Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Sep. 01

Cubic Consolidates Defense Businesses, One Exec Departs

Military training and C4ISR services provider Cubic has merged two defense business units into one, with one of the former unit chiefs planning to leave the company. Credit: Cubic

MAD FIRES Takes Next Step With Gun-Fired Missile Interceptors

Raytheon will focus on developing the seeker for a naval gun-fired, guided missile interceptor under a $32.5 million order announced by the Defense Department (DOD) on Aug. 31. The award opens Phase 3 of the Multi-Azimuth Defense Fast Intercept Round engagement System (MAD FIRES) program. Credit: DARPA

Chinese ICBM, Sensor Moves Suggest Nuke Posture Shift, DOD Says

China may be shifting to a “launch on warning” posture for nuclear attack with a possible expansion of silo-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and development of a space-based early warning capability, a new U.S. Defense Department report warns. Credit: China Ministry of Defense

Lockheed, York Space Systems Win First SDA Contracts

Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems have 30 days to begin work on the first-ever contract for the National Security Space Architecture. The duo won firm-fixed price contracts for the Tranche 0 Transport Layer, which consists of 20 satellites that will feed into the U.S.’s missile warning system. Credit: Lockheed Martin

Gogo Sells Commercial Aviation Unit To Intelsat In Vertical IFC Deal

Embattled aircraft connectivity provider Gogo will sell its commercial aviation unit to bankrupt satellite services provider Intelsat for $400 million in a deal that might help the latter return to a viable business while the former tries to avoid liquidation. Credit: Gogo

Norway Begins SAR Operations With AW101

Norway has inducted its fleet of Leonardo AW101 search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopters into service. Sixteen AW101s are being purchased as part of the Norwegian All-Weather Search and Rescue Helicopter (NAWSARH) requirement that will see the three-engine helicopter replace the Westland-built Sea King, which has been in service since the early 1970s. Credit: Office of the Prime Minister (Norway)

Pipistrel Unveils Electric Vertical-Takeoff Unmanned Cargo Aircraft

Even as it begins deliveries of its first certified electric aircraft, Slovenia’s Pipistrel has begun accepting orders for a family of unmanned cargo aircraft. The flagship hybrid-electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) Nuuva V300 is planned to enter service in 2023. Tandem-wing vertical-takeoff Nuuva V300 (right) is designed to operate from standard helipads. Credit: Pipistrel

Sabrewing Advances Unmanned Cargo Aircraft Despite Flight Delay

Prevented from beginning flight testing by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, startup Sabrewing Aircraft has begun using a flight simulator to verify the performance of its Rhaegal-A unmanned cargo aircraft. Credit: Sabrewing Aircraft