A General Atomics business unit has completed the fourth low-speed wind tunnel test of a carrier-based refueling tanker drone being developed for the U.S. Navy. The San Diego-based General Atomics Aeronautics Systems Inc. said Tuesday its aeronautical systems division assessed and verified the MQ-25 Stingray tanker’s high-lift system and spoiler-based direct lift control, which aligned with […] More

General Atomics‘ aeronautical systems business has finished performance tests on an arresting hook designed for an unmanned aerial refueling aircraft offering to the U.S. Navy. The company said Monday General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. developed and tested the Hold Down Damper technology in partnership with GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business. The team evaluated the HDD hook’s damping, spring […] More

A General Atomics business unit has demonstrated aircraft carrier-based deck taxi capability and launch-and-recovery operations for its proposed offering for the U.S. Navy’s MQ-25 carrier-based unmanned aerial refueling tanker program. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. used a Predator C Avenger drone as a substitute for its MQ-25 offering and director wands that work to control taxi […] More

Textron‘s Bell Helicopter subsidiary has conducted the first flight of a next-generation tiltrotor aircraft built to help U.S. military clients meet requirements for a vertical lift platform. Textron said Monday the V-280 Valor aircraft was designed to help users conduct various vertical lift missions previously infeasible using one aircraft as well as offer updated speed […] More

QinetiQ has opened a center of excellence at the company’s headquarters in  Farnborough, England, to facilitate development and test of high-energy lasers. The Dragonworks CoE is built to serve as a testing platform for military and commercial laser technology platforms, the company said Friday. The facility includes a clean-room wherein personnel can work on sensitive optical equipment and offers access […] More

BAE Systems hosted an event at a company facility in Nashua, New Hampshire, last week to mark a partnership between BAE and Northrop Grumman to help build the U.S. Air Force‘s B-21 Raider bomber aircraft, Union Leader reported Wednesday. The event was attended by Air Force Maj. Gen. Thomas Bussiere, Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and executives from the two defense contractors. […] More

Textron‘s Bell Helicopter subsidiary has completed the prototype build of a tiltrotor aircraft platform designed for the Joint Multi-Role Technology Demonstrator program under the U.S. Army‘s Future Vertical Lift initiative. Bell said Wednesday it aims to demonstrate its V-280 Valor offering this fall through a maiden flight test. Lockheed Martin built V-280’s cockpit, avionics, distributed aperture system […] More

The U.S. Air Force has assigned the name B-21 Raider to the long range strike bomber aircraft. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James announced Monday the plane’s official name at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, the service branch said Monday. James and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Dave Goldfein […] More

Britain-based industrial team UK Dragonfire will conduct the Laser Directed Energy Weapons Capability Demonstrator under a potential $39.2 million deal with the U.K.’s ministry of defense. MBDA said Friday the group will look to mature the country’s high energy laser weapon systems capacity as well as technologies for a high energy defensive laser weapon system that can engage with targets […] More

A General Atomics subsidiary has partnered with Fokker Technologies, a division of GKN Aerospace, to develop landing gear technology for the Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft system. Netherlands-based Fokker and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. have worked together to offer Predator B to the Dutch armed forces and aim to integrate Fokker’s technology onto the UAV as the companies anticipate a potential drone procurement by […] More

Northrop Grumman has requested in-flight opening doors for the F-35 fighter jet from Fokker Technologies under a $106.8 million deal. GKN Aerospace‘s Fokker division will produce the opening doors for batches 10 and 11 of the F-35 aircraft under the agreement signed at the NIDV symposium in the Netherlands, Fokker said Thursday. Brian Chappel, vice president and F-35 […] More

Neil Albert serves as vice chairman of MCR‘s board of directors where he oversees strategic growth, business development, community outreach and a number of other company functions. The 26-year company veteran is the former president and CEO and has served in many leadership roles at the McLean,Va.- based firm including VP and director. Albert caught […] More