Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Mar. 02

ATS Loyal Wingman Makes First Flight, More Investment Follows

The prototype of Boeing’s Airpower Teaming System (ATS) has flown in Australia. The successful first flight, at Woomera, South Australia, on March 1, has triggered additional investment of A$115 million ($90 million) from the Australian government to build another three ATS air vehicles, taking the planned fleet for development, testing and training to six aircraft. Credit: Cpl. Craig Barrett - Royal Australian Air Force

Hypoint To Deliver Advanced Fuel Cells For Electric Aircraft In 2022

HyPoint has unveiled a functional laboratory prototype of a hydrogen fuel-cell power system for electric aircraft that the startup says will have three times the specific power of existing fuel cells and five times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries. The California-based startup is developing the turbo air-cooled (TAC) power system, which combines three technologies to improve performance: high-temperature proton-exchange membrane (HTPEM) fuel cells, air cooling instead of liquid cooling, and turbocharging. Credit: HyPoint

Lockheed Shutting Down Historic Middle River, Maryland, Site

Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon’s largest contractor by annual sales, will close its Middle River factory near Baltimore, affecting 465 employees and shuttering a facility whose roots date to 1929 and the Glenn L. Martin Company. Credit: USN

U.S. Army FTUAS Requirements Meeting Set For 'Coming Weeks'

U.S. Army aviation leadership intends to go before the Army Requirements Oversight Council (AROC) in the “coming weeks” to approve the requirements for the Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (FTUAS) that is envisioned to replace the Textron RQ-7B. Credit: USMC

Flint Hills Solutions, UAV Navigation Partner On UAS Helicopter

Flint Hills Solutions has partnered with UAV Navigation to integrate their joint technologies into the FH-900 Series autonomous Vertical Takeoff and Landing Unmanned Aerial System (VTOL UAS) helicopter. The UAS helicopter will provide heavy lift, long endurance and an open payload integration capability, Flint Hills Solutions says. It will be suited for agriculture, infrastructure inspection, package delivery, construction management, surveying and other purposes. Credit: Flint Hills Solutions