EVERETT, WA—Boeing recently announced that the major fuselage sections of the first 777X test aircraft have been joined together. This assembly milestone, called the final body join, occurs when the airplane’s nose, mid and aft sections are connected.

MOBILE, AL—Airbus has hired construction management firm HPM to plan, design and build a new assembly plant here to produce A220 aircraft. The new facility will be located adjacent to Airbus’ existing factory in Mobile.

SHEFFIELD, UK—Boeing opened a new assembly plant here Oct. 25, its first in Europe.

DULLES, VA—Airbus and Northrop Grumman Corp are partnering to develop next-generation composite manufacturing technology. The three-year Wing of Tomorrow program will explore complex composite wing stiffener forming automation and out-of-autoclave material systems.

SUNNYVALE, CA—Lockheed Martin has become the first company to achieve UL 3400 certification for additive manufacturing.

WASHINGTON—Officials from Boeing have revealed details of a concept for a new future attack helicopter it is showcasing at the Association of the United States Army’s annual conference, here this week.  The revised attack variant of the helicopter is designed to destroy tanks, armoured and non-armoured ground targets, and enemy troops and helicopters both on the front line and in tactical reserves.

BEAVERCREEK, OH—Northrop Grumman Corp. has opened a new addition to its assembly plant here and reaffirmed its intent to add manufacturing jobs at the site.