Aerospace

Indian Rafale fighter jets hunt for ‘UFO’ sighted near Imphal airport

UAE cancels Rafale Deal with france : US Pushes Boeing F-15EX To Indian Air Force

On Sunday, the Indian Air Force was informed about the observation of unidentified aerial objects in the area of the Imphal airport.

In a moment, the Indian Air Force sent its Rafale combat aircraft out to find them. A few commercial flights were hampered when the UFO was spotted over Imphal airport at 2:30 p.m. “Soon after information about the UFO near the Imphal airport was received, a Rafale fighter aircraft from a nearby airbase was scrambled to go and search for the UFO,” said defense department officials.

“One more Rafale fighter was sent for the search after the first aircraft returned, but the UFO was not seen around the area,” they claimed. “The aircraft equipped with advanced sensors carried out low-level flying over the suspected area to look for the UFO but it did not find anything there,” they reported.

They claim that videos show the UFO over the Imphal airport, and the concerned organizations are investigating the sighting.

After Imphal airport was cleared for regular operations, the Indian Air Force’s Eastern Command, which has its headquarters in Shillong, announced the activation of its Air Defence response mechanism. However, the specifics of the actions taken were kept under wraps.

On ‘X,’ the Eastern Command declared that “IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport.” Twitter was the source of the announcement. Thereafter, the small object was not observed.”

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Aerospace

Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences Expands Columbus Plant by 50,000 Sqft

Credit:Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora Flight Sciences, a subsidiary of Boeing, has launched a significant expansion of its manufacturing facility near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport in Columbus, Mississippi.

This ambitious project will add 50,000 square feet of new space, renovate 40,000 square feet of the existing facility, and introduce advanced automation equipment, robotics, and non-destructive inspection technologies. mcas boeing enhancements will support the growing demand for Aurora’s aerospace systems business.

Since its establishment, Aurora Mississippi has specialized in the production of advanced composite components and assemblies for both military and commercial aircraft. The company first opened in 2005 at Mississippi State University’s Raspet Flight Research Laboratory in Starkville before relocating to its current site in Columbus two years later.

Initially occupying 21,000 square feet, the facility has since grown to encompass over 120,000 square feet, featuring cutting-edge manufacturing technologies such as automated fiber placement. Aurora’s latest expansion is a strategic investment aimed at increasing production capacity for composite components like boeing titanium used in executive jets and the MQ-25TM Stingray composite skins, a key project for its parent company, Boeing.

Additionally, the facility will produce components for NASA’s X-66 sustainable flight demonstrator aircraft, further diversifying its portfolio. Currently employing around 100 full-time staff in Mississippi, Aurora plans to hire more than 60 additional team members by the end of 2025.

Aurora’s expansion project underscores its commitment to Mississippi’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector. The company maintains strong partnerships with Mississippi State University (MSU) and East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), contributing to research, higher education, and workforce development in advanced manufacturing.

Additionally, Aurora actively supports local K-12 STEM education through summer camps and collaborates with high school vocational education programs. The expansion and renovation project will be carried out in phases over the next two years, with completion expected by 2026. This development marks a significant milestone in Aurora’s ongoing growth and its role in advancing aerospace manufacturing in Mississippi.