Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Sep. 15

AFSOC Preps MC-130 For Potential Arsenal Plane Role

US Air Force An MC-130 releases a pallet of CLEAVER munitions in a January test.

MagniX To Provide Electric Propulsion For Fuel-Cell Dash 8

Universal Hydrogen has selected MagniX to provide the electric propulsion system for its planned conversion of the de Havilland Canada Dash 8-300 regional turboprop to hydrogen fuel-cell power. Credit: MagniX

Verizon Skyward, Parrot Partner On Drone Package

Verizon Skyward and French manufacturer Parrot have partnered to offer a drone training and operations management package based on Parrot’s Anafi USA quadcopter, the companies announced Sept. 15. Credit: Parrot SA

USAF Flies Full-Scale Flight Demo For Next-Gen Fighter

A full-scale flight demonstrator for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program already has flown in and “broken records” in the process, a senior official said on Sept. 15. Credit: Northrop Grumman

AirbusTyphoon

European Theater Dynamics Prompt Mildenhall Base Retention

National support from the UK and a need to retain basing flexibility prompted the U.S. Air Force to reverse its decision to close RAF Mildenhall, England. Confirmation that the Suffolk base—home to the 100th Air Refueling Wing and a co-located special operations group—would remain open came in July. Credit: www.mildenhall.af.mil

New Solar Cycle Should Be Much Like The Last

The new 11-year solar cycle is expected to match its extremely quiet predecessor, which concluded in December 2019. The new prediction forecasts solar geomagnetic activity peaking in July 2025 with the Sun producing 115 sunspots, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Sept. 15. Credit: NOAA