Aerospace & Defense Roundup: July 21

Fuel-Cell Dornier 328 To Use Universal Hydrogen’s Capsules

Universal Hydrogen is to work with Deutsche Aircraft to incorporate its modular hydrogen capsule technology into the German manufacturer’s planned Dornier 328 fuel-cell propulsion demonstrator. Credit: Deutsche Aircraft

UK, Japan To ‘Accelerate’ Talks On Combat Aircraft Collaborations

The UK and Japan are looking to “accelerate discussions” on joint developments around future combat aircraft. The two nations want to jointly develop subsystems for their future combat aircraft—the UK’s Tempest and Japan’s. F-X—statements released by the defense ministries of both countries revealed on July 20. Credit: Ray Troll/BAE Systems

DLR Targets Flight Tests Of Improved Hybrid Rocket Engine

German aerospace center DLR plans to develop a full-scale flight test version of an advanced, lightweight hybrid rocket engine following successful ground runs of a prototype at its Trauen site near Hamburg. Credit: DLR

Boeing Eyes Helicopter, P-8 Opportunities In Asia

Riding a wave of military modernization programs in the Asia-Pacific region, Boeing says it is seeing potential for new rotary-wing orders and upgrades, especially for AH-64 Apaches and CH-47 Chinooks. Credit: Chen Chuanren

ISS Astronauts Free Docking Port For Boeing Starliner Test Flight

The International Space Station’s (ISS) four U.S. segment crewmembers boarded their SpaceX Crew-2 Dragon capsule early July 21 to relocate the capsule from the Harmony module forward to the Harmony zenith docking port, freeing a parking spot for the arrival of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. Credit: NASA

First Rafale Handed To Greece Six Months After Contract Signing

Dassault AviationRafale

Russia Launches New Scientific Module To ISS

Russia has successfully launched a new module for the International Space Station (ISS), lofting the 20-ton Nauka multipurpose scientific lab atop a Proton-M heavy launcher at 5:58 p.m. Moscow time (10:58 a.m. EDT) July 21 from Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan. Credit: NASA

NASA’s Perseverance Rover Nears First Mars Sample Collection

NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover is preparing to acquire its first sample of surface material. The milestone is expected to get underway in the next two weeks on a region of the robot geologist’s Jezero Crater landing site called the Crater Floor Fractured Rough, whose most prominent features may have formed from past volcanic activity or sedimentation. Credit: NASA

Japan Studies Trainer Replacement Options

The Japanese Defense Ministry’s Acquisition Technology and Logistics Agency (ATLA) has launched a feasibility study of acquisition methods to replace Kawasaki T-4 intermediate jet trainers, Subaru T-7 basic trainers and ground-based training systems. Credit: Jerry Gunner

FLRAA Bidding Process Opens For Sikorsky/Boeing, Bell Teams

The U.S. Army has sent requests for proposals to a Sikorsky/Boeing team and Bell for the Future Long Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) contract. Credit: Bell

Volocopter, Skyports Study UAM At Malaysian Airports

Malaysia Airports is to work with Volocopter and Skyports to explore the deployment of electric air taxis. The feasibility study is intended to produce an air mobility model that can be applied across the Asia-Pacific region. Credit: Volocopter