Samwise Aeronautical Mechanics
Sunday, May 31, 2026
ZeroAvia Founder Val Miftakhov Steps Down as CEO After 50% Workforce Cut
Val Miftakhov, founder and chief executive of hydrogen aviation startup ZeroAvia, stepped down effective May 26, 2026, citing plans to pursue new opportunities. Miftakhov, who founded the company in 2017, will remain on ZeroAvia’s board of directors. Executive Chair Christine Ourmieres-Widener — a former CEO of flybe, TAP Air Portugal, and Groupe Dubreuil — is leading operations while a permanent replacement is sought. The transition follows significant turbulence: ZeroAvia cut roughly 50% of its workforce in early 2026 and has been restructuring its ZA600 hydrogen fuel cell powertrain certification roadmap following funding constraints affecting its U.S. and U.K. operations.
Sources: FlightGlobal
Hanwha Aerospace Advances European Manufacturing Push With Germany, UK Arms Talks
South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace is in active talks with Germany and the United Kingdom for major arms supply agreements, capitalizing on surging European defense demand. The manufacturer recently established a Berlin subsidiary and is reviewing plans for an advanced weapons manufacturing facility in eastern Germany capable of producing its Chunmoo multiple-launch rocket system. Hanwha secured an approximately 1.3 trillion won ($862 million) Chunmoo supply deal with Norway in February. The European push mirrors a parallel U.S. production expansion as Hanwha works to increase output across munitions, missiles, and weapons systems amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Sources: Bloomberg
Hanwha Aerospace Launches 4,500-Pound Turbofan Program for South Korea’s Combat Drone Fleet
Hanwha Aerospace has launched a joint program with the Korea AeroSpace Administration to develop a 4,500-pound-thrust-class high-bypass turbofan engine for collaborative combat aircraft and unmanned platforms. Targeted for completion by 2029, the engine will be South Korea’s first domestically developed powerplant to integrate a starter-generator directly on the engine shaft, supplying up to 100 kilowatts of electrical power for onboard sensors, radar, and electronic warfare systems. The high-bypass architecture prioritizes fuel efficiency and endurance over peak thrust. The program is part of a broader 750 billion won ($498 million) investment in indigenous UAV propulsion and manufacturing infrastructure.
Sources: Janes, FlightGlobal
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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