Aerospace & Defense Roundup: Oct. 14

SB-1 Defiant Opens Flight Envelope To 232 Knots

Credit: Sikorsky/Boeing

The Sikorsky-Boeing Defiant on Oct. 12 completed a flight test that expanded the rotorcraft’s flight envelope to 211 kt. in straight flight and 232 kt. in a descent, the companies announced.

GE Tests New FATE Engine To Offer Army Upgraded T408

Credit: GE Aviation

As engine selection for one bidding team seeking a Future Vertical Lift contract continues, a new GE Aviation engine for a heavy rotorcraft has now reached 130 hr. of testing and captured 2,200 steady-state data points, the company said Oct. 14.

Qatari Hawk Fleet Could Be Based In UK

Credit: BAE Systems/Chris Ryding

Qatar is expanding its defense pact with the UK, and may base its BAE Systems Hawk jet trainer fleet in the UK.

ESA Awards Mars, Moon Exploration Contracts To Airbus, TAS

Credit: Airbus

Airbus and Thales Alenia Space have been awarded contracts for major European Space Agency (ESA) contributions to NASA’s crewed Artemis lunar program and the robotic exploration of Mars.

Seven Nations Sign U.S. Artemis Accords For Space Exploration

Credit: NASA

Seven nations interested in collaborating with the U.S. on the Artemis lunar exploration initiative have signed an agreement known as the Artemis Accords, which establishes principles for cooperative space projects.

Sweden Plans Smallsat Launch Capability From 2022

Credit: Swedish Space Corp.

Sweden plans to establish a small satellite launch capability from its Esrange Space Center, joining a growing list of European countries with launch ambitions.

Multi-Copters Could Supplement Helicopters In EMS Role, Study Says

Credit: ADAC/Volocopter

Electric-powered multi-copters could supplement traditional helicopters in the emergency medical service role, a study by Germany’s ADAC motoring association has detailed.

General Atomics, Boeing Team Up For High Energy Lasers

Credit: General Atomics-Electromagnetic Systems

General Atomics-Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing have teamed up to join an increasingly heated competition for high energy laser (HEL) weapons, the companies announced Oct. 13.

NAVAIR Will Host AH-1W Industry Day

Credit: U.S. Department of Defense

Although the U.S. Marine Corps is retiring the AH-1W Super Cobra aircraft, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is contemplating what the helicopter’s post-operational life will look like.

Lockheed Preps For GMLRS, PRSM Advances

Credit: U.S. Army

Lockheed Martin will begin a series of flight tests next month on a new version of the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) with twice the range, a company executive said Oct. 13.

Embraer Delivers Six A-29s To Philippines

Credit: Embraer

Embraer has now delivered all six A-29 Super Tucanos ordered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) three years ago, the company announced Oct. 14.

Netherlands Accelerating Airlifter Procurement Plans

Credit: Koninklijke Luchtmacht

The Netherlands plans to accelerate the replacement of its C-130 Hercules airlifter fleet with a procurement program planned to deliver new aircraft from 2026.

Casc Tests Gear For Mid-Air Recovery Of Rocket Engines

Credit: Casc

Chinese engineers have designed and tested equipment for aerial recovery of space launcher main engines, which they regard as offering advantages over powered descent by fully reusable first stages.