January 2, 2012

January 2, 2012

View Full Issue Table of Contents
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Getting Personal

THE INSIDE TRACK

Private Spying

By MICHAEL MECHAM

SPACE

CRISIS and CONFIDENCE

By AMY SVITAK

View Full Issue
More Features
23
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Getting Personal

There is no shortage of influential people in aerospace/defense when you take into account all the significant players in both the public and private sectors. Some are largerthan-life figures who have the power literally to change the course of events globally—not to mention the fortunes of companies around the world, directly or indirectly.
1819
THE INSIDE TRACK

Private Spying

Butler National works through bizjet downturn with specialized mods

By MICHAEL MECHAM

2425
SPACE

CRISIS and CONFIDENCE

China poised to expand into European satcom market as Russia’s space program stumbles

By AMY SVITAK

2627
DEFENSE

Catalyst for Change

The F-35 is pushing Japan to accept international partners in military production

By BRADLEY PERRETT,AMY BUTLER

2829
DEFENSE

New Details

RQ-170 payload lost in Iran is identified

By DAVID FULGHUM,BILL SWEETMAN

2829
DEFENCE

Lights Out

Boeing’s grip on missile defense erodes as Pentagon shelves Airborne Laser

By AMY BUTLER

3031
DEFENCE

LASt Chance

Spurned aircraft builder goes to court seeking reinstatement in trainer competition

By JOSEPH C. ANSELMO,MICHAEL BRUNO,ROBERT WALL

3233
DEFENSE

Hands-Free Delivery

In a remote corner of a distant war, unmanned logistics comes to life

By PAUL MCLEARY

3233
SPACE SCIENCE

Fraternal Twins

Right size, wrong place sums up Kepler’s closest Earth-like finds

By MICHAEL MECHAM

3435
AEROSPACE BUSINESS

Proving Ground

Supplier concerns have Airbus hold off, for now, on further production increases

By ROBERT WALL

December 192011 January 92012