Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The three NASA Crew-8 astronauts and their Russian cosmonaut colleague undocked their SpaceX Dragon capsule from the ISS and redocked on May 2.

The Brunei Defense Ministry has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six H145Ms to replace the military’s retired fleet of BO 105s.

Leonardo Helicopters has secured Italian military certification of an upgrade for the AW101 three-engine heavy helicopter.

Reliable Robotics has completed a road map that outlines how KC-135 Stratotankers can be automated.

With Saab facing significant headwinds in large western markets, recent news indicates that the company has set its sights on smaller prospective deals elsewhere in the world.

News in brief.

NORTHROP has B-2 duct assembly contract... AURORA funded for Phase 1B of SPRINT... HAPS market estimated at $86m...

Leonardo DRS beat Wall Street’s expectations in terms of both sales and profitability in the first quarter.

A composite, single piece main wing was among the advances developed by Spirit AeroSystems as part of the UK’s now-canceled Mosquito.

NASA on May 1 selected nine companies for a dozen concept studies aimed at expanding the exploration of Mars.

Launch is planned for 10:34 p.m. EDT on May 6 atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral.

The company plans to issue 20.8 million shares, with an offering price to be posted on May 27, according to a financial filing with the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

A planned fleet of new medium rotorcraft for the UK armed services has been cut in size by a third, industry officials have revealed to lawmakers.

A recent simulator test shows that a U.S. Navy fighter pilot will be able to command an MQ-25 Stingray to start the aerial refueling process.

Vertical Aerospace has announced the appointment of Stuart Simpson as new CEO, replacing founder Stephen Fitzpatrick, who will join the company’s board of directors.

The Royal Aeronautical Society has released a briefing paper that serves as a “pre-mortem approach” to eVTOL safety, attempting to anticipate challenges.

Swiss electric propulsion developer H55 has announced the commercialization and opening of the orderbook for the Bristell B23 Energic.

The V-22 Program Office is starting a new study looking at long-term modernization of the tiltrotor.

The U.S. Air Force expects to field more than 100 Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) under the first phase of the program.

Firefly Aerospace and Northrop Grumman remain on track to debut the new Antares 330 launch vehicle in 2025.

The U.S. SDA awarded Millennium Space Systems a $413 million contract to build a prototype network of fire-control quality sensing satellites.

Whisper Aero is building its aerospace business around a seemingly unlikely product—a leaf blower.

A two-week competitive fly-off for the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle - Expeditionary Logistics program is expected to begin in July.

Earlier this year, NASA announced a rescheduling of the Artemis II and Artemis III missions.

Defense contractor Leidos sees growing opportunities in a geopolitically fraught world.