In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Mar. 08, 2022

Airbus Begins Green Hydrogen Partnership With Australian Group

Credit: Airbus

A joint taskforce will assess challenges around green hydrogen regulations, infrastructure and global supply chains, including the production of green hydrogen and theA joint taskforce will assess challenges around green hydrogen regulations, infrastructure and global supply chains, including the production of green hydrogen and the infrastructure needed to support delivery to airports and fuel aircraft. infrastructure needed to support delivery to airports and fuel aircraft.

Spirit AeroSystems To Grow Business Jet Segment As It Diversifies

Credit: Jonathan Porter / Alamy Stock Photo

Spirit AeroSystems’ acquisition of the assets of Bombardier’s Short Brothers operation in Northern Ireland in 2020 has accelerated the company’s goal to diversify so it is less reliant on the commercial sector.

Japan Reports Aerial Intrusion Spike In February

Credit: Chen Chuanren

The Japanese defense ministry has released its February fighter scramble report that reveals a doubling of aerial intrusions on a month-on-month basis by Chinese and Russian aircraft. Chinese aircraft intrusions still accounted for 70% of all Japanese scrambles in February but Russian aircraft movements in were unusually high.

Bombardier Suspends Support To Russian Clients Amid Ukraine War

Credit: ITAR-TASS News Agency / Alamy Stock Photo

Bombardier has suspended all activities with Russian clients, including all forms of technical assistance as the war in Ukraine continues, according to the Montreal-based OEM.

Sikorsky Puts S-76D On Ice, Seeks License Production Partner

Credit: Sikorsky Archives

Amid lackluster sales and costly new certification requirements, Sikorsky is no longer accepting orders for the S-76D, effectively shutting down the 45-year-old medium helicopter program. At the same time, Sikorsky is evaluating potential partnerships to set up license production overseas.

Motiv And Blue Origin To Develop Space Robotics

Credit: Motiv Space Systems

A robotic applique that could turn a wide range of satellites into servicing spacecraft is to be flight-demonstrated under a contract awarded to Motiv Space Systems by the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit.

Modular Space Connector Delivered For Testing On ISS

Credit: iBOSS

Dubbed “the USB for space,” a robotic connector enabling modular hardware to be attached to spacecraft has been delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) for spaceflight qualification. The Intelligence Space System Interface (ISSI) is a data- and power-transfer connector developed by iBOSS of Aachen, Germany.

Pentagon Denies Polish Plan To Transfer MiG-29s

Credit: Alamy stock photo

The Pentagon is saying no to a Polish plan to send its MiG-29s to the U.S. military for use in Ukraine in return for replacement American-made jets, saying the proposal is not tenable and poses a risk to NATO. Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement the Pentagon is in contact with the Polish government, but it is not clear that there is enough rationale for such a complex proposal.

China’s Defense Budget To Grow By 7% In 2022

Photo: China flag

China has announced it will raise its defense budget by 7% for 2022, taking military spending to 1.450 billion yuan ($232 billion) from 1.355 billion yuan. The new budget, announced on the fringes of this year’s National People’s Congress meeting, represents a marginal growth from the 6.9% increase approved in 2021 and is in line with the average 7.3% growth seen over the previous five years.

Thailand F-16A Pilot Survives Crash On Training Flight

Credit: Chen Chuanren

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has written off a Block 15 F-16A after it crashed March 8 on a training sortie in the Chaiyaphum province, north of its Korat home base. The aircraft was on a training sortie. The pilot ejected safely but with some injuries.

Transportation Inspector General To Audit FAA’s UAM Certification

Credit: Joby Aviation

The U.S. Transportation Department’s Office of Inspector General (IG) is to audit the FAA’s certification of urban air mobility (UAM) aircraft at the request of Congress. Several electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) vehicle developers have applied for FAA certification, aiming for approval as early as the end of 2024.

U.S. Says Russia Has Almost Complete SAM Coverage In Ukraine

Credit: Alamy

Russian surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems now have almost all of Ukraine’s airspace covered, though Russia still has not established full air superiority over the country, a senior U.S. defense official said March 8. Ukrainian Air Force aircraft still are flying in parts of the country and Ukrainian air-defense systems still are active almost two weeks into the invasion, the official said.

From Airbus beginning a green hydrogen partnership with an Australian firm, to Spirit AeroSystems growing its business jet segment. Take a look at the daily roundup of aerospace & defense news.

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