In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Jul. 13 2022

Tightening of rules under which experimental aircraft are test-flown in the UK has been recommended following investigation of the April 2021 forced landing of a hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion testbed flown by U.S./UK startup ZeroAvia. The findings could affect the flight testing of new concepts in the UK. Credit: UK AAIB

The Lockheed Martin AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon completed a second consecutive successful booster test flight on July 12, allowing the program to move forward into a series of All-Up Round Test Flights (ATFs) later this year. Credit: US Air Force Open configuration options.

Boston-based autonomous flight startup Merlin Labs has completed a $105 million Series B round, bringing the total funding raised so far to $130 million. Merlin has also announced a partnership with the U.S. Air Force to bring autonomy to the Lockheed Martin C-130J airlifter. Credit: Merlin Labs

Global commercial helicopter operator Bristow Group has signed a letter of intent (LoI) with Elroy Air to order up to 100 Chaparral hybrid-electric vertical takeoff and landing uncrewed cargo aircraft for logistics, health care and energy markets. Credit: Elroy Air.

LONDON—Ireland plans to raise national defense spending almost 50% by 2028 to meet an increased level of ambition for the country’s armed forces. Responding to a February report by Ireland’s Commission of the Defense Forces, the government in Dublin has accepted in principle that the country needs to invest in a primary radar capability. Additional transport aircraft and helicopters are also set to be procured, but proposals to acquire a fleet of combat aircraft for air defense are on hold. Credit: J Orr/Alamy Stock Photo

Israeli startup AIR has conducted the first hover tests with a full-scale prototype of its AIR One personal electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle. The uncrewed prototype made its first tethered test hover on June 21 at Megiddo in northern Israel. Credit: AIR

DARPA has launched the ground-launched, hypersonic Operational Fires (OpFires) missile successfully on its first flight test from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, the agency said July 13. Credit: DARPA