FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: This is it. We are wrapping up our coverage of the 2012 show. The grey and wet skies that blanketed the show for most of the week stand as a metaphor for the defense business. One industry observer, with more than 20 years of air shows under his belt, told me this… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: The sun shone — sometimes. Well, once in a while. But regardless of the weather here crowds turned out to watch the planes, especially the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Its sleek composite frame complemented the subtle bend of the wings as the plane took off and banked. The 787’s pilot was praised by… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: Raytheon, of all the American defense contractors, has made the biggest commitment to air shows in the last three years in hopes of boosting the company’s foreign market share to 30 percent from the current quarter of company business. Every American defense company, watching the debate over sequestration and the long-term prospects… Keep reading →

The sun peeked out for a few minutes Tuesday afternoon here at Farnborough, but it didn’t raise the spirits of defense reporters or the US defense prime contractors much. News was pretty sparse and budgets just ain’t going up. But the best use of an airshow –international marketing — went on apace. Boeing and Bell… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: Headline: Dutch Parliament votes to kill Joint Strike Fighter. Reality: Dutch parliamentarians cast meaningless vote as they position for elections in six months. That sort of sums up much of what we’ve heard about the F-35 here. There are a few headlines but very little that’s really newsworthy. Of course, you can… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: One of the topics dear to the hearts of Beltway bandits, defense lobbyists and — let’s be honest — reporters, is always who will run things after the November elections. Few people wise in the ways of Washington I know are willing to predict what will happen when the people vote. But… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: Aviation Warrior is a tiny $5 million contract with enormous potential, given the legions of American and allied helicopters around the world. Raytheon unveiled the system this morning here. Essentially, it’s an advanced heads-up display on the pilot’s helmet — with colored maps and symbology to help pilots cope with dangers such… Keep reading →

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW: A new study by the consulting company PwC’s aerospace and defense division concludes that U.S. and European primes must look abroad for the mainstay of their profits. As PwC’s Scott Thompson says in this exclusive interview, industry leaders also beleive controlling costs and improving their own management will be key to surviving… Keep reading →

The X3 hybrid helicopter, one of the highlights of the Paris Air Show last year, is in the midst of a month-long tour of the United States. Robbin Laird, defense consultant and owner of the Second Line of Defense website, saw the aircraft do its thing in Texas and he offers this appraisal of the… Keep reading →