Defense and Space

Congress is directing the U.S. Navy to modify the aircraft carrier George Washington (CVN 73) to accommodate the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned refueling tanker.

Chris Ferguson, a former NASA astronaut who commanded the final space shuttle mission in 2011, will fly aboard the first crewed flight of Boeing's CST-100 Starliner to the International Space Station.

The Chilean Air Force has taken delivery of its first three of six new-build Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawks.

Britain has stood up its first multinational fighter squadron since World War II, in partnership with Qatar.

Raytheon is to ramp up production of AGM-176 Griffin mini-missiles for Socom as the U.S. rebuilds its depleted stockpiles of precision-guided munitions.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has narrowed the cause of a problem aboard the GOES-17 spacecraft.

Standards organization SAE International and IAASS have co-published a safety certification standard for commercial human-rated space systems.

Airbus is hoping to sign an export contract for its A400M airlifter by year’s end.

Contractor CTSi completed flight testing in July of an integrated comm and navigation system that will allow UAS to fly in contested and GPS-denied areas.

In the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill, some speculate that the Joint Strike Fighter’s price will be comparable to legacy aircraft.

Congress has decided not to force the U.S. Air Force to pursue Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System recapitalization.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) used the Rafael David’s Sling anti-rocket and missile system for the first time operationally on July 23.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders has proposed the creation of a European fighter jet manufacturer in a bid to take on U.S. exports.

A bill introduced in the U.S. House would provide DHS and DOJ authorities to protect buildings and people from threatening unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The LCH civil helicopter that Airbus is developing with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has made its first flight, the European company says.

Airbus has continued trials with its automated aerial refueling system with successful tests with a large receiver aircraft.

The FAA says it has exclusive authority over aircraft operations within navigable airspace, although state and local governments can regulate landing sites.

The U.S. Marine Corps plans to award a best value contract for the fielding and integration of the Aviation Safety Awareness Program (ASAP).

UK backs Rolls on electric; Terrafugia updates flying car; Zephyr in new record bid; Coyote to counter drones; Hybrid-electric push; Pratt sponsors GoFly; Raytheon hypersonics for DARPA; Titanium applications advance.

A propellant leak during a June test firing of launch abort engines developed for Boeing’s Commercial Crew CST-100 Starliner is delaying the company’s pad abort test at NASA’s White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico.

SpaceX’s second Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket, designed for multiple flights with minimal refurbishment, lifted off from Cape Canaveral AFS early July 22.

Preparations are underway to train the German crews that will operate the Heron-TP UAS that Germany plans to lease from Israel Aerospace Industries.

Textron Aviation recorded increased deliveries, profit and revenue in the second quarter, the company said.

New spaceport gets backing from UK Space Agency and British government.

Changing threat prompting aggressive time lines for British-led sixth-generation combat aircraft.