Aerospace & Defense Roundup: April. 06
April 07, 2021![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2021-04/04_agm-183a_us-air-force.jpeg?itok=Nm7u7D3M)
ARRW Booster Botches First Hypersonic Flight Test
Credit: U.S. Air Force
AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon
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CAES Brings RF Additive Manufacturing To U.S. Market
In a major growth move following the 2020 acquisition of Cobham by private-equity investors, the company’s radio-frequency products arm has forged a strategic alliance to bring 3D-printed waveguide technology to U.S. space, electronic warfare, radar and other applications. Credit: CAES
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Credit: Mathilde Défossez/armée de l’Air et de l’Espace
A400M
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Credit: Airbus Defense and Space
Artist's concept of FCAS.
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LanzaJet Gets Backing From Shell For SAF Production Scale Up
Oil and gas giant Shell has invested in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) producer LanzaJet, joining backers including British Airways (BA) and All Nippon Airways (ANA). LanzaJet is constructing its first 10 million gal./year ethanol-to-jet-fuel plant in Soperton, Georgia, with operations planned to begin in 2022. Credit: LanzaJet
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Russia Extends Joint Space Exploration Agreement With U.S.
The Russian government has approved an extension of its bilateral cooperation with the U.S. on exploration and the use of space for peaceful purposes for 10 more years, until Dec 31, 2030. The initial agreement was signed in 1992 and established a framework for joint projects in space, beginning with the Mir-Shuttle program, when Russian cosmonauts flew to the Mir orbital station aboard space shuttles and then continued with construction and operation of the International Space Station (ISS). Credit: Energia
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UK To Form Second Qatari Joint Squadron To Support Typhoon Order
The UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) is to establish a second joint squadron with the Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) to support the training of fast jet pilots for the Gulf state. The new unit, to be formed at Leeming, England in September, will fly nine BAE Systems Hawk Mk.167 jet trainers which were purchased as a component of Qatar’s order for 24 Eurofighter Typhoons. Credit: RAF
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No Date For SpaceX Starlink Commercial Rollout, Shotwell Says
As SpaceX prepared to deliver its 24th batch of Starlink satellites into orbit this week, President and Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell said beta trials will continue until the network, designed to deliver high-speed, low-latency internet, is more reliable. “We don’t have a time frame for getting out of the beta phase,” Shotwell said on April 6 at the Satellite 2021 LEO Digital Forum. “We still have a lot of work to do to make the network reliable. We still have drops, not necessarily just because of where the satellites are in the sky. We’ll move off beta when we have a really great product that we’re proud of.” Credit: SpaceX
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UK Defense Mulls Zero-Emission Training Aircraft
The UK Royal Air Force will consider a zero-emission trainer for its upcoming Telum requirement for a fleet of aircraft to be used for elementary flying training. Project Telum aims to provide a replacement for the Grob G115 Tutor aircraft currently used by University Air Squadrons, Air Cadets, and for the flying grading and streaming of pilots into the UK military flight training system. Credit: RAF / Getty Images
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NASA’s Latest Orion Test Article Goes For Dive
NASA proceeded with a new round of drop tests April 6 on the latest version of the Orion crew capsule test article. The tests were a milestone in preparation for a Pacific Ocean splashdown and recovery for Artemis II, the first test flight of the deep space mission spacecraft with astronauts on board. Credit: NASA
UK defense mulls zero-emission training aircraft, NASA's latest Orion test article goes for dive, ARRW booster botches first hypersonic test, additive manufacturing and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN).
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