Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Oct. 20

Turkey, Ukraine To Cooperate On UAVs, Turbine Engines

Turkey and Ukraine have signed agreements to strengthen cooperation on defense industrial programs.

Nanoracks Sells Airlock Service Contracts To NASA, ESA

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have signed contracts with privately owned Nanoracks to use the company’s Bishop airlock, which is due to be delivered to the International Space Station (ISS) next month. Credit: Kim Shiflett/NASA

Firefly Launch Manifest Grows

Firefly Aerospace, which plans to debut its Alpha small satellite launch vehicle this year, has signed contracts with Spire Global and Geometric Space Corp. for multiple flights. Alpha, which has an initial lift capacity of 2,200-lb. (1,000 kg) to low Earth orbit (LEO) and nearly 1,400 lb. to Sun-synchronous orbit, will launch Spire Lemur satellites—used for tracking, weather forecasting and other services—on several missions. Credit: Firefly Aerospace

Pyka Tests Unmanned Crop Sprayer Over U.S. Farms

For a startup, speed to market is everything. And California-based Pyka has a “minimum viable product” it believes can accelerate fielding of two of the hottest technologies in aviation: autonomy and electric propulsion. Credit: Pyka

MHI Proposing Upgraded H3 For Lunar Supply

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is proposing to use improved versions of its H3 rocket as a launcher for lunar supply. An H3 version with a new second stage is the earliest prospect for a Japanese lunar rocket. In 2022 MHI intends to begin developing the launcher for an increasing number of Earth-orbit payload missions, thereby reducing unit costs. Credit: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency

Inmarsat, Hughes Partner On In-Flight Connectivity For Airlines

Satellite network operators Inmarsat and Hughes Network Systems announced a “strategic collaboration” on Oct. 20 to provide in-flight connectivity designed for commercial airlines in North America. Credit: Inmarsat

Thales Uses Silicon-Germanium In New Airborne AESA

Thales has adopted Silicon-Germanium semiconductor technology for its new airborne surveillance radar. Credit: Airbus Helicopters

Leader Spotlight: Amy McGrath–The Kentucky Senate Challenger

Democrat Amy McGrath is challenging one of the most powerful Republicans in Congress, Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) for his Senate seat. A retired U.S. Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and former F/A-18C/D pilot, McGrath has extensive experience in aerospace and defense. Should the balance of power shift in the Senate, her comments provide a look at how Democrats with a background in the industry might shape future policy.

Boeing To Demonstrate Solid Fuel Ramjet For U.S. Navy

Boeing will demonstrate an F/A-18E/F-launched solid fuel ramjet missile technology for the U.S. Navy in late 2022, the company said Oct. 20. The Supersonic Propulsion Enabled Advanced Ramjet (Spear) flight demonstration adds another high-speed weapon system to the Pentagon’s list of research and development projects. Credit: F/A-18E/F: U.S. Navy

Transport Canada Authorizes Drone Powerline Inspections

Transport Canada has granted geomatics company MVT Geo-solutions permission to fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of an operator to perform powerline inspections in Alma, Quebec. Credit: Iris Automation

Volansi Tests Drone Delivery Of Cold-Chain Medicines

U.S. drone start-up Volansi announced on Oct. 20 that it is testing the delivery of temperature-controlled medicines in North Carolina with pharmaceutical company Merck. Credit: Volansi