Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, October 20, 2016

Just one month out from a request for proposals, the U.S. Air Force is keeping a close hold on its draft key performance parameters for the planned successor to its outdated UH-1N Huey helicopter fleet.

The European Space Agency was still waiting to hear from the ExoMars mission’s Schiaparelli lander as of 9 p.m. local time Oct. 19, while the trace gas orbiter seemed to have succeeded in entering Mars’ orbit.

China’s Shenzhou 11 manned space mission has achieved a key objective, demonstrating new docking technology in mating with the Tiangong 2 orbital laboratory.

Repairs are well underway on the 15 U.S. and Norwegian F-35As that were grounded in September due to crumbling insulation inside the fuel tanks, and officials anticipate some of the jets could be fixed before the end of the month.

Thales’ new Talios laser targeting pod started flight tests on a Rafale combat aircraft on July 27, the company has revealed, and development is continuing on schedule toward a 2018 service entry on the type.

A three-man U.S. and Russian crew is expected to reach the International Space Station (ISS) early Oct. 21.

The funds announced Oct. 17 should help tide over Lockheed Martin and its suppliers as they await an anticipated $16 billion deal for Lot 9 and 10 aircraft.

ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE completed major upgrade of all 17 CC-130J Hercules aircraft, with final upgraded aircraft received Oct. 13. RAYTHEON has $255m U.S. Navy contract to complete development of Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), including finalizing integration with F-35. AEROJET ROCKETDYNE delivered first set of hardware for Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner commercial crew transport service module propulsion system.

Stratistics Market Research says the global maritime satellite communication market will expand at a compound annual growth rate of 10.1% from 2015 to 2022, or $2.25 billion last year to $4.41 annually in six years. The increasing need for enhanced data communication and extensive use are major market movers. But “low awareness” among users and “huge” infrastructure costs are hampering the market, the group says. “Bridging satellite and cellular communication technology is the opportunity for market growth,” researchers say.

The U.S. Navy says it has developed and tested the air show routine the Blue Angels will use when the team takes to the skies with its next aircraft, the F/A-18E Super Hornet, in 2020 or before.