Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
Kopter Group’s SH09 single-engine light helicopter has been rebranded the AW09 to reflect the aircraft’s entry into the product line of Leonardo Helicopters.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
High winds and rough seas downrange of Kennedy Space Center prompted NASA on April 21 to delay for one day the SpaceX Crew-2 launch to the International Space Station, with liftoff now targeted for 5:49 a.m. EDT on April 23.
Space

By Steve Trimble
The M2DO configuration, which also includes retrofit plans, will help the MQ-9 fleet transition to a European Command mission in a potential standoff or conflict with Russia.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
While Ariane 6 is overcoming the last technical hurdles, reusability demonstration programs are making progress.
Space

By Steve Trimble
A solicitation for the Adaptive Resilient Engineered Structures program, published on April 20 by the Aviation Applied Technology Directorate, calls for technologies that could be demonstrated in a relevant operational environment—or a Technology Readiness Level of 6—between fiscal 2023 and 2026.
Aircraft & Propulsion

VERTEX AEROSPACE, MS has $882m Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) task order to provide supply chain management for the E-6B (707) Mercury Airborne
Defense and Space

By Steve Trimble
The aft section, which includes all fuselage structures aft of the cockpit, was shipped from Saab’s Linkoping site in Sweden on April 15.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The policy doesn’t name Boeing as the target, but the recent history of the company’s relations with the Canadian government provide a clear link.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Russia’s long-awaited Multipurpose Laboratory Module, which includes a new European-built robotic arm, is due to launch to the International Space Station on July 15, the European Space Agency station program manager said on April 20.
Space

By Thierry Dubois
The French, German and Spanish governments are on track to reach an agreement this month on how to share work on their joint Future Combat Air System program, according to Florence Parly, France’s minister of armed forces.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The Shijian (SJ)-17 satellite, which was launched to geostationary Earth orbit in 2016, is equipped with a robotic arm.
Space

By Thierry Dubois
Confronted with the seemingly ever-worsening issue of space debris, European Space Agency experts expect automation technology to help with collision avoidance maneuvers, along with better coordination between satellite operators.
Space

By Irene Klotz
NASA and SpaceX completed the Launch Readiness Review (LRR) for the SpaceX Crew-2 mission on April 20, clearing the Falcon 9-Crew Dragon system for liftoff from Kennedy Space Center at 6:11 a.m. EDT on April 22, weather permitting.
Space

Dwayne Chandler to Director of Avionics Sales of Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, Greenville, SC.
Aerospace

BOEING has Israeli Air Force follow-on contract for Apache logistical, program, engineering and technical support.
Defense and Space

BARNES GROUP was selected by Northrop Grumman to supply metallic exhaust system assemblies for B-2s as part of Spirit Stealth Bomber Tailpipe Mid/Aft
Defense and Space

STS AVIATION SERVICES (STS) has 5-year contact to provide fuel tank repair services for Royal Air Force C-17s; bulk of work will take place at RAF
MRO

LOCKHEED MARTIN had $1.8b net income on $16.3b sales in 1Q21 vs $1.7b on $15.7b in 1Q20. It delivered 17 F-35s, two C-130Js and 17 helicopters vs 22 F
Defense and Space

Stephanie Abrams, Principal of AbramsMediaWorks, was appointed Executive Director of the New England Air Museum, Hartford, CT.
Aerospace

By Mark Carreau
It is “highly unlikely” that NASA will return to the Moon’s surface with human explorers in 2024 due to technical, budget and workplace constraints linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency’s inspector general says.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Singapore has declared its new fleet of Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) fully operational.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris, Irene Klotz
Planning is now underway for the second flight, which could come as early as April 22.
Space

A civilian photographer captured the photo in 2018 as the F/A-18F with the markings of VX-31 air test and evaluation squadron landed at Point Mugu, California.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Mark Carreau
As the NASA-led International Space Station partnership strives to push the science and technology development potential of the orbital science lab, astronauts assigned to missions through 2023 will be equipping six of the station’s solar power channels with new Roll Out Solar Arrays that have been under development for a dozen years.
Space

By Lee Hudson
The U.S. Army has officially signed off on the rapid development of the Tactical Space Layer, with fielding anticipated in 2028.
Space