Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, September 12, 2016

U.S. Air Force Space Command is exploring how to defend its current space assets and make new ones more responsive, operationally focused, disaggregated and survivable.

Blue Origin will test an escape system next month on its New Shepard rocket that can propel the crew capsule to safety if the booster has a problem, the company says.

India is hoping to launch a record 68 satellites in a single mission early next year, taking a giant step in space commerce as it competes for a bigger share of the burgeoning global space market worth billions of dollars.

The $1 billion probe's long journey will place it at the 1,600-ft.-wide asteroid Bennu in August 2018.

The aircraft disembarked from Patuxent River, Maryland, on Aug. 30 aboard an Aussie-owned Boeing C-17.

LEONARDO-FINMECCANICA signed agreement with Algerian defense ministry to establish joint company to produce three types of AGUSTAWESTLAND light and medium-weight helicopters for transport, medical evacuation, surveillance and control. RUSSIAN HELICOPTERS is modernizing heavy Mi-26T2 helicopter for Russian defense ministry; upgraded Mi-26T2V will be able to take off and land on unprepared sites. ARIANESPACE performed sixth static firing test of Ariane 5 solid propellant motor as part of effort to ensure ongoing reliability.

Harris is adding former Boeing Commercial Aircraft CEO Jim Albaugh and current Honeywell International Vice Chairman Roger Fradin to its board of directors. The moves come as part of a deal hammered out with activist investor Jana Partners. Wall Street is expecting other changes at Pentagon tactical radio and FAA services provider Harris in response to the activist’s involvement (Aerospace DAILY, Aug. 4).

TransDigm Group is continuing its supply chain roll up and said Sept. 6 it has entered a definitive agreement to acquire Young and Franklin and its subsidiaries, including Tactair Fluid Controls, for $260 million in cash.

The U.S. Air Force is about 500 fighter pilots short of its total requirement.

To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. For a complete list of Aviation Week Network’s upcoming events, and to register, visit www.aviationweek.com/events (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Sept. 13-16—AIAA Space and Astronautics Forum and Exposition (SPACE 2016), Long Beach, California. For more information go to www.aiaa.org/research/