Aerospace & Defense Roundup: April. 13

The U.S. Air Force has converted the acquisition strategy for the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), estimated to cost at least $1.2 billion, to a six-way competition. The move, announced in a March 17 acquisition notice, scratches the original plan to award the contract without a competition to Northrop Grumman Mission Systems. Credit: US Navy

Babcock is mulling the sale of its emergency helicopter businesses as part of a streamlining effort after taking a £1.7 billion ($2.3 billion) hit to its profits. The UK engineering services firm hopes to generate £400 million over the next 12 months with several business being reviewed as disposal candidates, the company said in a business update issued to investors April 13. Credit: Babcock

After consultations with German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced an additional 500 U.S. troops will be based in Germany by the fall because of growing operational requirements. The decision reverses the policy of the Trump administration, which planned to drastically reduce U.S. forces based there. Credit: Stars and Stripes file photo

Astrobiotic’s Griffin lunar lander, carrying NASA’s water-hunting VIPER rover, will fly on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, with the launch targeted for late 2023. Terms of the contract, announced on April 13, were not disclosed. Astrobotic declined to say what other launch vehicles, if any, were considered. Credit: Astrobiotic concept

Bell has created a team of potential suppliers in Germany as it offers its new Model 525 twin-engine super-medium helicopter as a platform for the country’s federal police, the Bundespolizei. The Bundespolizei is expected to launch a tender for as many as 44 8-10 ton-class helicopters in the coming months to replace its fleet of Airbus-built Super Puma-family and EC155/H155 aircraft. They are used for law-enforcement, search and rescue, firefighting, and border and coastal surveillance. According to the German media, around €1.6 billion ($1.9 billion) has been earmarked for the replacement program until 2031. Credit: Bell Helicopter

Sun ‘n Fun Aerospace Expo opened April 13 with an announcement by Textron Aviation of a special edition Beechcraft Bonanza G36 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the iconic six-seat single-engine piston aircraft. The aircraft will be distinguished by a custom interior and paint scheme inspired by Olive Ann Beech’s signature blue color, called “Mrs. Beech Blue,” a custom color she adopted on the advice of fashion designer Oleg Cassini. The color became her brand and was found on everything from her dress suits, office furnishings, automobile paint and personal aircraft interiors. Credit: Textron Aviation

The competitive phase has begun to develop a counter-hypersonic interceptor for the Missile Defense Agency by the mid- to late-2020s. A Broad Area Announcement (BAA) eThe competitive phase has begun for development of a counter-hypersonic interceptor for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) by the mid to late 2020s. Credit: DARPA

Blade Urban Air Mobility has struck a deal with Beta Technologies to secure up to 20 Alia electric air taxis. As Blade does not own or operate the aircraft used to provide its service, they will be purchased by its financing and operating partners for delivery beginning in 2024. Credit: Beta Technologies

Northrop Grumman is beginning to seek new customers for its Mission Extension Vehicle after achieving a second successful docking in geostationary orbit, this time with a commercial communications satellite that was actively serving customers. Launched in August 2020, the second Mission Extension Vehicle, MEV-2, autonomously docked with the Intelsat 10-02 satellite on April 12 in its operational GEO location at 1 deg. West longitude. Operational for 17 years and running out of fuel, but otherwise healthy, IS-10-02 now will be able to remain in service for up to five more years. Credit: Northrop Grumman

Orbital Sidekick, a San Francisco-based startup aiming to offer satellite-based hyperspectral imaging and data analytics for the energy sector and others, has wrapped up a $16 million series A investment round, as expected. Credit: Orbital Sidekick

Fixing an issue with NASA’s Mars Ingenuity helicopter will require a slight modification to the vehicle’s software, delaying the first flight test. “While the development of the new software change is straightforward, the process of validating it and completing its uplink to Ingenuity will take some time,” NASA said in a statement on April 12. “Our best estimate of a targeted flight date is fluid right now, but we are working toward achieving these milestones and will set a flight date next week.” Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) is calling for the U.S. to review its national security policy and is frustrated that the White House is “dragging their feet” on releasing the federal budget. He has requested the White House send the fiscal 2022 budget to Capitol Hill by May 10 to avoid a continuing resolution that would extend the current spending plan. Credit: Wikipedia