Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May 6

Concerns that U.S. senators are writing amendments that could prevent the basing of U.S. Air Force F-35s in Britain because of the UK’s planned use of Chinese technology in its future 5G communications network have triggered alarm among British lawmakers.

Bell V-280

F135

The U.S. Space Force plans to launch the X-37B orbital test vehicle outfitted for three missions May 16 from Cape Canaveral.

China has confirmed plans to send a spacecraft to Mars and the Chang’e 5 mission to the Moon by the end of 2020. Both will be launched by Long March 5 rockets. They will be the second and third missions for the launcher type this year, following the lofting of an experimental manned spacecraft and cargo return capsule to low orbit in the first flight of a new version, Long March 5B, on May 5.

IAI Heron

The U.S. Army is checking in daily with Boeing to evaluate how facility closures in India related to the spread of the novel coronavirus may delay delivery of Apache attack helicopters.

Eyeing a new era of airport security that promotes touchless screening and healthier travel, U.S. government services giant Leidos has closed its roughly $1 billion acquisition of L3Harris Technologies’ Security Detection and Automation businesses and Leidos leaders see growth potential in a post-coronavirus world.

The first Russian robotic lunar lander of the post-Soviet era is nowhere ready for flight, industry insiders say, despite official promises to launch a mission next year.

A week after winning a $135 million NASA contract to support work on its fully reusable, deep-space transportation system, SpaceX conducted a successful static test fire of a full-size, second-stage Starship prototype.

The FAA has named eight companies that will assist the agency in establishing technology requirements for suppliers of remote identification services for small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

Germany’s selection of the F/A-18 Super Hornet as a replacement for the Panavia Tornado has triggered a public debate over the country’s role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence plans.

Leaders of aerostructures supplier Spirit AeroSystems already are envisioning a dramatically different company as COVID-19 upends commercial air travel, company executives said May 6 as they revealed a reversal of quarterly fortunes.

The Russian aerospace industry lost two top managers to COVID-19 this week. Evgeny Mikrin, chief designer and first deputy CEO of Energia Corp., died May 5 at the age of 65. He worked at Energia, which is Russia’s leading designer of manned space systems, since 1981. Mikrin led development of new modules for the International Space Station and future reusable manned spacecraft, the company said.

The U.S. Army is seeking industry feedback on two schedule options for the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA), including one timeline with a slight acceleration for the delivery of the first prototype.