At least 220,000 jobs in the U.S. tied to the aerospace and defense industry could be lost as civil manufacturers see international aircraft production potentially halved in the wake of COVID-19, the industry’s most prominent trade group revealed in its latest annual factbook.

National support from the UK and a need to retain basing flexibility has prompted U.S. Air Force commanders to reverse the decision to close RAF Mildenhall, England. 

U.S. Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett on Sept. 14 announced a new “e” weapon system designator prefix for aircraft set to be designed and tested using digital engineering tools, starting with the rebranded Boeing eT-7A Red Hawk advanced jet trainer.

The U.S. Air Force has started the market research phase to demonstrate by 2027 a 1-5-megawatt, fixed-site microreactor that could provide an alternative to the civilian electric power grid on military bases. 

The U.S. Air Force has revealed that its United Arab Emirates counterparts have used their Saab GlobalEye airborne early warning platform in a major exercise.

The U.S. Army has received letters of interest from eight undisclosed international partners for its Future Vertical Lift effort aiming to modernize the service’s aviation portfolio.

When the effects of the spread of the novel coronavirus hit the U.S. defense industry six months ago, hundreds of companies shuttered. Now the tide is slowly turning, with 30 defense suppliers that remain closed. Now the tide is slowly turning, with 30 defense suppliers that remain closed.

The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has set sail for exercises which will see U.S. Marine Corps F-35s embarked for the first time.