MDA Selects L3Harris, Northrop For HBTSS Demos In Orbit

By Steve Trimble Jan 22, 2021
The selection by MDA eliminates Leidos and Raytheon from the competition to demonstrate the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). 
Missile Defense & Weapons

Austin Will Lead Pentagon Under Era Of Budget Uncertainty

By Lee Hudson Jan 22, 2021
The Pentagon made budgetary gains under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, and now President Joe Biden’s newly installed defense secretary, Lloyd Austin, must lead the military through an anticipated era of flat funding.
Budget, Policy & Operations

ISS Spacewalks To Set Stage For Solar Power Upgrade

By Tony Osborne Jan 22, 2021
NASA plans the first in a series of spacewalks next week to equip the European Space Agency’s new Bartolomeo science platform outside the International Space Station (ISS) with communications systems, and then prepare for future upgrades to the orbiting lab’s solar power system.
Space

Scotland Plans Sustainable Aircraft Flights From Orkney Test Site

By Graham Warwick Jan 22, 2021
The UK’s first test site for sustainable aviation, including electric and hydrogen propulsion, is to be established at Kirkwall Airport in Scotland’s Orkney Islands.
Emerging Technologies

Supplier Prices Up Less Than 1%, But Double From TransDigm: Survey

By Michael Bruno Jan 22, 2021
Customers of TransDigm Group expect to pay roughly 2% higher prices this year from the key aerospace and defense parts provider, compared with an average of just 0.8% more across the whole aerospace supplier base, according to new survey results from Jefferies analysts.
Supply Chain

Project Works Toward Scotland-wide Medical Drone Delivery Network

By Graham Warwick Jan 22, 2021
A digital blueprint for a medical delivery drone network that could connect hospitals, laboratories and surgeries across Scotland is to be developed under an 18-month project begun in December.
Urban & Unmanned Aviation

Finland To Issue Final RFP For Fighter Contest

By Tony Osborne Jan 22, 2021
The Finnish government is to issue a final request for proposals for its HX next-generation fighter contest by the end of January.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Europe Launches Large-scale UAM Demonstration Program

By Graham Warwick Jan 22, 2021
Single European Sky ATM Research, the organization coordinating European air traffic management research, has launched a project to develop and test a concept of operations for urban air transport of passengers and cargo.
Urban & Unmanned Aviation

Volocopter Aims For Concurrent EASA/FAA eVTOL Certification

By Graham Warwick Jan 22, 2021
Germany’s Volocopter plans concurrent certification and validation of its VoloCity electric air taxi in Europe and the U.S., enabling it to enter both markets simultaneously.
Emerging Technologies

Airbus Proposes H175 As UK Puma Replacement

By Tony Osborne Jan 22, 2021
Airbus Helicopter is proposing its H175 twin-engine super-medium rotorcraft as a potential replacement for the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) aging fleet of Airbus Puma medium-lift platforms.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Airbus Helicopters Details Technology Testbed

By Tony Osborne Jan 21, 2021
Airbus Helicopters has adapted an H130 light helicopter as a flying laboratory to test technology for urban air mobility, hybrid-electric flight and new flight safety systems.
Urban & Unmanned Aviation

U.S. Army Completes First HADES Evaluation

By Steve Trimble Jan 21, 2021
All four teams competing to win the High Accuracy Detection Exploitation System were evaluated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

Airbus Seeking European Funding For Future Rotorcraft Study

By Tony Osborne Jan 21, 2021
Airbus Helicopters officials say they have secured backing from the French, Germany and Spanish governments to bid for funding from the European Defense Fund for initial studies for a future European military rotorcraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

EU Orders Second-Generation Galileo Sats From Airbus, TAS

By Thierry Dubois Jan 21, 2021
The European Commission has ordered the first 12 satellites for the second generation of the Galileo navigation constellation from Airbus and Thales Alenia Space.
Commercial Space

Space Rollup Redwire Buys Oakman Aero For Digital Design

By Michael Bruno Jan 21, 2021
Private equity-backed space rollup Redwire has acquired spacecraft design and engineering specialist Oakman Aerospace of Littleton, Colorado.
Commercial Space

Boeing Receives $2.1B For 15 U.S. Air Force KC-46 Aircraft

By Lee Hudson Jan 21, 2021
On the heels of receiving fiscal 2021 funding, the U.S. Air Force has moved to purchase 15 KC-46 aircraft from Boeing for $2.1 billion.
Aircraft & Propulsion

E-11 Crew’s Mistake Caused Crash, But Mystery Remains, Report Says

By Steve Trimble Jan 21, 2021
An investigation report released by Air Combat Command nearly a year after the crash that killed both crewmembers definitively concludes that pilot and co-pilot responded to an explosion that shut down the left engine by incorrectly shutting down the right engine. 
Budget, Policy & Operations

SecDef Nominee Waiver Passes House, Senate

By Lee Hudson Jan 21, 2021
The House voted 326-78 and the Senate 69-27 on Jan. 21 to approve a waiver allowing U.S. Army Gen. (ret.) Lloyd Austin to serve as U.S. defense secretary.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Jack London, Lion Of Government Contracting Sector, Dead At 83

By Michael Bruno Jan 21, 2021
Jack London, the longtime face of and driving force behind government services contractor CACI International, has died at age 83, the company announced late Jan. 20.
Supply Chain

U.S. Army Publishes Plan To Build First 620 PRSMs

By Steve Trimble Jan 21, 2021
The U.S. Army plans to roll out a series of PRSM upgrades in the years ahead. But the baseline missile program calls for delivering a new weapon with a range up to 499 km.
Missile Defense & Weapons

MBDA Demonstrates BLOS Missile Engagement Using Data From Drone

By Tony Osborne Jan 21, 2021
MBDA has conducted demonstration firings of its MMP anti-tank missile guided to a target beyond visual line-of sight with help from a multi-copter drone.
Missile Defense & Weapons

Biden Administration Makes First Appointments At NASA

By Irene Klotz Jan 21, 2021
On the job less than a day, the Biden administration made its first two appointments at NASA.
Space

South Korea Studies Development Of Light Aircraft Carrier

By Kim Minseok Jan 21, 2021
South Korea’s defense ministry is moving ahead with development of a new light aircraft carrier, while foreign companies are offering design expertise for the program.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Organizers Cancel Heli-Expo 2021 After Exhibitors Pull Out

By Molly McMillin Jan 21, 2021
Heli-Expo 2021 organizers have canceled the March trade show in New Orleans after many exhibitors and attendees decided to withdraw in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Helicopter Association International organizers announced Jan. 20.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Bell Tests Alternate Design As It Matures APT Cargo Drone

By Graham Warwick Jan 20, 2021
Bell has flight tested a different configuration for its Autonomous Pod Transport unmanned cargo aircraft to show that the vehicle design is flexible and can be scaled and customized for potential customers.
Urban & Unmanned Aviation