* Honeywell Aerospace’s President follows comments made by Boeing 24 hours earlier by also declaring that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) will provide growth opportunities despite cuts to US defense expenditure. Beyond UAS, Mike Madsen also sees potential in retrofit and modernization programs.
* France’s Safran and China’s AVIC sign two memorandums of understanding (MoU) at the Paris Air Show. The first MoU focuses upon the development of new-generation turboshaft engines for heavy helicopters; the other concerns collaboration on avionics equipment for all types of aircraft.
* The Chairman of Israel Aerospace Industries sees opportunities for business development in the United States and Brazil, re-emphasizes the importance of defense ties with Turkey and has mixed feelings about joint ventures.
* Buoyed by recent contract wins in Sweden and Australia, Sikorsky looks to India as the next opportunity for export growth.
* M270 MLRS and M142 HIMARS systems can carry more than just 227mm rockets. With thousands of North Korean artillery tubes pointed at Seoul, South Korea’s M270s are deployed near the border now, carrying ATACMS missiles that can hit Pyongyang.
* United Aircraft Corporation’s chief says that Russia’s Sukhoi PAK-FA fifth generation fighter is showing progress in its test flight program, before branding China’s J-20 as more for effect than substance.
* Carpenter Technology Corporation announces the acquisition of Latrobe Speciality Metals for approximately $338 million. Latrobe manufactures materials for aerospace and defense in the United States and United Kingdom.
* Defense Tech says that European fighters dominated the skies at the first day of the Paris Air Show.
* They also dominate India’s M-MRCA fighter competition, which may become more important. India’s proposed Mirage 2000 upgrade project is reportedly losing support among senior decision-makers.
* The deputy commander of Armenia’s air force tells journalists that the country manufactures and supplies its own unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for the country’s armed forces.
* Qatar’s 1st of 4 stretched C-130J-30 tactical transports takes to the air.
* Danger Room reports on a good few months for the Global Hawk drone.