Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
Boeing Validates MQ-28 Ghost Bat Radar Cross Section in Anechoic Chamber Testing
Boeing validated the radar cross section (RCS) of its MQ-28 Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft during testing at an anechoic chamber in Brisbane, Queensland. Tests measured detection risk across elevation, azimuth, and roll orientations, providing customers with objective, repeatable survivability data. The results confirm the effectiveness of the MQ-28’s structural design, material choices, and production processes in minimizing radar detectability. Developed in Australia since 2017, the Ghost Bat has completed more than 150 flights, including autonomous teaming missions with E-7A Wedgetail and F/A-18F aircraft and its first overseas flight tests at Point Mugu, California. The RCS validation supports procurement, mission planning, and tactics development for air forces evaluating the platform.
Sources: Boeing Newsroom
Airbus Outlines “Technobricks” Technology Framework for Next-Generation Single-Aisle Aircraft
Airbus has outlined its “Technobricks” framework — modular technology building blocks for its next-generation single-aisle aircraft, targeting delivery in the late 2030s. The four development streams are: CFM RISE open-fan engine testing on an A380 flying testbed from 2029; composite structure programs substituting biomass-derived fibers and thermoplastics for conventional CFRP; foldable wing technology designed to meet ground clearance requirements; and a hydrogen propulsion concept using four 2-megawatt fuel cell systems. Each Technobrick is designed to mature independently before integration into what Airbus expects will be a clean-sheet replacement for the A320/A321neo family.
Sources: Leeham News and Analysis
Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles Earns EASA and ANAC Validation
Textron Aviation received validation from Brazil’s ANAC and EASA for the Cessna Citation M2 Gen2 equipped with Garmin autothrottles, following FAA certification in October 2025. The approvals open customer deliveries in European and Brazilian markets, completing aligned certification across three major regulatory authorities. The Garmin autothrottle system automatically adjusts thrust on the aircraft’s twin Williams International turbofans to maintain target airspeeds, reducing pilot workload during all flight phases. The Citation M2 Gen2 is the world’s most-delivered light-entry jet. With ANAC and EASA validation in place, Textron can support global operators with consistent maintenance and certification pathways across the three largest regulatory jurisdictions.
Sources: Aviation International News
Maeve Aerospace Enters Bankruptcy After Hybrid Open-Rotor Regional Jet Program Fails to Close Funding
Dutch aircraft developer Maeve Aerospace and parent company Green Transition Alliance were declared bankrupt on May 28, 2026, after a €20 million ($23 million) funding round failed to close. The company had been developing the Maeve Jet, a 76–100-seat regional aircraft powered by twin rear-mounted hybrid-electric open-rotor engines, with industry partners including Pratt & Whitney Canada, Collins Aerospace, and MHI RJ Aviation Group. SkyWest Airlines held exclusive launch customer rights secured in September 2025; Delta Air Lines and Japan Airlines had also expressed interest. Insolvency trustee Karlijn van Vliet of Cees Advocaten has been appointed to manage proceedings. The company’s German subsidiary remains under assessment.
Sources: AeroTime
FAA and NTSB Clash Over Mandating ADS-B In Cockpit Technology After DCA Midair Collision
A public rift has emerged between the FAA and NTSB over mandating ADS-B In cockpit traffic displays. The NTSB has called on the FAA to require ADS-B In on aircraft where ADS-B Out is already mandated, following the January 2025 midair collision between PSA Airlines Flight 5342 and a US Army UH-60L Black Hawk near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford declined to impose a mandate without congressional action, citing retrofit costs of up to $50,000 per aircraft. NTSB simulations show an ADS-B In alert would have warned Flight 5342 crews of the approaching Army helicopter in time to avoid the collision.
Sources: AeroTime
Hanwha Aerospace Suspends Daejeon Propulsion Facility After Fatal Rocket Propellant Explosion
South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace suspended operations at its Daejeon propulsion facility on June 1, 2026, after an explosion in a propellant-cleaning room killed five workers and injured two. The blast occurred during residue-removal work on tools used in rocket propellant manufacturing; the ignition source remains under investigation by police, fire authorities, and the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency. The Daejeon site produces the Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket system, L-SAM ballistic missile interceptors, and large propulsion systems, with affected lines generating approximately 1.32 trillion won ($870 million) in annual revenue. Fatal explosions at the same facility occurred in 2018 and 2019.
Sources: AeroTime
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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