Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Feb. 22

Transport Canada Issues Bell 505 Emergency Directive

Transport Canada has issued an emergency airworthiness directive (AD) requiring Bell 505 operators to conduct a one-time inspection of the helicopter’s collective stick to detect evidence of cracking.Credit: Bell

The Weekly Debrief: An F-35B Induction Highlights Looming Modernization Bills

A Lockheed Martin F-35B flew to the Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina, in mid-February to receive the airframe equivalent of major surgery. A decade of durability and fatigue testing revealed that 30 parts on the F-35B could fail between 2,000 and 4,000 flight hours, or far short of the 8,000 flight hour service life required in the original development contract awarded to Lockheed in 2001. Credit: U.S. Navy

MBDA, Tawazun To Develop SmartGlider Weapons

European missile manufacturer MBDA and Emirati defense firm Tawazun have signed agreements that could lead to the joint design and development of the SmartGlider family of glide bombs. The two companies signed a heads of terms agreement at the International Defense Exhibition on Feb. 22 to create a long-term partnership and undertake development studies. Credit: French Air Force

UAE Reveals Loitering Munitions, Anti-Ship Missile Developments

Emirati defense company Edge Group has unveiled a range of indigenously developed loitering munitions and a surface-launched anti-ship missile, demonstrating local advances in weapons development. The systems, which also include a family of electric-powered air vehicles, were unveiled at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) in Abu Dhabi on Feb. 21. Credit: Edge Group

St. Jude’s Physician Assistant Named To Private Space Mission

Hayley Arceneaux, a physician assistant at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and pediatric cancer survivor, will fly along with entrepreneur and pilot Jared Isaacman on a chartered SpaceX Crew Dragon flight. The mission, named Inspiration4, is part of a fundraising drive for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Credit: www.businesswire.com

Israel Firms KC-46 Buy, Confirms Third F-35 Squadron Purchase Plan

The Israeli government has confirmed it will acquire a third squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35s as well as heavy-lift helicopters and advanced munitions as part of its new arms procurement program to update the Israeli Defense Forces. Credit: Israeli Ministry of Defense

Northrop Grumman Cargo Capsule Reaches Space Station

Northrop Grumman’s 15th NASA-contracted Cygnus resupply mission successfully rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) early Feb. 22, enabling astronauts on board to grapple the freighter and its 8,400 lb. cargo with the orbiting lab’s Canadian robot arm. Credit: NASA

Investigation Launched Into Spacecom HQ Basing Decision

The Defense Department inspector general is launching a probe into the U.S. Air Force’s decision to select Alabama as the home of U.S. Space Command (Spacecom) headquarters. The review will begin this month and the watchdog agency will assess if the service complied with policies during the selection process. Credit: U.S. Space Command

NASA Releases Multi-Camera Videos Of Perseverance Landing

NASA has released about 4,500 images and video taken by its new Mars rover Perseverance and descent stage, including unprecedented views of parachute deployment, heat shield jettison, rocket jetpack ride, touchdown in Jezero Crater and even the flyaway of the descent stage. “This is the first time we’ve been able to actually capture an event like the landing of a spacecraft of Mars,” JPL Director Michael Watkins said at a Feb. 22 news conference. Credit: NASA