Defense and Space

Aurora Flight Sciences has flown a subscale model of its LightningStrike hybrid-electric distributed propulsion vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) experimental aircraft, selected in March to be Darpa’s high-speed VTOL X-Plane.

Thales has confirmed the sale of Fulmar fixed-wing UAVs to equip six Next Generation Patrol Craft under construction for the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

To complement increased purchases of combat aircraft, the Russian aerospace forces are ordering 30 more Yakovlev Yak-130 jet trainers.

Vanilla Aircraft is aiming to demonstrate a 100-hr. flight of its VA001 midsized long-endurance UAV by midyear following a 25-hr. flight in early April in New Mexico.

The German air force will close its Panavia Tornado training facility at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, in 2019 and move instruction back to Europe.

Monaco is to install a counter-UAV system comprising radar, cameras and jammers to provide security and privacy over the wealthy city-state.

UMS Skeldar, the newly-formed joint venture between Saab and Swiss UAV company UMS Aero, is looking to establish a manufacturing facility in India to tap into the Asian and Southeast Asian market.

The demand for low-cost, rapidly available off-the-shelf countermeasures against small unmanned aircraft systems from both government and commercial customers seems to be growing.

Airlander airship approved to fly; NASA to validate RTCA’s UAS standards; Darpa tests drop-in sense-and-avoid; Armadillo’s Stig returns as Sarge; Rocket Lab moves closer to launch.

In the summer of 2015, Gen. John Hyten, commander of U.S. Air Force Space Command, says the military created a threat-focused space enterprise vision while working on an ongoing analysis of alternatives on the future of protected satellite communications.

F-35 program prices are improving, but there are still cost concerns as production ramps up, a recent U.S. Government Accountability Office report says.

SpotterRF, a supplier of commercial radars for perimeter security, has announced a partnership to offer an integrated product to counter UAVs and is promising significantly lower cost than similar equipment already on the market.

As U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar met this week during the Pentagon chief’s visit to India, the two countries agreed to strengthen their military and industrial defense bonds.

Studies to gauge F-35 noise levels will ask residents of the communities around two Dutch air bases for feedback.

Legislation would allow Pentagon to focus on threats; an FAA official prepared to take on the role; and an Air Force general supports the concept.

The U.K. Civil Aviation Authority is set to introduce additional rules for air displays aimed at making them safer, following the fatal crash of an ex-military Hawker Hunter jet fighter at the Shoreham Airshow last year.

In a major boost to the “Make in India” initiative, the U.S. on April 12 agreed to develop new partnerships in the pursuit of a range of cutting-edge projects, while India mulls two proposals from U.S. aerospace primes to bolster the country’s fighter production.

The U.S. Air Force’s UAS fleet is in constant demand, but keeping it flying is taking a toll on its pilots.

In preparation for a U.S. Army competition for a counter-rocket, artillery and mortar interceptor, Lockheed Martin flight tests its enhanced Miniature Hit-to-Kill missile.

There is long list of technology demonstrations behind the idea of an unmanned combat aircraft, but no requirements for an operational system have emerged. Now Europe has a try.

Polish and Turkish companies are among those developing and selling loitering munitions, aka lethal small unmanned aircraft.

Fighter aircraft for “Make in India”; North Korea shows long-range air defense system; Pratt & Whitney F135 engines contract; UAE-Stratcom space data accord.

The Pentagon may have all the power it needs to stop major consolidation of its prime contractors it does not like, after all.

The U.S. Air Force says it will buy 38 of the systems to provide an “interim solution to counter potential emerging threats to government resources.”

The Littoral Combat Ship LCS 3 USS Fort Worth will make preparations to get underway from Singapore under its own power and transit to San Diego this summer for an extensive repair period after the ship’s combining gears were significantly damaged in January.