Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Tony Osborne
The two-seat piston-powered TH-180 is the first new model Enstrom to emerge from the Michigan-based helicopter manufacturer for a decade.

NanoRacks hopes to use the unpressurized “trunk” of the SpaceX Dragon cargo carrier to fly its “Bishop” airlock to the ISS by the end of 2017.

By Jay Menon
India is working toward launching satellites with superior Earth observation capability in a bid to improve imaging from geostationary orbit, the country’s top scientist says.

The cargo CST-100 also would offer unpressurized “upmass” to the International Space Station (ISS) in its throwaway service module.
Space

By Mark Carreau
NASA astronaut Scott Kelly is prepared for the challenge of a lifetime as he nears the start of a one-year mission to the International Space Station, the longest spaceflight for an American by far.

With the completion of its 100th flight in February, the European nEUROn unmanned combat air system (UCAS) demonstrator has finished its test campaign in France and will now move to Italy and later Sweden.
Defense

Despite being disparaged at times by U.S. Air Force leadership as inferior aircraft, the air combat F-15C and ground-attack F-15E are getting a costly makeover to keep them operationally relevant for another 20-plus years.

By Tony Osborne
Spanish engineering firm Sener has teamed up with General Atomics to offer the MQ-9 Reaper to meet the Spanish air force’s requirement for a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) UAV.

By Tony Osborne
AgustaWestland could make a decision on a new large helicopter to fit between the AW189 and the AW101 later this year, CEO Daniele Romiti has revealed.

By Tony Osborne
Avicopter says it is looking for a Western engine to serve as the power plant for its new AC3X2 light twin-engine helicopter.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN says Global Hawk program has reduced cost per flight hour down to half the cost of the manned alternative; aircraft also saw 40% increase in flight hours from 2013 to 2014, and maintained perfect safety record in FY14. BAE SYSTEMS received U.S. DOD approval for its Advanced Threat Infrared Countermeasures (ATIRCM) system. AEROVIRONMENT had $2.3m net income on $68.4m revenues in third quarter ended Jan. 31 vs.

In his first hearing on NASA’s proposed fiscal 2016 budget, Rep. John Culbertson (R-Texas), the new chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA, added Russia to the list of “aggressive” adversaries of the U.S., comparing Vladimir Putin to “Joe Stalin.” Under grilling from Culbertson, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden conceded NASA and its partners probably would have to abandon the International Space Station if Russia shut off access via its Soyuz capsules.

To list an event, send information in calendar format to Donna Thomas at [email protected]. (Bold type indicates new calendar listing.) Mar. 10-12 — AIAA Defense And Security Forum (Defense 2015), Laurel, Maryland. For more information go to www.aiaa-defense.org/ Mar. 10-12 — AIAA Missile Sciences Conference, Laurel, Maryland. For more information go to www.aiaa-defense.org/msc/ Mar. 10-12 — AIAA National Forum on Weapon System Effectiveness, Laurel, Maryland.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN licensed its air-flow-through (AFT) cooling technology for electronics to GE INTELLIGENT PLATFORMS. ASTRONAUTICS CORP. OF AMERICA

Rep. John Culbertson (R-Texas), the new chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that funds NASA, vows to go his predecessor one better in

/site-files/aviationweek.com/files/uploads/2015/03/asd_03_06_2015_dmin.pdf North America On Feb. 23rd, Bell Helicopter announced that later this year

By Tony Osborne
ORLANDO, Florid—Sikorsky has confirmed that it has abandoned its S-434 light helicopter program. Work on the project ended last summer, Dan Hunter

NASA’s Dawn asteroid-belt probe has used its solar-electric propulsion system to achieve orbit around Ceres.
Space

While there has been no significant impact yet, continued U.S. operations against Islamic State militants could cut into Asia-Pacific region needs, says Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general, U.S. Army, Pacific.

The revamped Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) design – designated as FF, or fast frigate, by the U.S. Navy – will likely attract more sales in the international arena, contractors says. That is, when the ships finally get approved and built.

U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT says fiscal 2016 foreign military financing (FMF) request for Israel is $3.1b. Israel has received $20.5b in FMF since 2009

FAA Administrator Michael Huerta says he and Transportation Department Secretary Anthony Foxx are “open” to discussing a restructuring of the agency

By Mark Carreau
As much as 20% of the ancient Martian surface may have been covered by an ocean, a mile or 1,600 meters deep and most likely in the northern hemisphere, according to a NASA Goddard Space Flight Center-led study of global moisture in the atmosphere of the red planet.

By Mark Carreau
NASA’s next Mars lander, InSight, will aim for a touchdown on a smooth patch of terrain within Elysium Planitia in the northern equatorial region of the red planet.

By Mark Carreau
Two delayed Planet Labs, Inc., Earth observing Dove CubeSats were successfully launched from the International Space Station last week.