WASHINGTON Hoping to revitalize its ability to rescue a downed pilot, the U.S. Air Force plans to field a new radio, increase the inventory of search-and-rescue aircraft, establish a new combat search-and-rescue unit and initiate development of a new helicopter, with Sikorsky’s S-92 the preferred candidate.

WASHINGTON Four private companies picked by NASA’s Space Launch Initiative (SLI) are studying whether an array of spinoff technologies can be cobbled into a commercial vehicle that would ease the projected shortfall in cargo delivered to the International Space Station by the shuttle.

NEW DELHI LONDON BAE Systems is close to signing off on two key deals for its Hawk jet trainer—one would bring to an end India’s epic procurement saga; the other would see a new model of Hawk for the British Royal Air Force. After dragging on for the better part of 18 years, India has effectively concluded negotiations with BAE Systems to purchase 66 Hawk trainers for an estimated $1.5 billion to replace its trainer fleet of Kirans and Iskras.