Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Jun. 15

European Commission Gives €205M To Defense Development Projects

EuroDrone Credit: Dassault AviationProjects including the development of a low-observable tactical unmanned air system, research into high-resolution observation payloads for satellites and work on a European-developed detect-and-avoid system for the future EuroDrone air system have been awarded financing through the Preparatory Action on Defense Research (PADR) and the European Defense Industrial Development Program (EDIDP), the commission announced on June 15

Blue Canyon To Build LEO Buses For DARPA’s Blackjack Demo

Optical inter-satellites will connect the autonomous Blackjack satellites. Credit: DARPADARPA has awarded Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT) a $14.2 million contract to provide commercial satellite buses for the Blackjack program to demonstrate a military constellation of autonomous satellites in low Earth orbit (LEO) connected by a high-speed network.

Lueders Third Person To Lead NASA’s Lunar Leap

Kathy Lueders Credit: NASAFresh off a major milestone in a difficult 10-year effort by NASA to establish a U.S. commercial capability to transport astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), Kathy Lueders has taken over leadership of an accelerated effort by the agency to return human explorers to the Moon’s surface in 2024.

Beta Relocates Alia EVTOL Prototype To Expand Flight Testing

Fixed-pitch lift rotors and pusher propeller are used for simplicity and reliability. Credit: Eric Adams/Beta TechnologiesBeta Technologies took the wraps off its Alia electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing aircraft in spectacular fashion on June 12, when the prototype was airlifted by helicopter across Lake Champlain to begin flight testing from Platsburg International Airport in New York.

Rocket Lab Resumes Flights With NASA, NRO Launch

"Don't Stop Me Now" mission launch. Credit: Rocket LabAfter an 11-week hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rocket Lab resumed launch operations on June 13 by successfully launching a payload of small satellites for NASA, the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and the University of New South Wales Canberra Space into low Earth orbit.

U.S. Export-Import Bank Back To Boosting Boeing, GE Sales

Credit: BoeingThe U.S. Export-Import Bank (EXIM) is back in the business of supporting Boeing and General Electric (GE)—leading aerospace and defense companies that served as the face of alleged corporate welfare to anti-bank critics in recent years.

Honeywell Forms Unmanned Systems, UAM Business Unit

A Volocopter 2X test aircraft flies over Marina Bay, Singapore, in October 2019. Credit: Nikolay Kazakov, VolocopterHoneywell has established an Unmanned Aerial Systems business unit focused on growing its presence in the emerging markets for drones and urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles.

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Aneto-Powered AW189 Certified

Credit: LeonardoLeonardo Helicopters has secured European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) certification for the Safran Aneto 1K-powered version of the AW189 super-medium helicopter. EASA’s AW189 Technical Data documentation confirms that certification of the helicopter was signed off on June 8 and follows EASA approvals for the engine in December.

Russian Helicopters Targets Ansat For Mexican Market

Ansat Credit: Russian HelicoptersRussian Helicopters is hoping to plant its flag in Mexico’s commercial light helicopter market with its Kazan Ansat twin-engine light rotorcraft.