In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Apr. 20, 2022

April 20, 2022
Bell HSVTOL concepts

Why Bell’s HSVTOL Concept Is Not Hybrid Electric

Bell
Despite advances in electric propulsion and battery energy density, as well as a patent filing showing its interest in hybrid-electric systems, Bell is taking a more conventional route to AFWerx’s High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing Challenge.

UAE Begins Paying For 80-Aircraft Dassault Rafale Order

Dassault Aviation has received the first down payment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) under the December 2021 contract for 80 Rafale fighters, the airframer announced late April 19. The aircraft thus enter the order backlog. The unspecified amount is part of a €14 billion ($15.1 billion) agreement. It marked a banner year for the Rafale as its fourth export contract in 2021 and the largest-ever for the fighter. Deliveries are planned for 2026-31. Credit: Dassault Aviation

China Tests Suspected Ship-Launched Ballistic Missile

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) appears to have tested a ship-launched ballistic missile based on the Dongfeng (DF)-21 land-based tactical ballistic missile. The video initially was released on sharing site Bili Bili by the PLAN to coincide with the service’s 73rd anniversary but was later removed, suggesting certain sensitivity in its content. Credit: People's Liberation Army Navy

Astrobotic Unveils Peregrine Flight Model

Astrobotic unveiled the flight model of its Peregrine lunar lander on April 20, the version that is scheduled to fly to the Moon in the fourth quarter of 2022 on a United Launch Alliance Vulcan Centaur rocket. “We will be the first commercial lunar payload lander to go to the Moon,” Astrobotic Technology CEO John Thornton said, unveiling the Peregrine–the first flight model under NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. Credit: Astrobotic

H2Fly Goes Cross-Country On Hydrogen-Electric Power

German hydrogen propulsion startup H2Fly has claimed the first flight by a hydrogen-powered passenger aircraft between two commercial airports after flying its four-seat HY4 testbed from its base in Stuttgart to Friedrichshafen for display at the upcoming Aero Friedrichshafen show. The 77-mi. cross-country flight was accomplished on April 12 as part of a new campaign by H2Fly to gain operating experience with hydrogen-electric propulsion by conducting longer-range flights of the fuel-cell-powered HY4 in different environmental conditions. Credit: H2Fly

New Russia ICBM Moves Closer To Fielding After Flight Test

Russia successfully tested the silo-based RS-28 Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on April 20, clearing the way for a delayed fielding to the 62nd Missile Division Uzhur later this year. The expected fielding of the Sarmat, which comes with the NATO designation SS-X-29, allows Russia to begin retiring the Cold War-era R-36M (SS-18 Satan) ICBM arsenal. Credit: Russian Defense Ministry

R&T Project Targets Liquid-Hydrogen Tank Manufacturing

Nomade, a three-year project aimed at investigating manufacturing technologies for liquid-hydrogen tanks on board commercial aircraft is gathering aerospace players in France. With €5 million ($5.4 million) of funding, the IRT Jules Verne research and technology (R&T) institute in Nantes is coordinating a team. Credit: Airbus

Donated Spare Parts Help Ukraine Get More Fighters Operational

The Ukrainian military has more combat aircraft operating than weeks ago because of a surge of spare parts from other nations that operate the same Soviet-era aircraft, the Pentagon said. Ukraine has not been able to receive additional fighter jets from other nations to help it fight Russia despite repeated requests, but the influx of parts has helped the besieged country get its aircraft and tanks ready to fight a new battle in the Donbas region. Credit: Alamy stock photo

Former Skunk Works Fighter Programs Leader Joins Sierra Space

Fast-growing Sierra Space has named former Lockheed Martin Skunk Works leader Jeff Babione as its chief operating officer. Babione, who retired at the end of March after a nearly three-decade career with Lockheed, was vice president and general manager of the F-35 program and had led the F-22 and F-16 programs. Credit: Alamy stock photo

Saint-Gobain Readies Faster Composite Production Technology

Composite materials specialist Saint-Gobain and engineering service provider Roctool have joined forces to offer a swifter curing process that, combined with 3D textile forms, is designed to speed manufacturing of complex aircraft parts. The newest part of the technique is a heating-and-cooling mold. Fast and homogeneous heating is created on the surface through flexible inductors powered by a high-frequency current, Saint-Gobain explained. Credit: Saint-Gobain Aerospace

Beta Raises $375M To Further Develop EVTOL System

Advanced air mobility (AAM) developer Beta Technologies has raised $375 million in financing to support ongoing development of its Alia-250 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft and ground charging infrastructure. TPG Rise Climate and Fidelity Management & Research Co. led the Series B funding round, which Beta announced April 20.

From Bell taking a more conventional route to AFWerx’s High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing Challenge to UAE begins paying for 80-aircraft Dassault Rafale order. Take a look at these and more in our daily roundup of aerospace & defense news.

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