Gulfstream Aerospace’s order backlog in the first quarter (Q1) grew for the fifth consecutive quarter from continued strong demand for its products—it’s highest backlog in more than a decade, company officials said April 27.
Military demand for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul will grow significantly over the next decade, but several factors—including galloping inflation, a scarcity of workers and shortages of key materials—are putting pressure on the supply chain, said speakers here at Aviation Week’s Military Aviation Logistics and Maintenance Symposium on April 27.
Oneworld carrier Finnair plans to outsource seven aircraft, sell another four plus other surplus aircraft, start accessing a €400 million ($427 million) government loan, and roll out a further €60 million in cost savings—all in an effort to mitigate the ongoing impact of the Ukraine-Russia war.
Japan’s major carriers are either increasing or readjusting their flights to Europe as they look for the most efficient ways to avoid Russian airspace.
Russian carriers will not be allowed to add any new air services to the U.S., or codeshare with U.S. carriers, after the U.S. FAA downgraded Russia’s air safety rating to Category 2.
Poland looks set to choose between two U.S.-produced rotorcraft to fulfill its long-running attack helicopter requirement. Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak confirmed on April 21 that Warsaw is mulling offers for two attack helicopters: one from Bell, likely for the AH-1Z Viper, and a second from Boeing for the AH-64 Apache.
The Pentagon is expediting the delivery of a previously undisclosed small uncrewed aircraft system to Ukraine, saying the capabilities of the kamikaze drone are uniquely suited for the upcoming fight against Russia in the country’s east.
Planet Labs has unveiled its next constellation of 32 Earth observation satellites, the Pelican fleet, which will provide images with up to 30 cm of resolution and improved revisit rates.
Russia successfully tested the silo-based RS-28 Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile on April 20, clearing the way for a delayed fielding to the 62nd Missile Division Uzhur later this year.
The Ukrainian military has more combat aircraft operating than weeks ago because of a surge of spare parts from other nations that operate the same Soviet-era aircraft, the Pentagon said.
While U.S., European Union and UK sanctions mean that direct flights to and from Russia are off the table for carriers in those markets, for airlines based elsewhere, the picture is less clear cut.
Ukraine has added “heavy drones” made by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. to an urgent shopping list of advanced weapons to fight against Russian invaders.
The status of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship is unclear after Ukrainian forces claimed to have severely damaged the warship with shore-based anti-ship missiles.
Speaking alongside Sweden’s Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson, in Stockholm on April 13, Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin told journalists that “everything had changed after Russia’s invasion [of Ukraine].”
The U.S. Air Force faces a fight on Capitol Hill as it looks to get rid of dozens more of its aircraft while readily acknowledging that comes with instant risk.
The U.S. military is sending 11 more Mi-17 helicopters to Ukraine as part of a dramatic increase in military equipment for the country as it prepares for another phase of its fight against Russia.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the European Space Agency’s governing council announced April 13 that it is ending cooperation with Russian space agency Roscosmos on three future Moon missions—Luna 25, 26 and 27.
The European Commission (EC) has added 21 Russian airlines to the list of airlines banned from operating or subject to operational restrictions within the EU, saying moves to force the re-registration of foreign-owned aircraft pose “an immediate safety threat.”
