The Airframer Bulletin

Aerospace manufacturing, week by week — reported by Airframer’s editors

All news ✕ Clear Jump to press releases ↓

Edition of 5 November Published every Thursday

Lead story

Twin Safran turbojets will power UVAD’s Falcon target

Two Safran Power Units turbojets will take UVAD Technologies’ reusable aerial target to supersonic speeds at low and medium altitudes ahead of flight testing in 2027.

5 November

More news – UVAD Falcon, Turbine Engines

Following ground testing in 2026, Falcon will enter its flight test phase in 2027.

During flight trials, the agent autonomously controlled Gripen E in BVR combat scenarios.

Saab flies in-house AI agents on Gripen E

Developed, trained and flown entirely within Saab, the AI agents have autonomously controlled Gripen E in Beyond Visual Range combat scenarios during flight trials.

5 November

More news – Saab JAS 39 Gripen, Aircraft Operations

Carbon titanium fan blades and a power gearbox are central to the UltraFan architecture.

UK Government and Rolls-Royce plan £2.5bn UltraFan program

The 10-year research and technology program would advance more efficient and lower-emission jet engine technologies, including through an engine demonstrator project aimed at the narrowbody market.

5 November

More news – Turbine Engines

Bombardier and BAE pair up for future combat

A strategic MoU will see the two companies identify collaboration across R&D, systems integration, supply chain development and in-service lifecycle management for future combat air programs.

5 November

More news – BAE Tempest, Mitsubishi F-X, Airframer

The site will support $15 billion in Control Systems new programme wins from late 2028.

Honeywell builds $500m robotic factory in Tempe, AZ

The 300,000 sq ft Tempe, Arizona site will open in late 2028, adding internal complex machining capability and around 600 jobs near Honeywell Aerospace’s global headquarters.

5 November

More news – Actuation, Environmental Systems

The Weekly Review — the week’s news, connected

Oshkosh Defense will build Grid Aero's Lifter

Oshkosh Defense will industrialise Grid Aero's Lifter, Protolabs has added 50% Multi Jet Fusion capacity citing aerospace, defence and drone demand, and Dronamics is putting funding in place for Black Swan production.

5 November

More news – Grid Aero Lifter Lite, Dronamics Black Swan, De Havilland Canadair 515, Survey Copter Aliaca

The Airframer Bulletin

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The week’s supply chain stories, new program links and directory additions.

Edition of 29 October

GA-ASI partners with Spirit Defense on FQ-42

Spirit Defense has been selected as fuselage design-build partner for the FQ-42 Vengeance, adding manufacturing capacity as the US Air Force ramps up CCA production.

28 October

More news – General Atomics MQ-20 Avenger, General Atomics MQ-9, General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle, General Atomics Gambit Series, Airframer, Airframe Assemblies

Edition of 22 October

Liebherr-Aerospace completes €40m heat transfer centre near Toulouse

Two years after its cornerstone was laid, the 12,000sq m Campsas facility has become the largest industrial investment in Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS’s history.

22 October

More news – Metal Processing & Heat Treatment