Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Feb. 15

NATO Declares AGS Force Ready For Operations

NATO commanders have declared the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) force of radar-reconnaissance Global Hawk unmanned air systems fit for operational duty. Initial Operating Capability (IOC), announced Feb. 15, comes 16 months after the delivery of the first AGS Northrop Grumman RQ-4D Global Hawk to Sigonella, Sicily—the AGS fleet’s main operating base—in November 2019. Credit: NATO / Christian Timmig

Halt Supply Chains Linked To China, Says UK Defense Committee

A committee of UK lawmakers has called upon the country’s defense ministry to stop doing business with British companies owned by Chinese or Russian parents. The Parliamentary Defense Committee’s report into hostile foreign ownership in the defense supply chain says it has found evidence of involvement from “undesirable countries,” and is urging the government to halt what it calls a “country-agnostic approach” to foreign direct investment. Credit: Deer Jet

H160 To Fly Oil And Gas Missions In Gulf Of Mexico For Shell

Airbus’ new H160 twin-engine medium helicopter is to operate on oil and gas missions in the Gulf of Mexico on behalf of energy giant Shell. Four of the helicopters will be leased through an Airbus-linked lessor to operator Petroleum Helicopters Inc. (PHi) who will fly them for the oil company. Credit: Airbus

Vietnam Signs On For Biggest L-39NG Order Yet

Vietnam has signed up to purchase 12 of Aero Vodochody’s new L-39NG jet trainer, the largest order so far for the new aircraft. Announced Feb. 15, the contract also provides for the training of pilots, instructors, ground crew and technicians as well as the supply of spares, and equipment for ground-based training and logistics support. The aircraft will be delivered between 2023 and 2024. Credit: Aero Vodochody

SpaceX Expands Starlink Network, Booster Landing Fails

SpaceX delivered 60 more of its Starlink broadband satellites into orbit on Feb. 16 though it lost the first stage booster during a failed landing attempt, breaking its string of 24 successful touchdowns. The 229-ft. tall Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 10:59 p.m. on Feb. 15, marking the company’s fifth launch of the year and the 19th mission dedicated to deploying its Starlink broadband network. Credit: SpaceX

Russia Launches Progress MS-16 Cargo Ship

Russia successfully launched the Progress MS-16 cargo ship from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Feb. 14. Beyond its traditional re-supply mission to the International Space Station (ISS), the ship will start the expansion process of the station’s Russian segment. Credit: Roscosmos