In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Sep. 12 2022

September 13, 2022

U.S. Navy’s Secret F/A-XX In ‘Concept Refinement’ Phase

The U.S. Navy’s secretive sixth-generation fighter is in a “concept refinement phase,” with the service’s Office of Naval Operations and Naval Air Systems Command iterating with industry and intelligence agencies on what the future aircraft will be. NGAD concept: Boeing

Top Aces F-16s Win Aggressor Deals At Eglin, Luke

Top Aces has won a five-year contract worth up to $175 million to provide commercial F-16s to support training of U.S. Air Force F-35A and F-22 pilots at two major bases, the company said Sept. 12. Credit: James DeBoer/Top Aces

Blue Origin New Shepard Booster Launch Fails

A Blue Origin New Shepard suborbital booster failed 1 min. 4 sec. after liftoff on Sept. 12, triggering the automated ignition of the capsule’s emergency escape system and a successful parachute touchdown in the West Texas desert. Credit: Blue Origin webcast

The Weekly Debrief: How Many Aircraft Does The U.S. Air Force Need

An uncomfortable truth as the U.S. Air Force prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary as an independent armed service next week is that its aircraft fleet is shrinking, yet not nearly as fast as its leaders would like. Credit: F-35As: USAF

Air Force Seeks Industry Input On Autonomy Prime Innovation Push

Citing the success of its Agility Prime rapid-prototyping program in accelerating development of electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles, U.S. Air Force innovation arm AFWerx is planning an Autonomy Prime program and proposing an Autonomy Proving Ground to test the technologies. Lift Aircraft

NASA’s Lunar CAPSTONE Mission Enters Safe Mode

Credit: NASA/Daniel Rutter illustration
Artist's concept of Capstone.

National Space Council Advances Training And Expansion Strategy

As chair of the second meeting of the White House National Space Council (NSC), Vice President Kamala Harris has announced efforts to inspire and expand the country’s space workforce through a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) educational initiative. Credit: NASA

Teledyne FLIR Debuts ‘Siras’ Quadcopter Commercial Drone

Sensor manufacturer Teledyne FLIR has unveiled a commercial drone targeted for the infrastructure-inspection and other markets. Credit: Teledyne

ESA Chief Sets Priorities For November Ministerial Council

Preparations for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ministerial council, a triennial gathering that will take place this year in November in Paris, are more challenging than ever, according to Director General Josef Aschbacher. Credit: dpa picture alliance / Alamy Stock Photo

Virgin Galactic Advances ‘Delta’ Spaceplane Production Plan

Virgin Galactic is reviewing initial responses to requests for proposals (RFPs) for structural and systems components for the company’s planned new Delta-class spaceplanes, a key step toward the start of serial production of the improved design. Credit: Virgin Galactic

From U.S. Navy’s secret F/A-XX in ‘concept refinement’ phase to Top Aces F-16s win aggressor deals at Eglin, Luke. Take a look at these and more in our daily roundup of aerospace & defense news.

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