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The UK Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is a multi-national effort to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon around 2035. Rather than a single platform, FCAS will consist of a family of systems (FoS) architecture consisting of the Tempest manned fighter teamed with an unmanned aerial system (UAS). Tempest is expected to be low observable (LO), feature advanced power and thermal management capabilities (PTMS) and networked multi-spectral sensors. The UAS complement is being developed under project Mosquito. As of the time of this writing, UK and Italy remain the core Team Tempest partners but Sweden and Japan are in the process of determining their involvement.

The Xian Y-20 Kunpeng is a four-engine transport aircraft designed to bolster the People s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) s strategic airlift capability. While China matures its own WS-20 engine for the project, early production Y-20s are powered by Russian UEC Saturn D-30KP-2 turbofan engines supplying 26,455 lbf. (117.7 kN) of thrust each at takeoff. The Y-20 is similar in configuration and role to the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-21 Boramae (Northern Goshawk) is a multi-role 4.5 generation fighter. The aircraft is powered by two General Electric (GE) F414-400K turbofan engines. The KF-21 was formerly designated as KF-X until April 2021. The Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) plans to order at least 120 aircraft through 2032 at a projected program cost of more than $15 billion. Indonesia joined the program in 2010 and had planned to order 50 aircraft. The country's long-term participation in the program has since become remote as a result of budgetary pressures and more urgent operational requirements.

The F-16 "Fighting Falcon" (known as "Viper" to its operators) is a single-engine multirole fighter. It was initially designed and produced by General Dynamics up until 1993 when the company sold the Fort Worth production line to Lockheed Martin. More than 4,500 F-16s have been produced and more than 2,800 aircraft remain in operation with 25 nations, making the type among the most prolific fighter families in the post-World War II period. Starting with the F-16 Block 30 and 32 in 1987, operators have had a choice of two powerplant options: the Pratt & Whitney (P&W) F100 and the General Electric (GE) F110 turbofan families. Lockheed Martin continues to offer new enhancements and upgrades for the type which is expected to remain in service past 2040.

TF-X is a prospective fifth-generation fighter under development for the Turkish air force. The program is led by state-owned Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) with the cooperation of BAE Systems. In Turkish, the program is known as the Milli Muharip U ak (MMU) the National Combat Aircraft. Turkish sources also infrequently refer to the program as F-X, but this document will exclusively use TF-X to avoid confusion with other F-X programs such as F/A-XX, KF-X and Japan s F-X.

The Boeing KC-46A Pegasus is a U.S. air-refueling tanker based on the commercial Boeing 767 airliner. The aircraft will replace the KC-10 and partially replace the KC-135 in U.S. service. A total of 179 aircraft are on order for a total program cost of at least $44 billion with $34.9 billion in procurement and $6 billion in research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) funds. As of the time of this writing, the KC-46 has two foreign military sales (FMS) customers: Japan and Israel. As of the time of this writing, 52 KC-46As have been delivered to the U.S. Air Force and a single example has been delivered to Japan.

The J-20 is a fifth-generation, twin-engine fighter designed by Chengdu. Early production aircraft are powered by Russian supplied AL-31FN Series 3 engines. Subsequent production configuration J-20As are powered by the AL-31 or derivatives of the WS-10 depending upon the production batch. Future aircraft may be powered by the WS-15. Much of the existing Western literature describes the aircraft as a low observable (LO) interceptor, but domestic sources universally describe the aircraft as China s premier air superiority fighter. As of early 2022, approximately 60-70 J-20s are likely in operation with the PLAAF or are undergoing testing with Chengdu.

The Tiger (formerly EC665) is an attack helicopter built by Airbus and is powered by a pair of Turbomeca Rolls-Royce MTR390 engines. Each nation uses the Tiger in slightly different roles such as force protection and armed reconnaissance, which has led to multiple divergent aircraft configurations across France, Germany, Spain and Australia. As of the time of this writing, 161 Tigers are in operational service of the more than 180 helicopters delivered.

The F-35 Lightning II / Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a U.S. fifth-generation, single engine, multirole fighter developed in partnership with eight nations and produced by Lockheed Martin. It is designed in three variants and is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney F135 turbofan engine. Each variant features a different derivative of the F135 engine. As of December 2021, more than 730 F-35s have been delivered to the U.S., international JSF partners and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Production is expected to continue into the 2040s.

The Airbus A400M Atlas is a medium lift military cargo aircraft powered by four Europrop International (EPI) TP400-D6 engines. Airbus markets the A400M as a multi-role tanker-transport capable of carrying more than the Lockheed Martin C-130J yet still being able to operate from austere runways as a tactical transport. The aircraft can transport loads up to 37 tons or 81,571 lbs. The Atlas also be quickly reconfigured to act as an aerial refueling aircraft with the addition of two hose and drogue under-wing refueling pods as well as a centerline hose and drum unit. As of November 2021, a total of 103 aircraft were in service across Europe and Asia.

The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper is a Group 5 UAV originally designed for ISR-Strike missions. The type has since been employed in expanded mission sets such as maritime surveillance, ground moving target indication (GMTI), signals intelligence (SIGINT), anti-submarine warfare, etc. The Reaper is powered by a single Honeywell TPE-331-10 turboprop engine with either a three or four-bladed propeller depending upon the configuration. As of the time of this writing, more than 360 MQ-9s are in operational service worldwide. The USAF currently expects to replace the platform starting in the early 2030s. ction for additional details).

The Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Next Fighter ( ), abbreviated as F-X in English, is a prospective fighter which will be developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin (LM). The program was originally referred to as the Future Fighter ( ). The aircraft is expected to feature a large, very low observable airframe optimized for endurance and beyond-visual-range (BVR) air-to-air engagements. It will feature a suite of wide field of regard sensors, advanced power and thermal management capabilities and manned-unmanned teaming. The first F-X is planned to enter operational service in 2035. Approximately 90 fighters will be procured for the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) at a total program cost of at least 5 trillion ($45 billion).

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The Yakovlev Yak 130 is a Russian advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft. It is powered by two Ivchenko-Progress AI-222-25 turbofan engines supplying 5,500 lbf. (2,500 kgf) of thrust each.

The Sikorsky H-60 Black Hawk is a medium weight military transport helicopter in service with the U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard, and with dozens of military operators in Europe, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Africa. More than 4,000 Black Hawks have been built since 1974. U.S. and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Black Hawks are designated as H-60s with subvariants, such as the UH-60, MH-60, HH-60, etc., reflecting the primary mission the Black Hawk variant. Generally, Black Hawks sold via Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) are referred to as S-70s though Sikorsky does have internal designations for FMS Black Hawks as well. 

The Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) KF-X is a multi-role 4.5 generation fighter. The KF-X is powered by two General Electric (GE) F414-400K turbofan engines. Image shows final C-109 design with caret inlets, boundary layer diverter and canted twin tails. Munitions stored conformally in the Block I configuration with provisions for an internal weapons bay in the subsequent Block II configuration. Credit: KAI

NASA has promoted Robert Pearce to associate administrator for the Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. He was acting associate administrator and has held a number of strategic executive and program management positions at NASA. Pearce succeeds Jaiwon Shin, who has retired.

Wizz Air has hired Jourik Hooghe as executive vice president/chief financial officer. Hooghe had been with the Adecco Group. Wizz Air also promoted Iain Wetherall to chief investment officer, a new position; Wetherall was chief financial officer.

The Aerospace Corp. has promoted Todd Nygren to senior vice president of the engineering and technology group, which comprises 1,500 engineers and scientists. Nygren has held multiple leadership positions at the company including general manager and chief engineer for addressing emerging national security threats.

Northrop Grumman has promoted Lesley Kalan to corporate vice president and chief strategy and development officer. Kalan was vice president of government relations since Jan. 1, 2018, and vice president of legislative affairs since 2010.

The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) has named Kori Schake a foreign and defense policy studies director and resident scholar. She succeeds Danielle Pletka, who remains an AEI senior fellow focused on the Middle East and U.S. foreign policy. Schake was deputy director general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London.

Airbus has created a new communications and corporate affairs office whose leadership comprises: Maggie Bergsma, head of communications for commercial aircraft; Yves Barille, head of communications for helicopters; Dirk Erat, head of communications for defense and space; and Philipp Encz, head of the company s creative content teams and internal and external communications. Guillaume Steuer has been appointed head of external communications, reporting to Encz.

Safe Flight Instrument Corp., a lift--instrumentation and control-systems maker, has promoted Maria Ferrara to vice president of manufacturing, a new position, from director of quality assurance, during which she oversaw Safe Flight s AS9100 certification. Ferrara was BAE Systems lead quality assurance engineer.

Virgin Galactic has hired Michelle Kley as general counsel, secretary and executive vice president of legal. Kley was senior vice president, chief legal/compliance officer and secretary at Maxar Technologies Inc.

Triumph Group has promoted Thomas A. Quigley III to vice president of investor relations and controller, from corporate officer and controller. He succeeds Michael Pici, who has left.

Airlines for America has named Riva Khoshaba Parker vice president of labor and employment/litigation. Parker had worked at the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army and helped create the Army s first nationwide labor litigation team.

Ulla Lettijeff has been appointed director of Helsinki Airport and a member of Finavia s executive group, effective Feb. 6. Lettijeff has held several managerial positions at Fiskars Group and Nokia.

The DuPage Airport Authority of West Chicago, Illinois, has named Mark Doles executive director. He succeeds David Bird, who has retired. Doles was interim executive director.

RTCA Inc. has made three board appointments: Nathan Boelkins, Michael Ingram and Lorne Cass. Boelkins heads Collins Aerospace commercial avionics; Ingram is vice president/general manager of Honeywell cockpit systems, and Cass is American Airlines operations/industry affairs vice president.

D. Scott Davis has been named independent lead director of the Honeywell board. He succeeds Enesa President/CEO Chico Pardo, who was lead director in January 2016-20.

The Aerospace Corp. has elected three new board members: former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff U.S. Air Force Gen. (ret.) Paul J. Selva; former Defense Department official Kathleen H. Hicks; and Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor and former NASA official Dava J. Newman.

Platinum Tools has hired Scott Lipsett as marketing manager, succeeding Jason Chesla, who recently was named national accounts manager. Lipsett was brand manager at Reactor Watch. Before joining Platinum Tools as marketing manager in 2016, Chesla was a sales and marketing consultant at LiveWire Innovation.

Lufthansa has added a board-level position for customer and corporate responsibility, led by Brussels Airlines CEO Christina Foerster. It has also appointed Thorsten Dirks to head the new IT, digital and innovation department and Harry Hohmeister to lead the commercial passenger airlines division. Swiss International Airlines Chief Finanacial Officer Michael Niggemann has joined the board for three years and taken over management of human resources and legal affiars.

FlightSafety International has promoted Matthew De Foe to manager of the Paris Le Bourget learning center. He succeeds Yannick Kerriou, who has left. De Foe was program manager, training director and assistant manager at Tucson, Arizona, and West Palm Beach, Florida.

Hong Kong-based Kadoorie subsidiary Metrojet Ltd. has hired Capt. Kobus Swart as director of flight operations. A former air force pilot, Kobus was chief operating officer and director of operations at TAG Aviation Asia and Hongkong Jet.

HONORS AND ELECTIONS

Makenzie Lystrup vice president/general manager of civil space at Ball Aerospace, has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in recognition of her distinguished record in the fields of planetary science and infrared astronomy, science policy and advocacy, and aerospace industry leadership.

Brandon (Randy) R. Belote III, a former Northrop Grumman Corp. vice president of strategic communications, has been selected to receive the 2019 Lauren Lyman award for outstanding achievement in aerospace communications.