Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jan. 27

F-35B

Boeing on Jan. 27 reported a new $275 million charge on the KC-46A program, pushing overall write-downs since 2014 past $5 billion pretax and setting a new annual record in 2020. Boeing blamed the latest quarterly charge on “production inefficiencies, including impacts of COVID-19 disruption.” Credit: Boeing

GKN Aerospace is leading a UK program to develop a liquid-hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion system for subregional aircraft. The £54 million ($74 million) government-industry program, called H2GEAR, could lead to a zero-emission hydrogen-powered aircraft entering service as early as 2026. Credit: GKN Aerospace

Flying Ship is a U.S. startup that plans to modernize the Russian ekranoplan ground-effect vehicle concept and bring unmanned aircraft technology to maritime logistics while avoiding the onerous burden of aerospace regulation.

The U.S. Air Force has begun the reorganization of its space acquisition ordered by service leadership in early January, with the ultimate goal of installing an acquisition executive for space in 2022. The new organization features three new directorates each run by a colonel, Shawn Barnes, performing the duties of the assistant secretary of the Air Force for space acquisition and integration, told reporters Jan. 27. Up until this point, Barnes’ role was focused on policy and providing advice and counsel to the Air Force secretary and how will pivot his focus to acquisition and architecture. Credit: NOAA

The burgeoning urban air mobility (UAM) sector is poised to open up private air travel to unprecedented markets. But benefits will only be maximized if decisions are made now to ensure UAM systems are accessible to the disabled, experts say. That is the argument put forward in a white paper published in the UK this week by the Civic Air Transport Association (CIVATAglobal), a trade group for the advanced air mobility sector, and Aerobility, a disabled flying charity. Credit: Aerobility

Plans to demonstrate an autonomous aerial firefighting capability with an Erickson S-64 Aircrane heavy-lift helicopter have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Erickson had hoped to equip an Aircrane with Sikorsky’s Matrix autonomous flight technology. The aircraft would autonomously collect water and drop it on fires, thus flying hazardous firefighting missions without endangering crews. Credit: Erickson

Rafale

After an early, productive start to a 7-hr. spacewalk, two NASA astronauts encountered difficulties installing a Ka band antenna outside the International Space Station on Jan. 27.