Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Mar.12

Dutch And Norwegians Cancel Multinational Military Exercises

Credit: Royal Netherlands Air ForceThe Netherlands has canceled a major multinational air exercise as authorities there attempt to contain the spread of COVID-19. The annual Frisian Flag exercise, planned to take place from March 23 to April 3 at Leeuwarden, would have seen participation of fighter squadrons from Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and U.S. Air Force units based in Europe.

NASA IG Warns Of Further Artemis Delays, SLS Issues

Credit: NASAOngoing problems with NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) may delay efforts to return to the Moon with human explorers by late 2024, as preparation for missions to Mars with astronauts in the 2030s, according to the latest assessment from the agency’s inspector general (IG).

Onera Studying Closer Engine-Airframe Integration For Efficiency

Credit: OneraFrench aerospace research agency Onera is completing a wind-tunnel model that will be tested under a project geared to improving engine-airframe integration in future aircraft equipped with higher bypass-ratio turbofans.

Boeing Freezes Hiring, Puts Other Cost-Cutting Measures In Place

Credit: BoeingBoeing, already struggling with sagging sales and rising costs related to the Boeing 737 MAX grounding, is taking steps to conserve cash, including a hiring freeze and limiting corporate travel. The moves, laid out in an employee note from president and CEO Dave Calhoun and CFO Greg Smith Mar. 11, also limit overtime to 737 MAX-focused work and “other key efforts in support of our customers.”

ESA And Roscosmos Defer Mars Exobiology Mission To 2022

Credit: ESAThe European Space Agency (ESA) and its Russian counterpart, Roscosmos, have postponed their joint ExoMars 2020 mission to 2022 after it appeared the full test program could not be conducted before this summer’s launch window.

Boeing Will Run New Wires To Address MAX Wire-Separation Issue

Boeing 737 MAX 8 Credit: BoeingBoeing is moving forward with a plan to modify wiring in undelivered Boeing 737 MAXs before the aircraft are handed over to customers but is still working with the FAA and operators on how to manage grounded aircraft in customers’ fleets, the company confirmed to Aviation Week.

Joint Chiefs Chairman: COVID-19 No Threat To U.S. National Security

Gen. Mark Milley Credit: U.S. Defense DepartmentOne day after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a travel ban between America and mainland Europe for 30 days, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said COVID-19 is not a threat to national security. Gen. Mark Milley told reporters March 12 at the Pentagon if he considered COVID-19 a threat he would inform Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Trump in a “nanosecond.”

Alan Radecki/Northrop GrummanNATO AGS

USAF Scrambles To Acquire G550s, Fearing Line Shutdown

Credit: GulfstreamThe U.S. Air Force is scrambling to acquire G550s to complete the EC-37B Compass Call acquisition program in advance of a possible production line shutdown, despite no official change in Gulfstream’s outlook for the long-range business jet.