Aerospace & Defense Roundup: August 04

Schedule Impact Unclear After ARRW Test Failure

U.S. Air Force officials will not know how the latest test failure of a hypersonic missile prototype will impact the schedule until an ongoing root cause investigation is completed, Brig. Gen. Heath Collins said on Aug. 4. Credit: U.S. Air Force

Denmark To Base Patrol Aircraft In Greenland Year-Round

Denmark is to permanently station a patrol aircraft in Greenland in a move that reflects the growing military importance of the Arctic region. The Danish Air Force will base one of its multirole Bombardier Challenger CL-604 aircraft at Kangerlussuaq year-round to perform maritime surveillance and search-and-rescue missions. Credit: Tony Osborne/Aviation Week

Hensoldt Eurofighter Self-Defense Suite Study Will Accelerate LTE

German defense electronics firm Hensoldt has been awarded study contracts to investigate the modernization of the Eurofighter’s Praetorian self-defense suite. Credit: Airbus

Boeing Order Book Driving Timing Of E-3 AWACS Replacement

The timing of a potential production line shutdown at Boeing is partly driving an urgent near-term decision on when to start replacing the U.S. Air Force’s E-3 AWACS fleet, with the 737NG-based E-7 Wedgetail emerging as a likely, if challenging, candidate. Credit: Boeing

UK Royal Air Force Begins Hunt For VIP Business Jets

The UK Royal Air Force has begun a search for new VIP aircraft to replace its BAe 146s. The air arm is budgeting £30 million ($41.7 million) for the purchase of a pair of secondhand business jets with a target range of 3,500 nm and capable of carrying eight passengers, a request for information issued by the Ministry of Defense has revealed. Credit: Bombardier

SpaceX Falcon Super Heavy Moves To Texas Launchpad

The first orbital-class SpaceX Falcon Super Heavy rocket, outfitted with 29 methane-burning Raptor engines, was moved to its launch mount in Boca Chica, Texas, on Aug. 3. Credit: Elon Musk/SpaceX

NASA, Partners Study Spaceflight Muscle Tissue Changes

NASA and its partners are using the International Space Station (ISS) to better understand how samples of muscle tissue donated on Earth are changed at the cellular levels by spaceflight. Credit: NASA

L3Harris Caps Major Divestiture Run With $185M Sale To Arlington Capital

The new chief executive of L3Harris Technologies does not expect major mergers or acquisitions (M&A) in his company’s immediate future, and the so-called sixth prime has largely completed the major divestiture project started two years ago when its two halves came together. Credit: L3

Boeing Starliner Launch Date Under Assessment

Launch of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner on a long-awaited reflight demonstration to the International Space Station (ISS) remained on hold while engineers assessed options to address an issue with valves in the spacecraft’s propulsion system. Credit: John Proferes/Boeing

India’s Indigenous Aircraft Carrier Begins Sea Trials

India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier, the future INS Vikrant, has begun sea trials in preparation for the ship’s planned introduction into service in 2022. Credit: Indian Navy

Softbank Eyes HAPS, Satellites For 6G Networks

High-altitude unmanned aircraft and satellites are an integral part of SoftBank’s vision for future 6G mobile networks that expand beyond wireless communications to underpin the digitalization of all industries. Credit: HAPSMobile