Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Sep. 22
September 23, 2020![](/sites/default/files/styles/crop_freeform/public/2020-09/e-7-wedgetail-banner_0.jpg?itok=Ruwe9Flx)
UK Mulling Reduced Wedgetail Order
Credit: Boeing
The UK defense ministry reportedly is considering reducing the number of Boeing E-7 Wedgetail airborne early warning aircraft it plans to purchase.
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Saab Moves Flight Test Gripen E To Brazil
Credit: Saab
A Saab flight test aircraft of the F-39E Gripen NG arrived in Brazil for the first time to continue a year-old certification campaign before a scheduled first delivery of an operational jet in 2021, the company announced on Sept. 22.
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Blue Origin To Resume New Shepard Flight Tests
Credit: Blue Origin
Blue Origin plans to conduct its 13th New Shepard launch on Sept. 24, ending a nine-month hiatus in flight testing.
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Iceye Closes $87M Funding Round For SAR Constellation
Credit: Iceye Open configuration options
Finland-based Iceye has closed an $87 million series C financing round to complete its planned 18-satellite constellation of synthetic aperture radar (SAR) microsatellites and to build a U.S. manufacturing and engineering hub.
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Hyundai Teams With Seoul Incheon Airport To Test UAM
Credit: Urban-Air Port
Hyundai Motor is continuing to build out the infrastructure side of its initiative to begin commercial urban air mobility services by 2028.
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Credit: USAF
F-35B
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Walmart Launches Third Drone Delivery Trial
Credit: DroneUp
Flight services provider DroneUp on Sept. 22 announced a pilot program with Walmart and Quest Diagnostics to deliver COVID-19 test sample collection kits by drone in North Las Vegas, Nevada.
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Spirit Aero May Not Close Asco, Bombardier Acquisitions
Credit: Spirit AeroSystems
Barring the equivalent of light speed regulatory action in Europe, Spirit AeroSystems appears unlikely to close its proposed $420 million acquisition of Asco Industries—at least not under the current terms that expire Oct. 1.
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Credit: U.S. Government
U.S. Space Force logo.
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COVID-19 Delays First Flight Of NASA’s Low-Boom X-Plane Demo
Credit: NASA
Already on a tight schedule to deliver community acceptance data to regulators, NASA has revealed that COVID-19 challenges have pushed the first flight of its X-59 QueSST low-boom flight demonstrator back to summer 2022, from late 2021.
UK mulling reduced wedgetail order, Walmart launches third drone delivery trial and more. A roundup of aerospace, space and defense news powered by Aerospace Daily & Defense News.
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