel vessels that will be vastly larger than any now in service.
GE Aviation’s Avio Aero is working near- and long-term solutions to address a balky component on the EuroProp International (EPI) TP400-D6 engine, four of which power the new Airbus A400M tactical airlifter.
Saudi Arabia, the world’s second leading arms importer over the last five years, will embark on a massive effort to build up its military industrial base and provide for a major portion of its security forces in coming years.
Russian aerospace forces continue their shopping spree, signing contracts with Russian Helicopters for Mi-28UB combat training helicopters and Mil Mi-26 super heavy transports.
The U.K. Royal Air Force has performed the first free-fall parachuting trials from a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as it looks to push the airlifter into tactical operations.
The Solar Impulse team is studying weather windows for a flight to Phoenix from Moffett Field, California, on the next leg of its attempt to fly around the world on solar power.
The House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee is seeking to restore or augment funding for carrier-based and missile-related programs.
Advances in materials and manufacturing have outgrown today’s design tools, making it difficult to fully take advantage of the expanded design enabled by new materials and fabrication methods, Darpa says.
FINLAND issued request for information on F-18 Hornet replacement to defense agencies of the U.K., France, Sweden and the U.S. Replies due by the end of 2016, with tender issued in 2018, award decision in 2021. LOCKHEED MARTIN has $116m U.S. Air Force contract for 100 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range (JASSM-ER) missiles, to be completed by June 2019. AUSTRALIA unveiled $220m Cyber Security Strategy, aimed at boosting the nation’s defenses against online assaults by hackers on individuals, businesses, governments.
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) is again moving to de-fund the Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System (JLENS), providing just $2.5 million against the Pentagon’s $45 million request in the Chairman’s mark of the fiscal 2017 National Defense Authorization Act. HASC member Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) praised the latest effort to scrap the “wasteful” program.
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. 26-27— MRO Network — Airline Engineering & Maintenance—Middle East, Abu Dhabi, UAE. For more information go to http://events.aviationweek.com/current/public/enter.aspx
