Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jan. 25

January 26, 2021

Spirit Aero-Led Team Will Develop UK Mosquito Loyal Wingman Platform

Credit: UK government


A team headed by Spirit Aerosystems will lead the development and demonstration of a low-cost unmanned combat aircraft that could go on to operate as a loyal wingman for the UK’s Typhoon, F-35, and later Tempest manned fighters. 

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Inmarsat Joins UK Future Flight Challenge Initiative

Credit: Inmarsat


Satellite operator Inmarsat announced on Jan. 25 that it will provide satellite communications for a UK government initiative to create a zero-carbon emissions regional air transportation network. 

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Sikorsky, Boeing Unveil Defiant X Design For FLRAA Competition

Credit: Sikorsky-Boeing

UK Pilot Fined For Illegal Landing At Military Airfield

Credit: RAF Valley


The pilot of a Pilatus PC-12 who made an illegal landing at a military airfield in Wales last year to visit a nearby beach has been fined £3,400 ($4,650) following court hearings. 

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SpaceX Sets New Record With 143-Satellite Launch

Credit: Carleton Bailie


SpaceX debuted a small satellite mass transit system, delivering 133 customer payloads and 10 of its own Starlink spacecraft into Sun-synchronous, near-polar low Earth orbits. 

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U.S. Army Creates New Lab To Test Emerging Tech

Credit: nps.gov


The U.S. Army recently established a joint systems integration laboratory to test new technologies and determine whether they are a fit for Project Convergence ’21 (PC21), according to the head of Army Futures Command.

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BAE Plans U.S. PHASA-35 Demonstrations

Credit: BAE Systems


BAE Systems will conduct a demonstration flight of its PHASA-35 high-altitude pseudo-satellite in the U.S. this year for potential Defense Department customers. 

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Dassault Aviation - A. Pecchi
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The Weekly Debrief: Can USAF Exploit Commercial Supersonic Boom?

Credit: Aerion


A boom in supersonic and hypersonic transport development projects for the commercial market has the U.S. Air Force asking two questions: What are the potential military applications? And how can the Air Force help?

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UK Study Finds Benefits In Drones, Air Taxis

Credit: Vertical Aerospace


As the UK launches a series of projects under its Future Flight Challenge, a new study highlights the potential socio-economic benefits of an integrated aviation system built on freight-carrying drones, urban air taxis and hybrid-electric regional aircraft.

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Netherlands Selects Virgin Orbit For First Testbed Military Satellite

Credit: Virgin Orbit


As Virgin Orbit gears up for the start of operational missions following its successful Jan. 17 demonstration flight, the California-based space company has revealed it has been selected to launch the first military satellite for the Netherlands. 

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STP-3 Launch Slips, Allowing Boeing Starliner Reflight To Advance

Credit: John Proferes/Boeing


NASA and Boeing are now targeting March 25 for the launch of an uncrewed CST-100 Starliner on the Orbital Flight Test-2 (OFT-2) to the International Space Station—four days earlier than previously planned. 

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Bridenstine Becomes Private Equity Fund Advisor

Credit: NASA/Ben Smegelsky


Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine began a new job on Jan. 25: senior advisor to Acorn Growth Companies, an Oklahoma-based private equity firm focused on midsize aerospace, defense and intelligence companies. 

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Space Vets Call For Inspiring, Risk-Managed Human Exploration

Credit: NASA


This week NASA observes the agency’s annual Day of Remembrance, a memorial to 17 astronauts who perished over seven decades.

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Spirit Aero-led team will develop UK Mosquito Loyal Wingman platform, BAE plans U.S. PHASA-35 demonstrations, space vets call for inspiring, risk-managed human exploration and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN). 

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