Aerospace & Defense Roundup: June 16

European Projects Champion Collaboration On UAM Research

A trio of European-funded research projects has formed a collaborative network to help establish an end-to-end ecosystem for urban air mobility and also increase public understanding and acceptance of the new transportation concept. Credit: EHang

Tech, Supplier Issues Push Boeing T-7A Behind Schedule

Parts shortages and technical issues, including a newly discovered wing rock problem, have delayed the development phase of the Boeing T-7A trainer program by 15-18 months, U.S. Air Force officials said June 16. Credit: Boeing

UK Competitions Watchdog Holds Up CHC/Babcock Offshore Merger

The UK competition watchdog has halted oil and gas helicopter operator CHC Group’s planned acquisition of Babcock Offshore as it considers a formal investigation. Credit: Andy Buchanan / AFP / Getty Images

Hungarian Telecom Eyes Majority Stake In AMOS-Sat Owner Spacecom

A Hungarian information technology and telecommunications company is aiming to buy a majority stake in Israel’s Spacecom, a satellite services provider and owner-operator of the AMOS satellite fleet, for $65 million. Credit: Wikipedia

Intel, Commercial Sats Form Space-Based J-Stars Replacement

A new space-based capability for tracking moving targets on the ground will use satellites owned by the intelligence community and commercial suppliers, the head of the U.S. Space Force said June 16. Credit: Capella Space

U.S. Navy Pulses Industry For Project Overmatch AI Solutions

The U.S. Navy has launched a $100,000 prize challenge seeking artificial-intelligence solutions for Project Overmatch. Naval Information Warfare Systems Command is leading the prize challenge, which is aimed at identifying and leveraging the latest in artificial intelligence-enabled technologies that will allow personnel to make decisions quickly at sea. Credit: U.S. Navy

China Names Astronauts For Shenzhou-12 Mission

A day before the planned launch of the Shenzhou-12 manned spacecraft to the Tianhe space station, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has named the three astronauts heading into orbit. Credit: CMSA

EHang Mobilizes EVTOLs To Support COVID Relief And Control Efforts

With a flare-up in coronavirus cases in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong seemingly on the wane, EHang has revealed it deployed its autonomous air vehicles to support COVID-19 relief and control efforts in its home city of Guangzhou. Credit: EHang

Applications Open For U.S. Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Program

The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) has announced that eligible businesses can begin applying for payroll support under the Aviation Manufacturing Jobs Program (AMJP). Credit: Getty Images / Hinterhaus Productions

South Korean Capital, Hyundai Partner On UAM

Automaker Hyundai and the Seoul metropolitan government have signed a memorandum of understanding to enable the development of urban air mobility (UAM) in the South Korean capital. Credit: Hyundai concept

JAXA And Japanese Industry Partner To Advance Supersonics

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has joined forces with the country’s commercial aviation industry to pursue joint research and development of supersonic aircraft technology with the goal of securing a role on a future international program. Credit: JAXA concept

FAA’s Dickson: Cross-Agency Coordination On AAM Is Essential

Enabling type certification of electric air taxis is a priority for the FAA, but equally important is ensuring these new types of aircraft can operate at scale in the U.S. national airspace system, FAA Administrator Steve Dickson has told Aviation Week. Credit: Bradley Wentzel/Joby Aviation

U.S. Air Force Canvasses Industry For KC-Y Interest

The U.S. Air Force has formally begun the search for companies interested in participating in a KC-Y Bridge Tanker program to supplement the refueler fleet once KC-46A production ends. Credit: Wikipedia

LeoLabs To Add Azores Space Radar For LEO Tracking

Space situation-awareness startup LeoLabs plans to locate its next space radar in the Azores, the Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic. Hosting two S-band phased-array radars tracking satellites and debris in low-Earth orbit (LEO), the Azores Space Radar site is expected to be operational in the first half of 2022. Credit: LeoLabs concept

Russia Flies Testbed For Electric-STOL Demonstrator

A Russian research laboratory has flown an aerodynamic testbed for a planned short-takeoff-and-landing (STOL) demonstrator aircraft using distributed electric propulsion to provide powered lift. Credit: SibNIA