The Defense Department has announced a $732 million contract with General Dynamics for sustainment of a military satellite communications ground system called the Mobile User Objective System.

The United Arab Emirates has received State Department approval for the purchase of 10 Boeing CH-47F Chinook helicopters valued at $830.3 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has approved Foreign Military Financing for the transaction.

Northrop Grumman will supply tactical data link systems to the Australian Defense Force Tactical Data Link Authority. "This is critical as forces seek to maximize the long-term value of existing platforms and systems by making certain that they can interoperate with emergent fifth-generation capabilities," the company said.

NASA recently presented its X-57 "Maxwell" electric airplane to the public about a year before it will be ready for a test flight at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The experimental aircraft, which could eventually be utilized as an air taxi or small commuter airplane, is being produced with the goal of developing technology standards that private companies would adhere to for government certification.

The acknowledgement of space assets as critical infrastructure has enabled the establishment of the Space Information Sharing and Analysis Center to help ward off cyberthreats. "We think this is a great opportunity for us to be able to bring some of that expertise in -- in how you protect data and how you move data around and the threats that go along with that -- to the ISAC," said Chris Bogdan, who leads Booz Allen Hamilton's aerospace unit.

Virgin Galactic's successful public offering marks a milestone for the space tourism industry, and the company has 600 waiting for their trip to the upper atmosphere with the company. NASA is offering space tourists access to the International Space Station once they secure passage aboard a Boeing or SpaceX spacecraft.

Commercial satellite communications providers will be rated by the US Air Force for their cybersecurity starting next year. Providers will be required to have a third-party audit to assess compliance with NIST 800-53 cybersecurity standards.

United Airlines was honored with an "Airports Going Green" award for its "Flight for the Planet," a "revolutionary" flight between Chicago and Los Angeles that demonstrated how airlines can become greener. The flight was powered with a biofuel mix, the airline purchased carbon credits to offset its emissions, and meals were served with recyclable utensils.

Two American Airlines executives, Elise Eberwein, executive vice president of people and global engagement, and Alison Taylor, senior vice president of global sales and distribution, were recognized among the Top 40 Women in Travel by the Global Business Travel Association earlier this month. "Elise and Alison are incredibly deserving of the recognition of our industry peers. They contribute to American in so many ways to make us better, both from a business and culture perspective. We couldn't agree more that they are the best in the business, and we are thrilled to celebrate their notable achievements," American Airlines President Robert Isom says.

JetBlue's marketing team took home the Alliance Award at the 2019 Constellation Awards at Adweek's 2019 Brandweek summit for a parody inflight safety video starring drag queens that was made in partnership with the TV series "RuPaul's Drag Race." To publicize its prominence in the New York-Los Angeles flight market, the airline delivered New York pizza to Los Angeles.