Aerospace & Defense Roundup: July 28

Britten-Norman Buys Former British Army Defenders

UK utility aircraft manufacturer Britten-Norman has acquired a fleet of Defender aircraft previously operated by the British Army. The manufacturer says it is now offering the Defender 4000 aircraft–known by the company as the Islander BN2T-4S–for export and has teamed up with the UK Ministry of Defense’s (MoD) Defense Equipment Sales Authority (DESA) to offer the aircraft through government-to-government sales agreements with friendly nations. Credit: Tony Osborne/Aviation Week

USAF Retires First XQ-58A Valkyrie To Museum

The U.S. Air Force has retired the first Kratos XQ-58A to become a new exhibit at the National Museum of the Air Force after the pioneering unmanned aircraft system (UAS) logged a total of four flight hours on three flights in 2019. Credit: USAF

Engine Problem Forces Historic B-29 ‘Doc’ To Miss AirVenture Oshkosh

Wisconsin—The restored B-29 Superfortress known as “Doc” has paused its tour and will miss this year’s AirVenture Oshkosh after the historic warbird experienced trouble with one of its engines. Credit: Molly McMilin/Aviation Week

Boeing Willing To Accept Supply Chain Risk, Labor Costs For Recovery

Boeing could accept more risk with its supply chain as it seeks to ramp up 737 MAX narrowbody production quickly in 2022, and it will hold its own workforce at roughly 140,000 employees, company leaders announced July 28 while reporting better-than-expected quarterly earnings. Credit: Stephen Brashear / Getty Images

Electra Wins NASA Blown Lift Technology Work

Regional air mobility startup Electra is teaming under a NASA contract with researchers at the University of Southern California (USC) to mature blown lift technologies for electric short-takeoff-and-landing (eSTOL) aircraft. Credit: Cessna

Rocket Lab Sets July 29 For Return To Flight

Rocket Lab intends to return its Electron small satellite launcher into commercial service as early as July 29 following an accident two months ago. The 21st flight of Electron is targeted for liftoff from Rocket Lab’s Mahai, New Zealand, spaceport between 6 p.m.-8 p.m. local time (2 a.m.-4 a.m. EDT.) The two-stage, kerosene- and liquid-oxygen-fueled booster will carry a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory demonstration satellite called Monolith. Credit: Rocket Lab

House Panel Backs Airborne Electronic Warfare Upgrades

A panel of lawmakers wants the U.S. Air Force to study integrating stand-off jamming systems on tactical fighters and the entire Defense Department to prioritize development of cognitive electronic warfare capabilities. Credit: Raytheon

Upgraded Lynx Helicopters Delivered To Portuguese Navy

The Portuguese Navy has taken delivery of the first of five upgraded Lynx shipboard naval helicopters. The service contracted Leonardo in July 2016 to upgrade its fleet of Lynx Mk. 95s to Mk. 95A as part of a midlife upgrade for the platform. Credit: Leonardo Helicopters

Lilium Partners With Customcells On Lilium Jet

Germany-based Porsche battery supplier Customcells is partnering with eVTOL-developer Lilium to provide lithium-ion cells for the aircraft maker’s seven-seat Lilium Jet. Credit: Lilium

Samad’s EStarling EVTOL Completes Hover Tests

UK startup Samad Aerospace has completed hover tests of its half-scale e-Starling all-electric prototype aircraft, marking a key step towards development of the planned follow-on seven-seater air taxi. Credit: Samad Aerospace

Isar Aerospace Secures Additional Investors

German satellite launch startup Isar Aerospace has secured $75 million from investors which include Porsche, the majority owner of the Volkswagen automobile company. Credit: Isar Aerospace

Shield AI Makes Second Defense Acquisition

A week after acquiring an artificial intelligence (AI) company for combat aircraft, Shield AI on July 29 announced the acquisition of Martin UAV. Shield AI will integrate the company’s Hivemind autonomy software into the Martin V-BAT, a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aircraft system. Credit: Martin UAV