Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jul. 23
AFRL Selects Four Companies For Skyborg UAS Contracts
The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) announced on July 23 the selection of four companies to compete to build autonomous and attritable unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) for the Skyborg Vanguard program. Boeing, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI), Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems and Northrop Grumman have all received an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract worth a maximum of $400 million for the program, which aims to deliver an operational Skyborg capability by the end of fiscal 2023.
Senate Passes Defense Policy Bill Before August Recess
The Senate on July 23 voted 86-14 in favor of a $740 billion fiscal 2021 defense policy bill, setting the stage for committee staff to begin negotiating a conference deal with the House before entering August recess.
UK’s Jet Zero Council Begins Zero-Carbon Long-Haul Flight Push
With the goal of demonstrating zero-carbon flight across the Atlantic within a generation, the UK government’s Jet Zero Council held its first meeting on July 22. Co-chaired by the British transport and business ministers, the Council aims to create a government-industry partnership to deliver ways to reduce aviation emissions and meet the UK’s commitment to be net-zero carbon by 2050.
Swedish Medevac PC-24 Completes First Flight
A Swedish medevac PC-24 jet completed its first flight July 22, marking the first of six Pilatus PC-24s destined for the Swedish Air Ambulance organization. The flight left Buochs Airport sporting the blue and yellow national colors of Sweden less than a year after an agreement between Pilatus and Kommunalforbundet Svenskt Ambulansflyg (KSA) was signed. The PC-24 is Serial Number 186 for Pilatus, according to Aviation Week Network Fleet Discovery data.
USAFF-35
Leonardo Flies Radar-Equipped M-346FA
Leonardo has completed the first flight of its M-346 advanced jet trainer fitted with the company’s Grifo radar. The first production-standard M-346 Fighter Attack (FA) took to the air on July 13, the OEM announced July 23, with the aircraft demonstrating several differences from the standard M-346.
U.S. Releases Evidence Of Russian ASAT Test
The U.S. has released evidence that Russia conducted a “nondestructive” test on July 15 of a space-based anti-satellite weapon (ASAT). Russia fired a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543 near another Russian satellite, according to U.S. Space Command (Spacecom). The move is similar to an on-orbit test the nation conducted in 2017.
UK Lawmakers Question Wisdom Of OneWeb Stake
British lawmakers have expressed concern that the government’s decision to invest in the failed OneWeb satellite constellation ignored input from advisers. Letters published by the UK Parliamentary Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee reveal that Alok Sharma, the minister for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)—the department leading the OneWeb stake purchase—pushed through the $500 million purchase despite the advice of key officials.
U.S. Navy Certifies Sixth Ford Weapons Elevator
The U.S. Navy is making incremental progress on one of the USS Gerald R. Ford’s key new technologies: installing a sixth advanced weapons elevator (AWE) designed to efficiently move ordnance to the flight deck.
Russian Progress Capsule Completes ISS Fast-Track Launch, Docking
Russia’s MS-15 Progress resupply capsule successfully docked to the International Space Station’s (ISS) Russian segment on July 23, less than 3 1/2 hr. after launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The freighter linked to the ISS Russian segment Pirs docking module at 1:45 p.m. EDT, delivering 5,600 lb. of propellant, crew supplies, station hardware and science experiments.
GAO Warns Of Hypersonic Interceptor, Space Sensor Risks
A new interceptor and space-based surveillance system for shooting down hypersonic missiles represent a set of daunting technical challenges for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the U.S. Government Accountability Office (MDA) said July 23 in a new report.
National Space Council Releases Space Exploration Plan
The Trump administration’s National Space Council on July 23 released a 17-page report outlining its approach to deep-space exploration and development. The report reaffirms the current program of record, namely to follow the International Space Station with cislunar exploration and development, including an outpost in orbit around the Moon that can be used as a staging depot for sorties to the lunar surface as well as a technology testbed for future expeditions to Mars.
French Lawmakers Propose Defense Spending Stimulus
A pair of French lawmakers are proposing a radical stimulus package to help the French aerospace and defense industry weather the novel coronavirus pandemic and likely economic crisis. The flash proposal by Benjamin Griveaux Jean-Louis Thiériot published July 21 calls upon the French government to avoid a “cliff edge” for the aerospace and defense industrial base in the fall, as public aid to companies comes to an end and loan repayments back to the government get underway.AFRL selects four companies for Skyborg UAS contracts, U.S. releases evidence of Russian ASAT test, USAF considers five bases for F-35 FMS training center, GAO warns of hypersonic interceptor and space sensor risks, National space council releases space exploration plan and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.
