Aviation Week reports, “U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command is looking to go big with a new autonomy effort, moving from solely focusing on using MQ-9 Reapers as host to its C-130 variants. The command for the past two years has been working on its Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) effort, which would use Reapers to air-launch smaller uncrewed air vehicles (UAV) to allow one service member to operate multiple UAVs at once.”
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Tag: Aviation
South Korea Unveils Loyal Wingman Air Combat Drone
Yahoo News reports, “South Korea today unveiled a new stealthy loyal wingman-type drone, the Low Observable Unmanned Wingman System, or LOWUS, which it plans to operate alongside the locally developed KF-21 Boramae next-generation fighter. The new drone is part of a growing fleet of low-observable drones being developed in South Korea as the country seeks to introduce new uncrewed technologies for a range of missions.”
Full Story (Yahoo News)
Japan’s ANA Orders Company-Record 77 Jets from Boeing, Airabus, and Embraer
Reuters reports, “Japan’s ANA Holdings said on Tuesday it planned to place a company-record order for up to 77 aircraft to replenish its fleet and take advantage of growing demand for travel. The order was its largest ever in terms of aircraft numbers and was worth more than 2.1 trillion yen ($14 billion) at catalogue prices before any discounts, ANA said.”
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Aviation Organizations Favor ATC Enhancements Over Privatization
Aviation International News reports, “Nearly three dozen organizations across the aviation industry sent a letter yesterday to Capitol Hill leaders calling for investments that enhance safety both on the ground and in the air. The groups outlined a National Airspace Safety Initiative, providing steps they collectively believe should remain a high priority for lawmakers, such as ensuring “robust emergency funding for critical air traffic control technology and infrastructure and controller staffing and training.” The letter also stated, “We are aligned on not pursuing privatization of U.S. air traffic control services and believe it would be a distraction from these needed investments.”
Full Story (Aviation International News)
General Atomics Preparing for Massive MQ-9B Sale to Saudi Arabia
Defense News reports, “General Atomics is preparing to offer a package deal to Saudi Arabia to acquire a number of MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, company executives said in an interview at the IDEX arms fair in Abu Dhabi. “We are still in the very early stages but are pursuing this hard as there is a huge interest coming from Saudi regarding the MQ-9B — we expect they have significant requirements [for these drones] that could result in many of tens of thousands of jobs in the U.S. if we were to close that sale,” Dave Alexander, president of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, told Defense News.”
Full Story (Defense News)
FAA Certification Frees Archer Aviation to Assemble eVTOL Pilot Team
Aerotime reports, “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given Archer Aviation the green light to begin assembling a team of pilots to fly its future fleet of electric vehicle takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. Archer Aviation announced on February 18, 2025, that the eVTOL developer had received its Part 141 certificate from the FAA signifying that it is a formally recognized and regulated institution for pilot training.”
Full Story (Aerotime)
Final Gulfstream G650 Rolls Off Production Line Marking End of Era
Flying Magazine reports, “The last Gulfstream G650 has rolled off the production line, marking the end of a “legendary era,” the company said Wednesday. The news marks an end of a “legendary era,” the company said.
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U.S. Air Force Begins Initial Operational Testing and Evaluation of MH-139 Grey Wolf
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force recently launched initial operational testing and evaluation (IOT&E) of the MH-139 Grey Wolf, the helicopter set to replace the service’s aging fleet of Bell UH-1N Hueys that perform nuclear security missions. During the week of January 27, three MH-139 flights operated by the 550th Helicopter Squadron at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, demonstrated its capabilities, the Air Force said.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Aviation Week’s Check 6 Podcast: Beyond The Hype—What’s Happening With Air Taxis
In Aviation Week’s most recent Check 6 Podcast, “Beyond The Hype—What’s Happening With Air Taxis,” Aviation Week Managing Editor Ben Goldstein is joined by Aviation Week editors Graham Warwick and Jens Flottau, as well as Sergio Cecutta, founder and partner at SMG Consulting, to discuss “the progress underway in the fast-growing advanced air mobility industry.”
Listen to Podcast (Aviation Week)
How Boom’s XB-1 Went Supersonic Without the Noise
Aerotime reports, “During the demonstration flight on January 28, 2025, the XB-1 broke the sound barrier three times, but not one of those occasions caused an audible sonic boom. ‘This confirms what we’ve long believed,’ says Blake Scholl, founder and CEO of Boom. ‘Supersonic travel can be affordable, sustainable, and friendly to those onboard and on the ground.’ Now, Boom Supersonic has shared more details on the technology behind its quiet supersonic achievement, which it calls ‘Boomless Cruise.’”
Full Story (Aerotime)