Defense and Space

Lockheed Martin’s Procerus Technologies has introduced an all-weather, military-grade Indago 3 version of its commercial small unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

Airbus has carried out its first aerial refueling contacts using an automated system, a test which could pave the way for automatic refueling of receiver aircraft.

Inmarsat has launched a satellite communications service for unmanned aircraft using a small terminal developed by Cobham Satcom.

Turkey’s Aselsan has begun development of an indigenous active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar likely to become the primary sensor of the country’s future fighter.

Turkey’s Tubitak Sage research institute has unveiled a family of air-to-air missiles which could go onto equip the country’s future indigenous fighter, the TF-X.

Congress boosted funding for new aircraft by 15%, but overall defense received a meager increase.

Aerojet Rocketdyne’s proposed replacement for the Russian-build RD-180 rocket engine, the liquid-fueled AR1, has completed its critical design review.

Technologies, capabilities and knowledge increasingly appear to be coming together in ways that experts believe could address the question of whether life emerged elsewhere than on Earth.

The James Webb Space Telescope’s long $8.8 billion journey from concept to deep space achieved a weekend milestone.

Europe’s proposed regulations on operating UAVs go beyond the FAA’s Part 107 rule.

The U.S. Air Force’s Boeing-built X-37B reusable spaceplane has touched down in Florida after spending 718 days in space.

Kratos Defense & Security has settled on names for its two prized combat UAVs, dubbing them “Mako” and “Valkyrie.”

Rotorcraft operator CHC Helicopter is now providing all three of Australia’s armed services with search-and-rescue coverage.

After several delays, India is finally expected to conduct the first flight test of the BrahMos-A, the air-launched version of the Indo-Russian supersonic missile, in June.

Embattled aerospace supplier Triumph Group has struck a deal with creditors that could lead to insolvency for its Vought Aircraft unit, whose roots date to the dawn of powered aviation.

The Tactical Ship-to-Land Missile will supplement the larger Hyunmu 3 cruise missile already deployed on destroyers. Unlike Hyunmu 3, it will be entirely under the control of the navy.

Gryphon detects drones for FAA; Marines pick Finland’s Sensofusion; ScanEagle flies on fuel cell; Ligado/Harris team on BVLOS; other UAS news.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Air Force announced May 6 that it will send the F-35A to the Paris Air Show, less than two weeks after a service spokeswoman and the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) told Aviation Week and other news outlets that the fifth-generation aircraft would skip the event.

The rocket engine battle between the 500,000-lb.-thrust class Aerojet Rocketdyne AR1 and Blue Origin BE-4 is heating up.

India on May 5 launched the South Asia Satellite, aimed at meeting the growing telecommunications and broadcasting needs of India and six of its regional neighbors.

The U.S. Navy program to arm the Littoral Combat Ship/Future Frigate with a long-range ship-killing missile has narrowed to one near-certain entrant and two others on the ropes.

ForeFlight and Jeppesen are teaming up to offer a broad range of products to business and general aviation, military and airline customers.

After a one-month closure of Europe’s spaceport in Kourou due to labor strikes in French Guiana, Arianespace has successfully resumed launches.

Greece’s Hellenic Air Force has formally retired its last operational McDonnell Douglas RF-4 Phantoms.

The first short takeoff and vertical landing model F-35 to be assembled outside the U.S. has been rolled out from Italy’s Final Assembly and Check-Out facility.