In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Apr. 19, 2022

U.S. To Abstain From ASAT Tests In Call For Space Norms

The U.S. will not conduct any anti-satellite direct-ascent missile tests, Vice President Kamala Harris said April 18, calling on other nations to also refrain from the activity to avoid the expansion of space debris in orbit. Credit: NASA

Singapore Sends Upgraded F-16s To U.S.-Based Detachment

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has sent three upgraded Block 52 Lockheed Martin F-16D+ aircraft to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, as the type enters its next phase of certification and testing. Credit: Maxim Loshak

USAF, Boeing Close KC-46 Remote Vision PDR

USAFKC-46

Lockheed Quarterly Results Feed Neither Hopes Nor Fears

If Lockheed Martin’s financial results for the first quarter and reaffirmed 2022 guidance are any indication, investors are unlikely to be either inspired or horrified about U.S. defense sector prospects for much of this year—regardless of hopes of spending growth or concerns over inflation and suppliers. Lockheed on April 19 released results for the first quarter that showed positive financials but nevertheless reflected an “operational shortfall” with a “topline miss,” according to analyst reactions. Credit: USAF

Astrolab Working With Venturi Group On Space Buggy Technologies

Venturi Astrolab, which last month unveiled its Flex rover family for manned Moon and Mars missions, is buying certain technologies from European electric vehicle maker Venturi Group, with which it has a “strategic partnership” and a shared name. But according to a company representative, Monaco-based Venturi Group and Hawthorne, California-based Venturi Astrolab remain separate companies. Credit: Venturi Astrolab

USAF Seeks Two-Year Order Cut For F-35As

The U.S. Air Force plans to cut F-35A orders for a second year beyond the previously announced fiscal 2023 budget request, then start ramping up production again in fiscal 2025, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said April 19. The Air Force is seeking funding to buy only 33 F-35As next year, a sharp drop from the 48 orders called for in the previous long-term spending plan. Credit: USAF

National Academies Urge Greater NASA Focus On How Life Arose

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) wants NASA to make greater investments in missions to study the plausibility of current life on Mars, the mysteries of the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and advanced strategies for defending the Earth from potential asteroid impacts. Credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech

Bomber Force Shift To B-21s, B-52Js Requires Training Revolution: USAF

The coming overhaul of the U.S. Air Force’s bomber fleet to two aircraft will require a large-scale change in the service’s thinking and training after decades of conducting the same missions with a fleet of three bombers. The Air Force’s nuclear flying force has for decades been made up of B-1s, B-2s, B-52s and command and control E-4Bs, with some upgrades. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Bombardier Designates Wichita Its U.S. Headquarters

Bombardier has designated its Wichita site as its new U.S. headquarters, a key pillar in its strategy for growth in the U.S., the company announced at a ceremony attended by employees, company executives and city, state and national officials. It’s the first time the Montreal-based business jet manufacturer has had a designated U.S. headquarters. Credit: Molly McMillin/AviationWeekNetwork

Archer Moves To Sole CEO To Streamline eVTOL Development

Management changes are not unusual as companies go through their different phases of growth, but Archer Aviation’s April 19 announcement that co-founder and co-CEO Adam Goldstein had been named the startup’s sole CEO came as a surprise to many. Goldstein and Brett Adcock co-founded Archer in 2018 and acted as co-CEOs. Credit: Archer Aviation

Lonestar Data Unveils Moon-Based Data Center Proof-Of-Concept

Lonestar Data Holdings plans to launch a proof-of-concept data center to the Moon aboard Intuitive Machines’ Nova-C lunar lander in late 2022. The company is pitching the Moon as a safe, environmentally friendly place to store humanity’s most precious data. Credit: NASA

TTM Buying Telephonics From Griffon In A&D Expansion

Griffon Corp. has announced the resolution of a long-awaited effort to sell its historic Telephonics defense electronics unit with a $330 million cash sale to printed-circuit-board manufacturer TTM Technologies. According to late-day announcements April 18, the deal is expected close in this quarter, subject to certain unidentified closing conditions and regulatory approvals. Credit: www.telephonivs.com

Lockheed Optimistic For F-35 Contract Talks, But Gap Remains

Lockheed Martin executives said April 19 that they remain optimistic for a short-term breakthrough in negotiations over the next three annual lots of F-35 production with the Joint Program Office (JPO), but are girding for protracted talks beyond the second quarter. The F-35 Joint Program Office and Lockheed were scheduled to award a contract for Lot 15-17 airframe production orders by the end of last September, but negotiations continue over how changes in production volume, inflation and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic affect pricing, Lockheed executives say. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Serbia Negotiating With France, UK On Future Combat Aircraft

Serbia has confirmed it is in negotiations with both France and the UK for new combat aircraft. Defense Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic told Serbia’s RTS television on April 16 that Belgrade was discussing an acquisition of Dassault Rafales from France and Eurofighter Typhoons from the UK. Stefanovic also said discussions had widened to consider both new and second-hand aircraft “because we want to get the best deal.” Credit: Alamy stock photo

Brazil Acquires Two A330s For MRTT Conversions

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB) has acquired a pair of Airbus A330-200 airliners with the aim of converting them into multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) aircraft. The two ex-Azul Airlines aircraft were acquired for $80 million and now will be adapted for the air force’s so-called REVO mission, which includes inflight refueling, logistics support and aeromedical evacuation. Credit: Brazilian Air Force

From avoiding the expansion of space debris in orbit to three upgraded Block 52 Lockheed Martin F-16D+ aircraft enter the next phase of certification and testing. Take a look at these and more in our daily roundup of aerospace & defense news.

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