Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jan. 06

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) will modify two Avenger unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to serve as one of the testbeds for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Skyborg demonstration programs, the company announced Jan. 6. Credit: GA-ASI

The FAA on Jan. 6 announced a final rule that streamlines the application process for testing supersonic aircraft over land. The Special Flight Authorizations for Supersonic Aircraft regulation responds to renewed interest in the development of supersonic aircraft. But beyond testing, it does not lift the existing prohibition of civil aircraft flying in excess of Mach 1 over land, which has been in place since 1973. Credit: Aerion

French space agency CNES is beginning a €140 million ($168 million) refurbishment and modernization of Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, including a micro-launchpad in parallel with the ongoing construction of the Ariane 6’s launchpad. Credit: CNES-CSG

Cygnus

France is buying three E-2D airborne early warning aircraft for a maximum of $2 billion from the U.S. Navy, making the country the second international customer of the carrier-capable aircraft. Credit: U.S. Navy

Satisfied with the Space Launch System’s (SLS) recent Wet Dress Rehearsal (WDR), NASA is looking to conduct the first simultaneous ground test firing of the heavy rocket’s four RS-25 engines as early as Jan. 17. Credit: NASA

Typhoon

The UK has contracted with MBDA for the production of its Spear 3 network enabled air-to-ground missile which will become the primary weapon of the UK’s F-35 fleet. The £550 million ($746 million) contract, announced Jan. 6, will finalize development and produce an undisclosed number of the weapons and launchers for UK weapon stocks. Credit: MBDA