Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Aug. 27

NGAD concept

South Korea has reportedly expanded its requirement for additional Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightnings to 40 aircraft from 20, as the defense ministry refines plans for a ship to carry some of them. Enlargement of the intended F-35 force is being driven by the plan to build an aircraft carrier, which in turn looks like a measure for competing with Japan. Credit: South Korean Ministry of National Defense

The first launch of Russia’s Angara A5 heavy rocket with a new booster is planned for 2021. The head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, Dmirty Rogozin, was quoted by the TASS newswire saying that the main purpose of the launch is to test the new Persei (Perseus) booster. “Both the [Angara’s] government customer—the Defense Ministry—and Roscosmos are very interested in this new booster,” he said. Credit: Allocer

Moon

Russia’s Defense Ministry awarded Russian Helicopters a contract for the development of a new ship-based rotorcraft at the Army2020 forum near Moscow this week. The manufacturer’s CEO, Andrey Boginsky, said the concept for the new aircraft has already been defined. It will be developed jointly by the Mil and Kamov design teams. Credit: Maxim Pyadushkin