In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Jun. 16, 2022

June 17, 2022

Jordan Agrees To Buy Eight F-16V Block 70s

Jordan has signed an agreement with the U.S. government to buy eight GE Aviation F110-powered Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70s, the company said June 16. The signing of the letter of the offer and acceptance allows the company to move forward with negotiating details of the contract for the F-16s, Lockheed Martin says. Credit: USAF

Senate Panel Adds $45 Billion For Defense, Including More F-35As

The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has recommended adding $45 billion to President Biden’s request of $813 billion for national defense in its 2023 defense policy bill to speed implementation of the National Defense Strategy and account for rising inflation. The additional funding would support the U.S. Air Force’s largest combat aircraft program, allowing the service to buy an additional seven, or 40 Lockheed Martin F-35A aircraft, according to a summary of the committee’s version of the National Defense Authorization bill. Credit: U.S. government

UK Adopts Europe’s SC-VTOL For eVTOL Certification

As expected, the UK Civil Aviation Authority is to adopt the European Union Safety Agency’s (EASA) Special Conditions for VTOL (SC-VTOL) as the basis for UK certification of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. “The safety levels established under SC-VTOL provide stringent levels of protection for the UK consumer, both in the air and on the ground,” the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says. The UK left EASA at the end of 2020 when Brexit took effect. Credit: Vertical Aerospace

SASC Calls For Joint U.S. Navy-Air Force Electronic Attack Unit

U.S. Air Force pilots could return to the electronic attack mission under a unique plan proposed by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC). In its markup of the fiscal 2023 defense policy bill, SASC will block the Navy’s planned retirement of 25 land-based Boeing EA-18G Growlers and devises a new future for the aircraft. Lawmakers proposed the Navy moving the aircraft from active-duty units to Navy Reserve Air Forces, and requires one or more Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve units to join with the Navy Reserve “to establish joint service expeditionary, land-based electronic attack.” Credit: USAF

Romanian Government Advances Norwegian F-16 Acquisition

Romania’s government has approved a draft law that paves the way for the expansion of the country’s fleet of F-16 combat aircraft. The law enables 32 former Norwegian aircraft to be acquired along with an initial logistics package from the U.S. Norway has retired its F-16 fleet in favor of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Credit: Romanian Air Force

Sceye High-Altitude Airship Demos Stratospheric Hovering

Sceye’s high-altitude platform stations (HAPS) airship recently reached the stratosphere and demonstrated the ability “to stay over an area of operation and maintain a constant float altitude.” The demonstration clears the way for stratospheric flights of several months, the company said June 16. Credit: Sceye

Boeing Fielding Increasing Interest Abroad In Cargo Role Of KC-46

Credit: USAF
KC-46A

Astrobotic Collaboration Advances Wireless Lunar Power Transmission

A collaboration between Astrobotic and WiBotic has successfully advanced a wireless charging system capable of providing power throughout a simulated 14-day lunar night with its thermal and other environmental extremes. Testing at Astrobotic’s headquarters in Pittsburgh demonstrated that the hardware and its systems—which include contributions from Bosch, the University of Washington and NASA’s Glenn Research Center—exceeded targeted requirements, a June 16 statement from Astrobotic said. Astrobotic is one of 14 companies qualified by NASA to deliver science and technology payloads to the lunar surface as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative. Credit: Astrobotic

NATO To Set Requirements For Next European Rotorcraft

NATO has launched a three-year Concept Stage for the Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program, seeking to distill a wide range of capabilities desired by six participating countries into a set of clear requirements in 2025. The €26.7 million ($28 million) Concept Stage launched at the NATO Defense Ministerial meeting in Brussels is the latest step in fielding a next-generation rotorcraft tailored to the European theater. France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and the UK are participating in the Concept Stage. Credit: Kay Nietfeld/dpa/Alamy Live News

Firefly Aerospace Replacing Cofounder CEO Again

Launch startup Firefly Aerospace is rotating through another CEO as its recently installed private equity sponsors assert more control over the embattled new-space upstart. Firefly announced late June 15 that CEO and cofounder Tom Markusic will transition from CEO to “full-time” board member and chief technical advisor effective June 16. He remains a “significant minority investor” in the Texas-based company. Credit: Firefly Aerospace

From Jordan agreeing to buy eight F-16V Block 70s to senate panel adds $45 billion for defense, including more F-35As. Take a look at these and more in our daily roundup of aerospace & defense news.

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Comments

1 Comment
gwroble
Fri, 06/17/2022 - 12:11
Would AWST please consider ending the use of the polite fiction that Jordan is "buying" the F-16V? Jordan is simply deciding how to use the $425 million that the US taxpayers have provided in the form of "State Department Foreign Military Financing funds" (FY 2021).
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