Aviation Week & Space Technology

By Tony Osborne
As Europe gears up to develop a MALE UAS, Israeli and U.S. systems still dominate inventories.
Defense and Space

By Graham Warwick
Long in the making, the FAA’s final rule for commercial operation of small unmanned aircraft, or drones, gets the thumbs up, but industry is already impatient for the next set of capabilities.
Air Transport

By Graham Warwick
Reluctance by lawmakers to embrace the value of X-planes to U.S. industry has NASA coming up with creative approaches
Aerospace

By Jay Menon
India relaxes rules on foreign defense investment; first temporary EA-18G detachment deploys for training; Norway, Poland test naval strike missile; more North Korean missile tests.
Defense and Space

A coronal mass ejection could be particularly devastating in today’s globally wired world. Scientists advocate research into solar storms with smallsats at the forefront.
Space

By Kevin Michaels
There is concern among Tier 1 leader that the air transport segment is becoming structurally unattractive and less worthy of investment than its alternatives.
Air Transport

By Guy Norris
The Air Dominance Adaptive Propulsion Technology program builds on almost a decade of research, beginning with the Adaptive Versatile Engine Technology program.
Defense and Space

Two small features on Mars’s Mount Sharp are targets for observation with Curiosity’s MastCam camera as part of the quest to determine whether there is life on the planet.
Space

By Guy Norris
The technology is considered vital to achieving the high-speed, long-endurance performance requirements of the F/A-XX and F-X sixth-generation fighters.
Defense and Space

By Guy Norris
A proposed upgrade stemming from Pratt’s system development and demonstration program for the F-35 engine has the potential to cut fuel burn by as much as 7% on aircraft entering service by the early 2020s, the company says.
Defense and Space

By Thierry Dubois
In an attempt to fly around the world with a solar-powered airplane, Solar Impulse 2 is currently crossing the Atlantic. The single-seat aircraft took off from New York John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, and the flight is expected to last three days or more. The ground support team is preparing for the landing in Seville, Spain.
Aerospace

From the nuclear triad to the arsenal aircraft to Donald Trump as commander in chief, Gen. Mark Welsh discusses issues confronting the U.S. Air Force.
Defense and Space

A new report from the British Parliament calls on the government to view the recent return of astronaut Tim Peake from the International Space Station as an opportunity to support the U.K.’s growing space sector, not a cause for complacency.
Space

By Adrian Schofield
Virgin Australia is attracting significant interest from China, with the HNA Group and Nanshan Group poised to become its latest stakeholders.
Air Transport

A delay in the arrival of F-35s is limiting the fleet of flight-ready F-18s and affecting flight-training time.
Defense and Space

By Guy Norris
Despite clear progress toward completion, Stratolaunch Systems remains coy about when the vehicle will begin flight tests.
Space

By Thierry Dubois
Preparing the Solar Impulse for its ventures requires help from dedicated experts from many sectors.
Aerospace

By Jens Flottau
In his first interview since announcing his retirement as Embraer CEO, Fred Curado discusses how Embraer has changed, current challenges and the looming trade dispute with Bombardier.
Air Transport

By Graham Warwick
Insights from the AIAA Aviation 2016 conference in Washington: NASA back in the X-plane business; thin-haul commuter to connect small cities; turbo-electric airliner an X-Plane option; China’s Comac studies open rotors.
Aerospace

After an Orbital ATK Cygnus carrying 4,087 lb. of trash departed the International Space Station, NASA started a fire in the spacecraft as part of an experiment by the Glenn Research Center. Fire in space is a serious concern. In 1997, six Russian, German and U.S. astronauts fled Mir to a Soyuz spacecraft docked to the space station after an oxygen-generating canister caught fire. They were poised to leave when the fire burned itself out.
First Take

Airbus Group has appointed Paul Eremenko chief technology officer for the corporate technology office. Eremenko currently heads the A3 Innovation Center based in San Jose, California. Maj. Gen. Stayce Harris (see photo) has been promoted to lieutenant general and appointed assistant vice chief of staff and director of the air staff for the U.S. Air Force. Harris commands the Air Force Reserve’s 22nd Air Force at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

By Graham Warwick
Rotorcraft industry leaders put safety as their top priority as they grapple with potential disruption of their markets by unmanned aircraft.
Aerospace

By Graham Warwick
Helicopter makers show progress in increasing performance, cutting noise and improving safety. Speed is a challenge, but there are promising developments.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jen DiMascio
Will this spirit of compromise last? | Just before SpaceX launch, Bezos touts improvements to Blue Origin engine | Lawmaker’s bid to boost NASA aero funding.
Space

In recent years, big U.S. defense contractors tilted the balance way too far in favor short-term shareholder returns and value.
Defense and Space