Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Steve Trimble
Exquadrum announced on June 25 it has completed the second and final live test of a full-scale hybrid rocket motor for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) that could be used to power hypersonic missiles, missile defense interceptors and orbital space launchers.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
Germany has signed contracts with Airbus and Hensoldt for the development, supply and integration of an active electronically scanned array radar for the Eurofighter.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Tony Osborne
Ireland appears to be taking its first tentative steps toward a fighter procurement for defense of the country’s airspace.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
An 18-month delay in the development of the UK’s new Crowsnest helicopter-based airborne early warning system means the capability will not be fully operational when it is embarked on the first operational cruise, planned for next May.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

Hybrid-electric regional aircraft developer Electra.aero continues to build out its engineering team, appointing the former leader of Boeing
Defense

By Daniel Urchick
Great Power Maritime Helicopter Fleets
AWIN Knowledge Center

Conferences and events for professionals in the aerospace and defense community.
Defense

By Steve Trimble
A proposal by the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) to authorize the Defense Department to buy 79 Lockheed Martin F-35s in fiscal
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
NASA is looking into flying astronauts and other personnel aboard commercial suborbital spacecraft such as those in development by Virgin Galactic and Blue Origin.
Program Management

By Steve Trimble
A sources-sought notice released by the U.S. Army June 23 keeps the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft competition on track for the release of the request for proposals next year and lays out new details of aircraft deliveries needed during the development phase and the first lot of low-rate initial production.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
The European, Japanese and U.S. space agencies have pooled Earth observation data collected from satellites during the global coronavirus pandemic to create an interactive website with analytical tools for scientific, economic and general public use.
Space

By Michael Bruno
Maxar Technologies will buy out joint venture (JV) partner Saab’s interest in its satellite-based three-dimensional (3D) data and analytics boutique Vricon, as revamped Maxar looks to double down on Earth observation services.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
A controversial repaint of one of the British Royal Air Force’s Airbus A330 Voyager multirole tanker transport aircraft has been revealed.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
Only a month after revealing the existence and operational deployment of the Long Endurance Aircraft Program (LEAP), U.S. Special Operations Command has started shopping for a new aircraft for the role.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Bill Carey
Former senior FAA executives are among the principals of a new company focused on advancing standards and best practices in the drone industry
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Jen DiMascio
Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace have finished a preliminary design review of the mission payload for the initial set of geosynchronous satellites in the Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared system.
Space

By Molly McMillin
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a citation and penalty to Textron Aviation as part of its investigation into a December explosion at its Wichita Plant 3 facility that injured 15 employees.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Mark Carreau
NASA has joined with crowdsourcing network HeroX to seek a strategy for the elimination of lunar astronauts’ bodily wastes under its “Lunar Loo Challenge.”
Space

By Daniel Urchick
AVIATION WEEK NETWORK estimates that at the end of 2019, there were 2,188 Western-designed helicopters performing maritime missions. Over the next
AWIN Knowledge Center

Brief news items of interest to aerospace & defense professionals.
Defense

Northrop Grumman and Ball Aerospace have finished a preliminary design review of the mission payload for the initial set of geosynchronous satellites
Defense

By Mark Carreau
Pleased so far with the performance of SpaceX’s Demo-2 test flight to the International Space Station, NASA is planning a series of four and possibly six spacewalks by its two veteran astronaut test pilots before returning to Earth, potentially in early August.
Space

By Irene Klotz
Issues with ground support equipment for a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket are causing a second delay in the upcoming launch of NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover.
Space

By Steve Trimble
The U.S. Navy plans to soon begin demonstrations of candidates for a small, shipboard unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that could lead to a $1 billion program of record.
Aircraft & Propulsion