Defense and Space

Notwithstanding the Bombardier/Boeing rift, Canada is positioned for robust growth—mainly in the defense sector—in 2018.

The U.S. is ramping up missile defense spending, while Russia and China have their own plans.

The gas turbine continues to evolve and advance, even as interest accelerates in alternate propulsion concepts.

High-energy laser tech has matured, with development shifting to tackling challenges of integrating electric lasers onto combat platforms and deploying them.

From the North Korean missile threat to Russian murky cyber campaigns and Chinese technical prowess, the Pentagon aims to adapt while retaining its advantages.

The threat of a nuclear North Korea joins ongoing conflict with Islamic extremists and increased competition among the world’s major military powers.

The No. 1 and No. 3 makers of large commercial aircraft, Boeing and Embraer, are in talks to formally align, although the Brazilian government appears to be the main hurdle, the companies and financial analysts said Dec. 21. The basis of any combination remains “under discussion,” the companies said in a joint statement, and it would have to be approved by the Brazilian government and regulators, the two companies’ boards and Embraer’s shareholders.

Boeing’s attempt to double the range of its air-launched AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile has hit a snag after two attempted flight tests flopped.

Although the new stealth fighter is not yet ready to move to full-rate production, the Pentagon’s number two civilian is pressuring Lockheed Martin to drive efficiencies into the supply chain now.

The U.S. Air Force says the Boeing B-52H bomber’s Pratt & Whitney TF33-103 engine is “not sustainable past 2030” and must be replaced.

Leonardo has launched an AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missile from its M-346 as part of ongoing trials to prove the type’s light attack credentials.

A Japanese decision to acquire two U.S. Aegis Ashore systems will offer national coverage against North Korean ballistic missiles but not until 2022–23.

Airbus Helicopters has redelivered the first of 36 Tiger attack helicopters to be converted from HAP to HAD standard back to French Army Aviation.

Germany is set to make its Eurofighters operational in the ground-attack role beginning in January 2018.

India has lost 35 defense aircraft and 14 military pilots in crashes in the last three years, the government says.

In this week’s roundup, Embraer declares KC-390 airlifter is ready for initial operations, Lockheed wins contract to develop networked cruise missiles, Myanmar receives Russian training aircraft, and Poland seeks F-16 support.

NASA has narrowed from 12 to two the number of mission candidates under consideration for the agency’s fourth $1 billion New Frontiers class of planetary science missions.

The U.S. aerospace and defense industry celebrated a key victory in Washington on Dec. 20 as the Republican-controlled Congress passed a major tax overhaul.

The AFRL has tapped Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to produce swarms of autonomous cruise missiles capable of wreaking havoc on enemy air defenses.

The FAA will craft a proposed regulation from the recommendations of an advisory group that met to consider ways of remotely identifying and tracking drones.

The Irish Air Corps (IAC), one of Europe’s smallest air arms, has ordered a fleet of Pilatus PC-12s as part of its fleet modernization.

The Indian Air Force has issued a request for proposals for 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft to be built by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Restore-L, a NASA-initiated mission to demonstrate telerobotic satellite servicing technologies in low Earth orbit, has cleared its preliminary design review.

Elbit Systems of America is set to reap up to $176 million as a subcontractor to DynCorp International to support U.S. Army C-26s and UC-35s.

Embraer’s KC-390 twin-engine airlifter has achieved its initial operating capability, a key milestone in preparation for the type’s entry into service in 2018.