In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, April 04, 2022

Skydweller To Add Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power To Si2-Based Solar UAV

U.S./Spanish startup Skydweller is to add a hydrogen fuel-cell power system to its extreme-endurance, solar-powered unmanned aircraft under a $14 million contract from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in conjunction with the U.S. Navy. Credit: Skydweller

German Air Force Calls For Urgent Replacement of CH-53 Fleet

The German Air Force is urging politicians to move ahead with plans to replace its Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion transport helicopters as it struggles to keep the rotorcraft operational. In an article on its website published April 1, the service says that while the past performance of its CH-53 fleet is impressive, the 50-year-old helicopters “urgently need a successor.” Credit: Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann

ZeroAvia Partners For Hydrogen Regional Demonstration In California

Hydrogen-electric propulsion startup ZeroAvia has partnered with zero-emission vehicle refueling company ZEV Station to develop a hydrogen refueling infrastructure for airports in California. Credit: ZeroAvia

GE To Test Hybridized Turboshaft Under U.S. Army Contract

GE Aviation will develop and test a megawatt-class hybrid-electric powerplant under a $5.1 million contract from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory that will further develop technologies applicable to Future Vertical Lift, GE says. The Applied Research Collaborative Systematic Turboshaft Electrification Project (ARC-STEP) will combine a GE CT7 turboshaft with a GE-produced electric machine and power electronics. Tests will be conducted at GE Research’s campus at Niskayuna, New York. Credit: GE Aviation

Bulgaria Approved For Second F-16 FMS Buy

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of an additional eight Block 70 Lockheed Martin F-16s for Bulgaria. A second batch made up of four single-seat F-16Cs and four twin-seat F-16Ds and a package of weapons have been requested by Sofia, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced April 4. Credit: Chen Chuanren

Lockheed Releases Open-Source Satellite Docking Interface Standard

Lockheed Martin on April 4 released online an open-source interface standard for on-orbit satellite docking. The Mission Augmentation Port, a mechanical interface design that the company calls “nonproprietary,” is an attempt to establish an industry-wide standard that would allow on-orbit servicing or mission augmentation companies to connect to a wide variety of satellites quickly and easily. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Sikorsky Looks Beyond FLRAA At Black Hawk Modernization

Sikorsky is in discussions with the U.S. Army on its requirements for modernization of the legacy UH-60 Black Hawk fleet that will continue in operation after the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) enters service in the early 2030s. Credit: Ted Carlson/Sikorsky

Sikorsky’s Raider X FARA Prototype Reached Weight On Wheels

Sikorsky has reached the power-on milestone with its Raider X prototype, but like rival Bell, is awaiting delayed delivery of GE Aviation’s T901 turboshaft to complete assembly of its contender for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance aircraft (FARA) program. Credit: Sikorsky

Collins Wins VLF Replacement Contract For Future TACAMO Fleet

Collins Aerospace will start designing a Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication system under a newly awarded contract for the U.S. Navy, adding a second major piece of the long-term plan to replace Boeing E-6Bs with Lockheed Martin C-130J-30s for the Take-Charge-And-Move-Out (TACAMO) mission. Credit: U.S. Navy

Skydweller To Add Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power To Si2-Based Solar UAV

U.S./Spanish startup Skydweller is to add a hydrogen fuel-cell power system to its extreme-endurance, solar-powered unmanned aircraft under a $14 million contract from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in conjunction with the U.S. Navy. Credit: Skydweller

German Air Force Calls For Urgent Replacement of CH-53 Fleet

The German Air Force is urging politicians to move ahead with plans to replace its Sikorsky CH-53 Stallion transport helicopters as it struggles to keep the rotorcraft operational. In an article on its website published April 1, the service says that while the past performance of its CH-53 fleet is impressive, the 50-year-old helicopters “urgently need a successor.” Credit: Bundeswehr/Jana Neumann

ZeroAvia Partners For Hydrogen Regional Demonstration In California

Hydrogen-electric propulsion startup ZeroAvia has partnered with zero-emission vehicle refueling company ZEV Station to develop a hydrogen refueling infrastructure for airports in California. Credit: ZeroAvia

GE To Test Hybridized Turboshaft Under U.S. Army Contract

GE Aviation will develop and test a megawatt-class hybrid-electric powerplant under a $5.1 million contract from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory that will further develop technologies applicable to Future Vertical Lift, GE says. The Applied Research Collaborative Systematic Turboshaft Electrification Project (ARC-STEP) will combine a GE CT7 turboshaft with a GE-produced electric machine and power electronics. Tests will be conducted at GE Research’s campus at Niskayuna, New York. Credit: GE Aviation

Bulgaria Approved For Second F-16 FMS Buy

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of an additional eight Block 70 Lockheed Martin F-16s for Bulgaria. A second batch made up of four single-seat F-16Cs and four twin-seat F-16Ds and a package of weapons have been requested by Sofia, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced April 4. Credit: Chen Chuanren

Lockheed Releases Open-Source Satellite Docking Interface Standard

Lockheed Martin on April 4 released online an open-source interface standard for on-orbit satellite docking. The Mission Augmentation Port, a mechanical interface design that the company calls “nonproprietary,” is an attempt to establish an industry-wide standard that would allow on-orbit servicing or mission augmentation companies to connect to a wide variety of satellites quickly and easily. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Sikorsky Looks Beyond FLRAA At Black Hawk Modernization

Sikorsky is in discussions with the U.S. Army on its requirements for modernization of the legacy UH-60 Black Hawk fleet that will continue in operation after the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) enters service in the early 2030s. Credit: Ted Carlson/Sikorsky

Sikorsky’s Raider X FARA Prototype Reached Weight On Wheels

Sikorsky has reached the power-on milestone with its Raider X prototype, but like rival Bell, is awaiting delayed delivery of GE Aviation’s T901 turboshaft to complete assembly of its contender for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance aircraft (FARA) program. Credit: Sikorsky

Collins Wins VLF Replacement Contract For Future TACAMO Fleet

Collins Aerospace will start designing a Very Low Frequency (VLF) communication system under a newly awarded contract for the U.S. Navy, adding a second major piece of the long-term plan to replace Boeing E-6Bs with Lockheed Martin C-130J-30s for the Take-Charge-And-Move-Out (TACAMO) mission. Credit: U.S. Navy

Skydweller To Add Hydrogen Fuel Cell Power To Si2-Based Solar UAV

U.S./Spanish startup Skydweller is to add a hydrogen fuel-cell power system to its extreme-endurance, solar-powered unmanned aircraft under a $14 million contract from the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) in conjunction with the U.S. Navy. Credit: Skydweller

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In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, April 04, 2022

German Air Force Calls For Urgent Replacement of CH-53 Fleet