Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Oct, 7

SkyGuardian

Britain Studying APKWS For Apache

The UK defense ministry says it is considering a purchase of BAE Systems’ Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System (APKWS) II to equip the UK’s future fleet of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters.

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NASA Spacewalkers Surge Ahead Of Schedule

NASA astronauts on Oct. 6 successfully initiated a month-long spacewalk campaign to replace batteries on the International Space Station’s nearly 360-ft.-long solar power truss.

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Airbus, Dassault Lose Patience With Slow FCAS Progress

It is high time the French and German governments launched the demonstrator phase of their joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, Airbus Defense and Space CEO Dirk Hoke and Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier said in an Oct. 7 joint statement.

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Avic Plans Series Of Cargo Drones

Avic is planning to develop a series of four successively larger pilotless cargo aircraft, an official of the state company said at a conference.

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MDA Urged To Adapt Existing Missiles For Hypersonic Threat

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) for the near-term should apply existing interceptor missiles to shoot down hypersonic glide vehicles and avoid investing in a purpose-built, glide-phase interceptor until the technology matures, a Raytheon executive says.

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A400M Performs Side-Door Paratroop Trial

Airbus says it has successfully performed the dispatch of 80 paratroopers in a single pass using the side doors of its A400M airlifter.

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