Aerospace & Defense Roundup: October 12, 2021

October 13, 2021

Composite Blades On Hold For CH-47F Block IIs

Credit: Tony Osborne/AW&ST
CH-47F

Skyrora To Launch From Shetland Islands

Credit: Skyrora



UK space launch startup Skyrora has signed agreements to use the SaxaVord spaceport on the Shetland Islands for satellite launch as early as 2022. 



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USAF Completes First Drop Tests On New Penetrator Bomb


A new 5,000-lb. penetrator has completed a series of release tests, paving the way for the U.S. Air Force development program to enter production later this year. 



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Shyu Wants New Funding To Bridge ‘Valley Of Death'

Credit: U.S. Government



The Pentagon’s new director of research and engineering wants more money for small businesses to mature technology to avoid the vaunted “valley of death” in acquisition and is proposing new leaders within her office to move faster on developing software and lowering sustainment costs.



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Serbia To Buy Two Airbus C295 Transports

Credit: Airbus
C295

Poll: Vast Majority Of Aviation Companies Do Not Require Vaccine

Credit: peterschreiber.media / Getty Images



More than four in five aviation-related companies recently polled do not require their workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, according to aviation job website JSfirm.com.



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Airbus Begins Producing Skynet 6A Satellite

Credit: Airbus



Airbus has started production of the UK’s new £500 million ($679.5 million) Skynet 6A satellite, which is due for launch in 2025.



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Rocket Lab Buys Spaceflight Software Specialist Advanced Solutions

Credit: Rocket Lab



Major small-satellite launcher Rocket Lab is making good on plowing some of its new publicly provided cash haul into bolt-on acquisitions.



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JWST Arrives In French Guiana For Launch

Credit: NASA



The cargo ship transporting the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) arrived in French Guiana on Oct. 12, completing a 1,500-mi. journey that sets the stage for the observatory’s launch aboard an Arianespace Ariane 5 rocket on Dec. 18. 



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Two-Fifths Of UK, European Skilled Aviation Workers Leaving, Survey Says

Credit: Hans Neleman / Getty Images



Almost two-fifths of British and European skilled aviation workers reported moving out of the industry, according to a newly launched industry survey from aviation talent recruitment specialists JMC Recruitment Solutions.



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Cargo Airline To Convert ATR 72s To Hydrogen Power

Credit: Universal Hydrogen Concept



Irish cargo airline operator ASL Aviation Holdings plans to convert up to 10 ATR 72s to zero-emission fuel-cell propulsion after signing a letter of intent to be Universal Hydrogen’s (UH2) launch customer in the cargo turboprop market.



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Vulcan Rocket Debut Shifts To Mid-2022

Credit: ULA



The customer slated to launch on the first flight of United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Vulcan rocket now expects to fly in mid-2022.



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Exosonic Developing Supersonic UAS Concept For USAF

Credit: Exosonic



Los Angeles-based startup Exosonic will develop a concept for a purpose-built, supersonic unmanned aircraft system (UAS) under a 15-month, $750,000 U.S. Air Force contract, the company announced Oct. 12.  



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VoloDrone Delivers In DB Schenker Logistics Demonstration

Credit: Volocopter



Volocopter and logistics company DB Schenker conducted the first public demonstration of the VoloDrone heavy-lift unmanned cargo aircraft at the ITS World Congress in Hamburg on Oct. 12.



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Composite blades on hold for CH-47F Block IIs, ASL Aviation Holdings to convert ATR 72s to hydrogen power, Airbus begins producing Skynet 6A satellite and more. A roundup of aerospace, space, and defense news powered by Aerospace Daily & Defense Report. 

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