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The article offers news briefs related to defense contracts from across the world. The Philippines may to order up to 12 more Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) FA50 light attack aircraft. The U.S. State Department will approve 1.7 billion dollars in Foreign Military Sales with Saudi Arabia. U.S. Army will investigate potential missions for Leonardo AW609 commercial tiltrotor.

The article focuses on the competition by U.S. launch-services rivals for the government launch market as lawmakers and general agree to stop launching U.S. national security spacecraft with Russia's RD-180 rocket engine. Topics covered include the plan of ULA to build a family of launchers dubbed Vulcan, the proposal by Aerojet Rocketdyne to power the Vulcan with rocket-grade kerosene as fuel, and the suggestion by Orbital ATKof hybrid launcher with a solid-fuel.

The article reports on the U.S. Defense Department remaining gridlocked and scandal-plagued. It is said that the Western defense sector seems full of contradictions and counterintuitive optimism, heading into the 2017 Paris Air Show in France. President Donald Trump is seeking more money for defense, including so-called weapons investments, in his fiscal 2018 budget request.

The article discusses military programs in countries including the U.S., Germany, and France and examines major rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft defense programs. Information is provided on programs including the AW101 multirole helicopter, produced by the aircraft company AgustaWestland, the F-CK-1 Indigenous Defense Fighter aircraft by the Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC), and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

The article explores the implications of the failure and success of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter being developed by Lockheed Martin for fighter contenders. The aircraft is being developed under a 19-billion U.S. dollar system and development and demonstration contract with the Pentagon. It is suggested that if Lockheed can bring the aircraft with a price below 60 million U.S. dollars, customers would seek to acquire an affordable strike fighter.

The article presents an insight on the failure of the U.S. Defense Department to conclude orders for next-generation refueling tankers. The controversial competition between Boeing and the Northrop Grumman/EADS team depict the negative aspects of the Boeing-Airbus duopoly. A complaint was raised by Northrop Grumman about the disclosure of its pricing information to archrival Boeing.

The article offers updates on the U.S. Navy's EP-X competition. Boeing is developing a design for the P-8A patrol aircraft for the competition to replace the U.S. Navy's aging EP-3E aircraft. Other aircraft designs set for the EP-X include the EA-18G Growler, which is specialized for electronic attack and the Australian Wedgetail for airborne early warning and control. Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman would also compete for the EP-X contract.

The article reports on the concerns about the ability of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to fairly conduct competition, which are raised by the U.S. Air Force's $35-billion refueler deal. It is said that the deal is also thwarting Airbus's plans to secure a stateside manufacturing foothold. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends the Air Force to reopen discussions with the offerors, obtain revised proposals, re-evaluate the revised proposals, and make a new source selection decision.

This section offers news briefs related to the aviation industry. The U.S. Air Force has selected the Raytheon APG-63(v)3 active, electronically scanned array (AESA) radar to upgrade its F-15E fleet. Northrop Grumman has installed provisional landing gear on the first X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System demonstrator for the U.S. Navy. The Chinese civil aviation bureau has submitted a plan for a new Beijing airport to the central government.

this article presents information regarding rotary-wing aircraft. Information include designation, popular name, number of crew, maximum height and empty weight of the aircrafts.

Reports on defense companies' preparation to take advantage of business opportunities in the Asian market. Asia's economic recovery after a two-year recession that began in 1997; Countries deemed more likely to be in the market for used and refurbished military aircraft; Political developments in East Asia that have affected the defense market; Monitoring of Australia's modernization plans.

The article discusses the market for combat aircraft in Asian countries as of February 2014, focusing on the influence of economic, political, and technological factors on procurement decisions. Topics include South Korea's choice of the F35A Joint Strike Fighter plane by Lockheed Martin over the F-15SE Silent Eagle by Boeing, the air defense strategy of Japan due to tensions with China, and the expansion of Russian and European contractors in the market.

The article discusses evidence that the aerospace company Northrop Grumman has won a classified contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and airborne electronic attack (AEA) capabilities. Specifications for the aircraft and government reports which might refer to it are examined. Flight testing may be conducted at the Air Force Flight Test Center at Groom Lake, Nevada.

This section offers news briefs in aviation and space technology in the Americas as of January 11, 2010. Boeing renamed its Integrated Defense System (IDS) unit to Boeing Defense, Space and Security following a reorganization. A restructuring was announced by ITT Corp. A contract to modernize 34 AS365K Panther helicopters for its army troop transport and light support was awarded by Brazil to Helibras.

The article reports on slight changes to the source-selection plan for the U.S. Air Force's 35 billion U.S. dollar KC-X program. According to Air Force acquisition czar Ashton Carter, he is sticking by the KC-X draft request for proposals, but is willing to address questions from the contractors. Boeing protested its loss with a 767-based design, which resulted in the termination of the 1.5 billion U.S. dollar contract with Northrop Grumman/EADS.

The article reports on the decision of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates to allow the Air Force to oversee procurement of its own KC-135 replacement aircraft. The Air Force is now required to issue a draft request for proposals that will set the rules for the forthcoming KC-X competition between Boeing and a Northrop Grumman/EADS team for the contract to build 179 new aerial refuelers. Gates has stressed his confidence in the ability of the Air Force to manage the issues related to the KC-X competition.

The article reports on the selection of the Defense & Security Division of EADS as prime contractor for the Saudi Border Guard Development program to secure the kingdom's land, air and sea borders. The cost of the contract is estimated at 10 billion U.S. dollars or more. The five-year program covers system design and installation of 9,000 kilometers of fence, as well as sensors and secure command, control and communications and intelligence systems.

The article focuses on a $1.3-billion contract entered into by Embraer to develop a turbofan-powered KC-390 turbofan-powered military transport for the Brazilian air force. The seven-year contract is expected to boost the manufacturer's defense business and offset the civil aviation cycles. It will also reshape the tactical airlift landscape, producing a direct competitor to Lockheed Martin's increasingly successful C-130J.

The article reports on the growing demand for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The U.S. remains the most active producer of UAV as a result of its military operation in Afghanistan. U.S. companies hold more than 60% of the global market for UAV. Northrop Grumman predicts that its UAV sales will increase. UAV acquisitions by the U.S. Air Force are also cited.

This section offers news briefs related to aeronautics and space technology in the Americas. Total 2008 employment at Boeing edged up to 162,191 at year-end from 160,738 at the end January 2008. DE Technologies was awarded a $6.9-million U.S. Navy contract to continue development of a directed-energy warhead. The Navy has decided where to base its new all-jet Boeing P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft that will replace turboprop-powered Lockheed Martin P-3 patrol aircraft.

This section offers news briefs on the U.S. aerospace industry. An expedited recertification process is being conducted by the U.S. Defense Department for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) satellite system. The U.S. Army Research, Development & Engineering Command Acquisition Center has ordered AN/PVS-14 night-vision monocular devices from ITT Corp. Viking Air has launched its DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 400 technology demonstrator.

The article reports that the U.S. Navy will proceed with work for Northrop Grumman to develop a modified Global Hawk unmanned air vehicle (UAV) after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) denied a protest of the design selection earlier in 2008. The $1.6-billion development contract with Northrop was restarted August 11, 2008, says Captain Rob Dishman, program manager for the Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) program. The Navy plans to buy 68 aircraft for the maritime surveillance mission that will replace the aging P-3 fleet.

The article reports that Exostar has been awarded a design authority contract for an unspecified fee to collaborate with members of the Transglobal Secure Collaboration Program (TSCP) to develop the reference architecture and define the standards to exchange information securely regardless of the software platforms used. TSCP was established by BAE Systems, Boeing, EADS/Airbus, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and Rolls-Royce.

The article reports that EADS faces the prospect of delayed payback on all three of its big three aircraft development programs, following a $2-billion overrun on the A400M, unless it can persuade its customers and partners to help share some of the extra cost. CEO Louis Gallois said that EADS will be looking to convince the seven European countries that have signed up for the A400M, along with other suppliers, to help bail the company out by relieving the contractor of some obligations on the fixed-price development contract.

This article states that Northrop Grumman boasts that its bid for the U.S. Navy's Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) competition is the only one to actively execute end-to-end testing. Central to the company's proposal for the high-profile program is its Multi-Function Active Sensor, a 360-deg. radar capable of identifying and tracking ships. Together with the Boeing P-8A Multi-Mission Aircraft, BAMS will replace the Navy's P-3 surveillance fleet. The BAMS program is worth $2 billion and Boeing and Lockheed Martin are competiting for the project.

This section offers news briefs related to the aerospace and defense industries. Bell-Boeing's Joint Program Office has won a U.S. Navy contract add-on to begin production of an additional USAF CV-22 Osprey special operations tiltrotor aircraft. Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation's S-92 medium-lift helicopter is achieving availability rates of more than 90 percent in commercial service. BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft has undergone lightning strike tests as part of its development program.

The article presents updates on aviation. The U.S. Air Force has been authorized to pursue multi-year agreements for F-22 Lots 7-9 with the Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Ohio. The Congressional Research Service also is weighing in on the F-22, with a report about whether the U.S. should sell the Raptor to Japan. Boeing Commercial Airplanes delivered 114 aircraft in the second quarter of 2007 and 220 since January 1, 2007.

The article offers news briefs in the aeronautics industry in the Americas. Boeing has appointed Randy Tinseth as vice president for marketing. Lockheed Martin has won a contract to start long-lead preparations for modernizing the first production C-5M Super Galaxy airlifter, as part of the U.S. Air Force's reliability enhancement and reengining program. Lockheed Martin has received a contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory.

The article presents news briefs related to the aviation industry around the world. Boeing Co. has launched a major restructuring of its Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) operation, which has annual revenues of more than $30 billion. The Pentagon has named its Top 10 contractors for Fiscal 2005. Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. flew its TR918 Eagle Eye unmanned aircraft system for the first time on January 26, 2006 at its facilities in Fort Worth, Texas. Air France says it is taking a serious look at the Russian Regional Jet, for which a launch order from Aeroflot is pending, to be part of its commuter fleet renewal program. Britain is to deploy its Apache AH1 attack helicopters operationally for the first time as part of a substantial increase in its forces in Afghanistan.

The article reports that as the Pentagon prepared for a November meeting to decide how to proceed with a $32-billion program to deploy its next generation or secure, software-defined radios, many troops in Iraq have their own solution: commercial handheld radios that cost less than $100 a set. On April 25, 2005 the U.S. Defense Department sent Boeing Co. a showcause letter, indicating it was considering canceling Boeing's $856-million contract for the first Joint Tactical Radio System phase, or cluster, designed to provide new radios for Army ground and aerial vehicles.

The article informs that U.S. rotary-wing aircraft manufacturers have been losing ground on their own turf to a determined onslaught by Eurocopter in recent years and this campaign, which previously has been limited to the commercial sector, is now being extended into the military market. Further, Eurocopter is being joined by NH Industries and Agusta Westland, which also are vying for lucrative U.S. military contracts. Each of the prime contractors has replaced its overseas suppliers with U.S. subcontractors in an attempt to portray its contender as more American than the other.

Reports the results of a flight test of the Boeing X-32 fighter planes as part of the competition for the Joint Strike Fighter contract of the United States. Issues on the fidelity of the X-32 tests; Demonstration of risk-reduction concepts; Advantages of achieving commonality and modularity of design.

Focuses on the continuance of on-campus hiring for aerospace industries in the United States. Purpose of on-campus hiring; Provision of military contracts for engineering-talented students in universities; Benefits of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

GE & Rockwell whistle blowers plead for legal reforms to encourage reporting of defense-contract fraud. The reforms drew procedural objections from the Justice Department. John Michael Gravitt, a former GE Aircraft Engine Business Group employee, has filed a suit alleging a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme by the company, and says the reforms will help him press the case. Details of the Senate bill and Gravitt's case background.

The article focuses on the confusion sown by the U.S. Army regarding its priorities under the Future Vertical Lift (FVL) initiative. Topics covered include its issuance of requests for information (RFI) for the medium-category air vehicle, now classifed as Capability Set (CS) 3, and also Capability Set 1, its plan of a materiel development decision in October 2016, and concerns that the service could delay requirement for a medium-class rotorcraft.

The article discusses the growth of Israeli defense contractors' operations in India. Topics covered include Israel's openness to India's technology transfer goals, enhanced cooperation between the two nations regarding counterterrorism, and bilateral programs involving acquisitions by both militaries. Also mentioned are Israeli companies supplying defense and military systems to India including Rafael and Elbit Systems.

The article reports decline in India's share of developing Sukhoi T-50-based fighter in collaboration with Russia due to reduction in Indian air force requirement of aircrafts to 144 from 214. Topics discussed include views of Indian Air Force Chief Arup Raha on delays in negotiations, concerns raised by air force about technical characteristics of the fifth-generation fighter, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision that new defense contracts will require "Made in India" quotient.

The article discusses defense contractor and aircraft manufacturer Boeing Co. wining a low-bid contract to buy into the U.S. Air Force's replacement program for the KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft. The replacement program, the KC-46, has run into numerous difficulties, including defects that were discovered in the plane's wiring, cost overruns, and schedule slippages.

The article discusses the bidding for defense contracts in Poland, focusing on the Polish Defense Ministry's plan to modernize its military between 2013-2022. Other topics include proposals from military technology developers including AirBus, AgustaWestland, and Sikorsky, Polish concerns over the crisis in Ukraine, and requests from Poland including helicopters for troop transport, anti-submarine warfare, and search & rescue missions.

The article offers information on the U.S. Air Force's T-X trainer program to purchase training jet planes and the companies that are competing for the contract for planes. Topics discussed include the aircraft manufacturers Lockheed Martin which is offering the T-50A jet of Korea Aerospace Industries; Boeing, which is working on an aircraft project with Saab, and Northrop Grumman, which is also in the competition for the contract.

The article informs that Canada is on the cusp of awarding a 10-year contract for airborne training services worth as much as 1.5 billion dollar as contract for the Canadian Armed Forces with Montreal-based Discovery Air Defence since 2005 as primary provider of aggressor support for their Boeing CF-18 Hornet squadrons is about to expire.

The article reports that the U.S. Air Force awarded a 39 million contract to defense technology company Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop a laser beam-control system, as a part of its efforts to deploy a high-powered laser on a fighter jet. The Air Force Research Laboratory is working on the Self-Protected High-Energy Laser Demonstrator (SHiELD) project which aims at developing a laser weapon system which can fit on a fighter jet and can be used for destroying incoming missiles or aircraft.

The article presents news briefs from the defense industries as of November 10, 2016. Turkey has agreed to purchase an additional 24 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, following a meeting of Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK). Figures from the U.S. government reveal that the U.S. intelligence budget included 70.7 billion dollars to spend in fiscal 2016. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI) has signed a 15 million dollars contract with an Asian country for a cyber solution.

The article presents news brief related to the defense. The U.S. Navy is working on a plan to launch an MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aircraft system by awarding two contracts to Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin. Airbus Defense and Space, Dassault Aviation SA and Leonardo were awarded contracts for a two-year study to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft. France, Germany, Italy and Spain are pursuing the new genreration of armed unmanned aerial vehicles

The article focuses on a contract between France and India for the sale of 36 Dassault Rafale fighters. The India agreement was signed by French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his Indian counterpart, Manohar Parrikar. The aircraft's weapon configuration will feature the air-to-air and beyond-visual-range Meteor missile.

The article reports that aircraft company Boeing and its partner Saab are ready to compete for the U.S. Air Force's T-X advanced trainer contract. Topics mentioned include the key features of Boeing's T-X aircraft, the reliance of Boeing to Black Diamond advanced technology manufacturing, and the availability of production-ready aircraft from Boeing.

The article offers news briefs related to defense industries as of September 2, 2016. Flight testing of India's first light utility helicopter (LUH) is performed on September 6, 2016 developed by aircraft maker Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) under prototype testing. Involvement of aerospace services firm Airbus Defense and Space of Airbus Group in flying jet transport A400M for air force of Spain. Development of an agreement by Poland for defense contracts with defense contractor Raytheon.

This section offers news briefs on the defense industry for the week ended August 11, 2016. The first prototype of its Multirole Patrol Aircraft (MPA) was flown by Piaggio Aerospace. The U.S. has sent five of its bomber aircraft on long-range missions in the Arctic and the Pacific aimed to build its military presence across the region. Northrop Grumman was awarded by the U.S. Navy of a contract to develop the second Japanese E-2D Advanced Hawkeye airborne early warning surveillance aircraft.

The article discusses the possible changes in the defense contracting business in the U.S. following a data mining effort of the Department of Defense (DoD). Topics covered include DoD acquisition chief Frank Kendall's plan to use the lessons learned from the Better Buying Power initiative and the goal of the program to improve personnel accountability and incentive scheme for good performance.

The article discusses India's procurement of defense hardware, focusing on its reliance on foreign suppliers while it attempts to increase the domestic defense industry as of February 2014. Topics include defense contractors' aims for the 2014 Defexpo defense technology exposition, the impact of India's foreign direct investment (FDI) cap, and transfer-of-technology clauses between India and foreign defense contractors.