Defense and Space

Few fireworks are expected at Paris this year, but retrenching and refocusing of products will be highlighted in all arenas—commercial, defense, space and technology.

Europe is raising defense spending, but after years of cuts, there are some who doubt it will be adequate to deal with escalating fractiousness.

Riccardo Procacci discusses how Avio Aero is building business in new markets and maintaining relationships with old customers 2.5 years after its acquisition by GE.

USMC one step closer to an operational F-35B, but partners are locked in debate about what Block 4 jet will bring.

Europe is pushing to expand its tanker fleet, even though fighter numbers are shrinking.

Two non-NATO powers confront Russia across the narrow, mine-strewn choke points of the Baltic.

Fearing rogue states and a menacing Russia, NATO is pushing for European ballistic missile defense.

NATO and aligned nations find new-technology weapons add capability faster and at lower cost than new platforms.

The United Launch Alliance is no longer the only rocket manufacturer capable of winning national security missions in the U.S.

The new certificates of authorization (COA) will allow UASs up to 55 lb. operated by the six test sites to fly at or below 200 ft. anywhere in the U.S. except in restricted airspace and areas close to airports.

Sikorsky flew its S-97 Raider rigid coaxial rotor high-speed helicopter for the first time on May 22, completing a hover and low-speed flight at the company’s development flight center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Sikorsky’s S-97 Raider high-speed helicopter made an hour-long first flight on May 22 at the company’s development flight center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The rigid coaxial-rotor Raider hovered and maneuvered at low speed, with its pusher propulsor disconnected (but turning due to friction). The flight begins a year-long, roughly 100-flight-hour test program to expand to Raider’s flight envelope to meet Sikorsky’s key targets of 220-kt. cruise speed carrying weapons, hover at 6,000 ft. on a 95F day, and 3g maneuverability at speed.

China appears to be taking steps toward developing stovl aircraft, but lack of a propulsion system likely makes this a long-term proposition.

Airbus’s A400M airlifter program has faced some recent setbacks, not least of which is the May 9 crash of a production aircraft on its first flight.

The team will monitor Airbus plans to bring the project back on track, according to a German defense ministry letter sent to members of parliament and obtained by Aviation Week.

The U.S. Air Force wants to keep its bomber program under wraps. There are at least six reasons why that’s a bad idea.

After nearly 100 years, manned fighters still represent the overwhelming bulk of airpower, but predictions of their irrelevance or obsolescence are still with us.

After years of false starts, a joint European UAV program looks like it may finally progress.

IAF Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel worries that the sale of the Russian S-300 air defense system to Iran could provide a sense of immunity.

The crash of an Airbus A400M airlifter that killed four people on May 9 may have been caused by new software that cut off the engine-fuel supply, industry sources have said.

The changes have reflected internal disagreements about the vehicle’s mission and the extent of stealth technology to be incorporated into the platform.

As a first step, the U.S. Air Force will be pushing for a more-open systems architecture in Block 4, the first post-service-entry upgrade for the F-35.

In the wake of the Airbus A400M crash, London Bureau Chief Tony Osborne, Military Editor Bill Sweetman and Executive Editor James R. Asker discus the effect of crashes and incidents on early aircraft programs. Among the aircraft discussed are DC-10, A320, A380, F-16, V-22, XB-70, Dark Star and several airships.

Meeting U.S. requirements for security of the F-35 is a key issue behind building new infrastructure at Royal Australian Air Force bases from which the aircraft will operate.

Russia says China will act as an investor—wording that suggests that Russia will provide know-how while China pays. Russia has no requirement for the aircraft, so Beijing and Avic are obviously driving the whole program.