Source: Airbus The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has ordered an additional Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), increasing the Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) to 10 aircraft. This announcement follows Belgium’s decision to increase its number of hours in the programme with an additional 1,100 flight hours per year. The Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Fleet (MMF) provides strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling and medical evacuation capabilities to its six participating nations: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Norway. These Nations signed the Memorandum of Understanding that enables them to share costs proportionally according to the national commitment of flight hours per year. “Since the arrival of the first aircraft in 2020 and especially since the beginning [...]

Source: Boeing Boeing is committing $250,000 to assist with disaster recovery and relief efforts in Mississippi and Alabama following the deadly tornadoes that affected communities across the region. "Our hearts go out to all those impacted by the recent tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama," said Ziad Ojakli, executive vice president of Government Operations. "We're partnering closely with organizations that can quickly provide support to those in need during this challenging time, and we remain committed to these communities as they recover in the days ahead." Funding from the Boeing Charitable Trust will support the following organizations: $100,000 for American Red Cross to maintain shelters for people seeking refuge and provide comfort kits, clean-up kits, nourishing meals, information and other resources. $100,000 for Feeding America to assist food distribution efforts [...]

Source: ATR Solid backlog, in-service fleet close to pre-Covid numbers & plan to ramp up production After three difficult years due to Covid and a complex economic and geopolitical environment, ATR is set for growth in 2023. In the context of industry-wide supply chain issues, ATR delivered 25 new and 11 pre-owned aircraft in 2022. Nonetheless the global ATR in-service fleet is now close to pre-Covid numbers with 1,200 aircraft flying, and the current backlog stands at a solid 160 aircraft. Last year saw 150 new routes created with ATR aircraft. As part of its commitment to decarbonisation, ATR performed the first 100% Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) flight in history with a commercial aircraft, and its brand new PW127XT engine [...]

Source: Airbus Airbus Defence and Space and the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Airbus UpNext, have achieved in-flight autonomous guidance and control of a drone using an A310 MRTT. In a first step towards Autonomous Formation Flight and Autonomous Air-to-Air refuelling (A4R), the technologies demonstrate a significant breakthrough for future aerial operations involving manned and unmanned assets. These cutting-edge, ‘Made in Europe’ solutions could reduce crew fatigue and the potential for human error, as well as minimising crew-training costs and providing more effective operations. “The success of this first flight-test campaign paves the way for developing autonomous and unmanned air-to-air refuelling technologies,” said Jean Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space. “Even though we are at an [...]

Source: Boeing Boeing helps bring a group of "Rosies" to Washington, D.C., for a special celebration An Honor Flight, similar to those for military veterans, brought a group of eleven “Rosie the Riveters” to the nation’s capital for a day of celebration on March 27. The flight was sponsored, in part, by Boeing and organized by the Eastern Michigan WOW Chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association and Honor Flight Network’s Michigan-based hub, Talons Out Honor Flight. The group of eleven Rosies all wore the signature red polka-dot clothing that has become synonymous with Rosie the Riveter. (Boeing photo)"Rosies," symbolized by the iconic “We can do it!” image, answered the call of duty during World War II, working in [...]

Source: Boeing The Canadian Government today announced that it has submitted a Letter of Request through the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales program, regarding the acquisition of up to 16 Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft. “The P-8A is a proven multi-mission capability that meets all requirements and will protect Canada’s oceans and its borders for future generations. We look forward to working with the U.S. and Canadian governments to finalize this sale under the Foreign Military Sales process. Together with our Canadian industry partners ― CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and StandardAero  ― we are committed to delivering 100% Industrial and Technological Benefits that will significantly grow Canada’s aerospace and defense industry.”

Source: Airbus To contribute nearly €1.7 billion to Spanish GDP and to create almost 700 jobs in Spain per year Main beneficiaries in the Community of Madrid, Basque Country, Castilla-La Mancha and Andalusia The Eurofighter programme will cumulatively secure 26,000 jobs in Spain until 2060, according to a recent study by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) on the economic impact of the ‘Halcon’ and ‘Quadriga’ contracts for the country. The study, which was funded by Airbus, together with the technical support of ITP Aero, and performed independently by PWC over a period of six months until March 2023, estimates that, during its life cycle, the manufacturing phase (2020-2030) and maintenance phase (2023-2060) of the Halcon and Quadriga programmes  will create on average 657 jobs [...]

Source: Boeing ViaSat-3 Americas is the first of three satellites to provide high-quality, affordable connectivity to global users Boeing integrated Viasat's ultra-high-capacity payload to its custom-designed 702MP+ platform, harnessing the most power ever on a communications satellite Boeing delivered the most powerful satellite platform the company has built to date, the 702MP+, a custom-designed spacecraft for network provider Viasat [NASDAQ: VSAT]. "Working with Boeing, we're very excited to complete the ViaSat-3 Americas and bring us one step closer to providing higher speeds, more bandwidth, and greater value to our customers on a global scale whether they be on land, on the sea, or in the air," said Dave Ryan, president Space & Commercial Networks, Viasat. "The innovation of this satellite [...]