Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Nov. 05

Germany’s parliament has green lighted the purchase of 38 new-build Eurofighter Typhoons for the country’s air force. The €5.6 billion ($6.6 billion) Quadriga purchase will build a new batch of aircraft to enable the replacement of early-model Tranche 1 aircraft in service with the German air force. Credit: Gerard van der Schaaf

Bell/Sikorsky

ISS

K-MAX

Lithuania has inducted its first ground-based Norwegian Advanced Surface to Air Missile System (Nasams) into service, becoming the first of the Baltic States to field such a capability. Credit: Jorgh

Non-European Union countries such as the U.S. and UK are being allowed to participate in the EU’s PESCO defense cooperation initiative. The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) framework urges member states to cooperate more closely on the development and purchase of defense capabilities. Credit: PESCO

Raptor Scientific, a new portfolio company by investment firm L Squared Capital Partners that is seeking to roll up aerospace and defense testing and measurement assets, has bought radar cross-section specialist Sensor Concepts, representatives said Nov. 5. Credit: Sensor Concepts

The French Air Force has declared the new Talios targeting pod operational on its Dassault Rafales equipped with the F3R upgrade. The Thales-developed Talios—short for Targeting Long-Range Identification System—is a follow-on to the Damocles targeting pod, which it is replacing as the primary laser designator for the platform. Credit: Thales

Rocket Lab is moving closer to potential reuse of its Electron small satellite launch vehicle, with plans to attempt a parachute recovery of the first stage as part of its next mission, the company said on Nov. 5. The 16th Electron mission—a rideshare for five customers—is targeted to lift off between Nov. 15-29 from New Zealand’s Mahia Peninsula. Credit: Rocket Lab

The modernized Tupolev Tu-160M strategic bomber made its first flight with new NK-32 series 2 engines on Nov. 3, Russia’s United Aircraft Corp. (UAC) reported. The aircraft took off from the airfield of Kazan Aviation Plant and flew for 2 hr., 20 min. at the altitude of up to 6,000 m. Credit: UAC