Tag: Aviation

Belgium’s First MQ-9B SkyGuardian Performs Maiden Flight

Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) and the Belgian Ministry of Defence have marked a significant milestone with the successful first flight of Belgium’s new MQ-9B SkyGuardian® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). This aircraft is the first of four MQ-9Bs ordered by Belgium and took to the skies on February 20, 2025, from GA-ASI’s Desert Horizon Flight Operations Facility in El Mirage, California.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)

Korean Air, Boeing Finally Sign Off on Order for 50 New Jets

Aerotime reports that Korean Air and Boeing have finally signed off on a long-anticipated order for up to 50 brand-new widebody jets worth $24.9 billion. “The finalized order, announced on March 26, 2025, includes 20 Boeing 777-9s and 20 787-10s, with options for 10 additional 787 Dreamliners in the future.”
Full Story (Aerotime)

Boeing to Test MQ-28 Ghost Bat Missile in Late 2025 or Early 2026

Aviation Week reports, “Boeing plans to fire an air-to-air missile from its MQ-28 Ghost Bat uncrewed combat aircraft demonstrator late this year or early next, as part of an effort to accelerate the system’s development, says Steve Parker, acting head of BoeingDefense, Space and Security. Boeing has now flown 102 missions with the system it has designed and built in Australia. The system ‘is really maturing,’ Parker told reporters here at the Avalon Australian International Airshow.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Airbus Expects Next Jet Will Be ‘Evolutionary Not Revolutionary’

Reuters reports, “Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said on Tuesday the planemaker’s next single-aisle jet would be ‘evolutionary rather than revolutionary’, but that this could include an open-rotor engine such as one being studied by supplier CFM. The head of the world’s largest planemaker was speaking at the start of an event aimed at focusing attention on ongoing innovation following the company’s decision last month to delay development of a radical hydrogen-powered regional aircraft.”
Full Story (Reuters)

Boeing Awarded Air Force’s Next-Gen Fighter Contract

Defense One reports, “Boeing will develop and build a sixth-generation fighter jet for the Air Force, President Donald Trump announced Friday, ending months of deliberation about whether to proceed with the effort and how much it might cost.  ‘After a rigorous and thorough competition between some of America’s top aerospace companies, the Air Force is going to be awarding the contract for the Next Generation Air Dominance platform to Boeing,’ Trump said. Boeing beat out Lockheed Martin, its only rival for the NGAD contract after Northrop Grumman dropped out last year.”
Full Story (Defense One)

Saab to Install AI on Gripen E Aircraft to Assist in BVR Combat

Aviation Week reports, “Saab is gearing up to install a new artificial intelligence (AI) aid on its Gripen E combat aircraft that will assist pilots in beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air combat. The AI agent, developed with European AI defense company Helsing, has been trained on the equivalent of 1.2 million flight hr. of BVR training, Peter Nilsson, Saab’s head of advanced programs, told the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Combat Air Power Conference here March 20.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)

Israeli and U.S. Companies Collaborating on Military Hydrogen-Cell Drones

Defense One reports “As drones continue to reshape the nature of warfare, the limitations on range and power are becoming the difference between success and defeat on the battlefield. Now, an Israel-based drone company and U.S. manufacturing company Mach Industries are working together to co-produce hydrogen fuel cell powered drones, which offer big advantages in range but have previously faced challenges that have kept them from the battlefield.”
Full Story (Defense One)

Gray Eagle UAS Performs First Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Flights

Unmanned Systems Technology reports, “General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) has conducted its first flight test series of the Gray Eagle® Extended Range (GE-ER) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) using a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (PLEO) satellite constellation for aircraft communications. Contracted by the U.S. Army, the flight tests began in January 2025 and mark a significant milestone, reportedly making GE-ER the first long-endurance U.S. Army aircraft to be controlled over the new satellite service. Gray Eagle is also the only U.S. Army UAS capable of leveraging Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and PLEO constellations for secure, inflight adaptable and resilient communication, navigation and data management.”
Full Story (Unmanned Systems Technology)