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Number 8 By Article: Aviationweek.com/awst By Issue: Aviationweek.com/awst_current Download and Read O ine: Aviationweek.com/download DEPARTMENTS 5 | President’s 12 | Leading Edge Letter 14 | The Launchpad 6 | Feedback 6 4 | Classifi ed 7 | Who’s Where 65 | Contact Us 8 | First Take 65 | Aerospace 10 | Going Concerns Calendar Testers with the Virginia Tech Mid-Atlantic Aviation Partnership FEATURES carried a Titan X8 multirotor drone equipped with the Echodyne 60 EchoFlight metamaterial electronically scanning array radar, the 16 | Digital Dragon Lady small white panel fi tted below its front, during NASA’s Raavin project. U-2 avionics upgrades underway could open a new chapter for the storied spy plane COMMERCIAL AVIATION SPACE 21 | Boeing is expected to follow Airbus 34 | Boeing to redo uncrewed Starliner 38 | Rotary Refresh production cuts test amid ISS sta shortfall U.S. Army and Navy are modernizing their helicopter 24 | How air travel might look after FAST FIVE fl eets for multidomain ops the COVID-19 crisis 35 | Former astronaut Norm Thagard on how to stay busy in quarantine 50 | Supersonic Evolution AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Aerion unveils performance and 26 | Free route airspace gains AUTONOMY sustainability updates to its AS2 ground in Europe 36 | DARPA automates dogfi ghting to supersonic business jet design 28 | Europe’s ATM modernization build pilot trust in AI in combat 55 | Survival of the Smallest champions try to keep momentum HYPERSONICS Lower travel demand may ROTORCRAFT 48 | Stratolaunch unveils updated provide a second chance for 29 | New technology, data sharing are hypersonic fl ying testbed details small narrowbody airliners boosting o shore helicopter safety AVIONICS 58 | Drones Join the Fight 30 | Speedy adaptations help 60 | Fundamentals still apply in sizing Nations around the world use helicopters fi ght pandemic systems for drones and UAM small UAS to combat COVID-19 TECHNOLOGY VIEWPOINT 32 | Uncertain fate looms for NASA’s 66 | How the coming wave of aircraft DEFENSE two largest research aircraft retirements will reshape aviation 19 | Contractors still working, but long- term budget outlook uncertain ON THE COVER 20 | Airlift initiative propels NATO A new delta wing, revised engines and an improved empennage are hallmarks of a fi nalized AS2 COVID-19 e orts supersonic business jet design that Aerion believes is not only sustainable but also lays a solid foundation for a follow-on family of high-speed commercial and military derivatives. Senior Editor 47 | Leonardo hopes Falco Xplorer can Guy Norris’ report begins on page 50. Aerion concept. plant fl ag in MALE market Aviation Week publishes a digital edition every week. Read it at AviationWeek.com/AWST DIGITAL EXTRAS Access exclusive online features from articles accompanied by this icon. AviationWeek.com/AWST AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/APRIL 20-MAY 3, 2020 3 Editor-In-Chief Joseph C. Anselmo [email protected] Executive Editors Jen DiMascio (Defense and Space) [email protected] Jens Flottau (Commercial Aviation) [email protected] Graham Warwick (Technology) [email protected] Editors Lindsay Bjerregaard, Sean Broderick, Michael Bruno, Bill Carey, Thierry Dubois, William Garvey, Ben Goldstein, Lee Hudson, Irene Klotz, Helen Massy- Beresford, Jefferson Morris, Guy Norris, Tony Osborne, Bradley Perrett, James Pozzi, Adrian Schofield, Lee Ann Shay, Steve Trimble Chief Aircraft Evaluation Editor Fred George Director, Editorial and Online Production Michael O. Lavitt Associate Managing Editor Andrea Hollowell Art Director Lisa Caputo Artists Thomas De Pierro, Rosa Pineda, Colin Throm Copy Editors Jack Freifelder, Arturo Mora, Natalia Pelayo, Andy Savoie Production Editors Audra Avizienis, Theresa Petruso Contributing Photographer Joseph Pries Director, Digital Content Strategy Rupa Haria Content Marketing Manager Rija Tariq Data & Analytics Director, Forecasts and Aerospace Insights Brian Kough Senior Manager, Data Operations/Production Terra Deskins Manager, Military Data Operations Michael Tint Editorial Offices 2121 K Street, NW, Suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20037 Phone: +1 (202) 517-1100 GoGo beyondbeyond thethe newsnews ofof thethe 605 Third Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10158 Phone: +1 (212) 204-4200 dayday withwith AviationAviation WeekWeek Bureau Chiefs Auckland IntelligenceIntelligence Network’sNetwork’s Adrian [email protected] Market Briefi ngs. Beijing Bradley Perrett [email protected] Cape Canaveral These sector-specifi c intelligence Irene Klotz [email protected] Chicago briefi ngs empower busy Lee Ann Shay [email protected] executives to stay-ahead of the Frankfurt market, identify opportunities and Jens Flottau [email protected] Houston drive revenue. Mark Carreau [email protected] London Tony Osborne [email protected] Los Angeles LEARN MORE: Guy Norris [email protected] aviationweek.com/marketbriefi ngs Lyon Thierry Dubois [email protected] Moscow Maxim Pyadushkin [email protected] Paris Helen Massy-Beresford [email protected] Washington Jen DiMascio [email protected] Wichita Molly McMillin [email protected] President, Aviation Week Network Gregory Hamilton Managing Director, Intelligence & Data Services Anne McMahon 4 AVIATION WEEK & SPACE TECHNOLOGY/APRIL 20-MAY 3, 2020 AviationWeek.com/AWST Know. Predict. Connect. Editor-In-Chief Joseph C. Anselmo [email protected] Executive Editors Jen DiMascio (Defense and Space) [email protected] Doing Our Part With Crisis-Focused Content Jens Flottau (Commercial Aviation) [email protected] Graham Warwick (Technology) [email protected] Editors Lindsay Bjerregaard, Sean Broderick, Now that we are all engaged in unprecedented efforts to Michael Bruno, Bill Carey, Thierry Dubois, William Garvey, contain the spread of COVID-19, I’d like to update you on Ben Goldstein, Lee Hudson, Irene Klotz, Helen Massy- Beresford, Jefferson Morris, Guy Norris, Tony Osborne, actions that the Aviation Week Network has taken since my Bradley Perrett, James Pozzi, Adrian Schofield, last letter a few weeks ago. Lee Ann Shay, Steve Trimble Chief Aircraft Evaluation Editor Fred George Our goal from the beginning of this crisis has been to deliver Director, Editorial and Online Production Michael O. Lavitt Associate Managing Editor Andrea Hollowell high-quality, reliable and actionable information. We want to Art Director Lisa Caputo help you maintain situational awareness, see forward and Artists Thomas De Pierro, Rosa Pineda, Colin Throm Copy Editors Jack Freifelder, Arturo Mora, connect with experts and each other to navigate the risks, Natalia Pelayo, Andy Savoie plan for the recovery and return to growth. Production Editors Audra Avizienis, Theresa