Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jan. 06

GA-ASI Will Modify Avengers For Skyborg Tests

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

FAA Releases Rule For Supersonic Flight Testing

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

Europe’s Spaceport In Kourou To Receive Major Upgrade

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

Space Station Resupply Capsule Begins Free-Flight Phase

Northrop Grumman’s Cygnus resupply spacecraft was unberthed from the International Space Station (ISS) on Jan. 6 to begin the three-week, free-flight phase of its lengthy mission. Credit: NASA

Stratcom Looks Beyond Aircraft To Replace Doomsday Fleet

A replacement for the airborne command post (ABNCP) for U.S. Strategic Command may not require an aircraft to host the mission, Stratcom commander Admiral Charles Richard said Jan. 5. Credit: U.S. Navy

France Becomes Second E-2D International Customer

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

NASA Looks To Jan. 17 For SLS Hot Fire

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

Tempest Becomes Trinational With MoU Signing

The UK, Italian and Swedish governments have signed a trilateral memorandum that paves the way for the three countries to jointly develop the next-generation Tempest combat air system to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen. Credit: Airbus

UK Contracts With MBDA For Spear 3 Missile Production

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