Aerospace & Defense Roundup: July 21
July 22, 2021
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 Aviation
Rafale

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
Bell
V-280

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
UK and Japan look to 'accelerate discussions' on combat aircraft collaborations, Boeing eyes helicopter opportunities in Asia, Russia launches new scientific module to ISS, NASA's perseverance Rover nears first Mars sample collection, FLRAA bidding process opens and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN).
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