Defense and Space

Single-pilot commercial operations coming; advanced composites institute formed; unmanned news-gathering moves closer; agile manufacturing for ISR; near-zero-power sensors.

While keeping its options open, Belgium seems to be leaning toward F-35 as the replacement for its F-16s.

Aviation Week editors discuss the reasons behind our selection of Vladimir Putin as Person of the Year for 2014.

In 2014, no other person has had a more sweeping impact on aerospace and aviation—for better or worse—than Russian President Vladimir Putin. And for all but the most cynical of observers, Putin’s far-reaching impact has definitely been for the worse. Because of this, he is Aviation Week's 2014 Person of the Year.

Obama administration has made great progress in reforming export-control procedures, but benefits for the A&D industry are slow to materialize.

Like most abrupt macroeconomic changes, there are mixed implications for the defense sector from the recent drop in oil prices.

One size does not fit all: imports, partnerships and national independent programs all feature in Brazil’s defense acquisitions.

With a well-developed indigenous defense industry, Turkey seeks to become a major exporter, focusing on the Middle East and Central Asia.

Used to producing only for the domestic market, arms producers in Japan must adapt to successfully develop their export business.

The conflict in Ukraine has increased the visibility of Russia’s military transformation, which Putin began at the start of his first term as president.

Aviation Week’s Person of the Year is the figure who had the most impact—for better or, in this case, worse—on aerospace and aviation over the year. In 2014, Putin’s actions roiled defense, space and commercial aviation.

South Korea’s role in the world defense market is expanding.

India is seeking to build its military export trade, and its effort have caught the attention of China, its rival in such endeavors.

In brief: The cascading effects of Putin’s annexation of Crimea in the airline, aerospace and defense sectors.

It looks as if the F-35 could meet its key performance parameter requirements, but that is a narrow definition of success.

The plan to terminate the U-2 is reversed, reopening a debate at the Pentagon about high-altitude reconnaissance platforms.

The fluctuating price of oil affects every A&D sector to varying degrees, some much more than others.

The Pentagon is, once again, reversing its own position on which platform to use for its high-altitude reconnaissance mission – the venerable U-2 or Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

Avinash Chander’s contract will be terminated on Jan. 31, 15 months ahead of schedule. A defense ministry official says Chander was removed because Prime Minister Narendra Modi is incensed by inordinate delays in various DRDO projects.

*EADS was renamed Airbus Group in January 2014 Source: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute

Military air safety officials have described as “unsustainable” a decision not to install an airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS) on the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons.

The Belgian government has started a survey process to pave the way for a program to replace the country’s F-16 fighter fleet.

After canceling the Euro Hawk program in 2013 because of concerns about the UAV’s ability to fly in civil airspace, Germany may instead use a related Northrop Grumman platform, the MQ-4C Triton, as an airborne signals intelligence gatherer.

South Korea’s LCH-LAH civil-military helo program to decide between Airbus and AgustaWestland offerings.

In an effort to address potential pilot shortages in the future, NASA is conducting research on the operating concepts and ground stations that would be needed for single-pilot airliners.