Aerospace

After its KA-SAT satellite internet service in Europe was disrupted on Feb. 24 by an alleged cyberattack from Russia, Viasat shared details of the attack with industry competitors via the U.S. Space Force’s Commercial Integration Cell.

Fresh off the success of the first U.S. private astronaut mission to the International Space Station, Axiom Space has broken ground on a headquarters campus at Houston Spaceport to support work on the first U.S. commercially developed and operated space station.

UK postal service Royal Mail is planning to purchase as many as 500 fixed-wing uncrewed air systems in the coming years to provide delivery services to remote areas of the country.

Russia’s United Engine Corporation (UEC) has completed the bench test of the first prototype of its PD-8 turbofan engine.

Advanced battery developer Amprius Technologies is to go public through a merger with a blank-check company with the intent of using the funding raised to scale up production of high-energy-density silicon-anode lithium-ion batteries and aviation as an initial target market.

When OEMs launch a new airplane program, they will need supplier partners to help shoulder the burden of development.

Mini-rover Moon landing planned for later this year to prove technology for pressurized JAXA-Toyota Lunar Cruiser.

Initial efforts for Istari will be focused on the development of a synthetic aperture radar, but additional capabilities will be added.

Market demand for the A320neo family remains strong, but Airbus is delaying A321XLR entry-into-service due to certification issues.

SKYSELECT was selected by Finnair Technical Services to provide platform to digitize aircraft parts purchasing process.

HAWAIIAN is investing in REGENT, MA to support initial design of its all-electric, 100-seat Monarch seaglider for 2028.

ONTIC acquired Servotek and Westcon electromechanical product lines from MARSH BELLOFRAM.

BAA TRAINING SPAIN announced upgraded L3Harris A320ceo/neo full flight simulator passed final acceptance tests and is ready for training.

UEC (Rostec) completed bench testing first PD-8 prototype for SSJ-NEW and BE-200. It plans flight tests on IL-76LL.

ATR made first flight of partially configured ATR 42-600S STOL aircraft; final configuration is expected at end of 2022 with the addition of a new

ALTA added L3Harris Technologies as a new affiliate member.

JOBY AVIATION announced its full-size pre-production all-electric aircraft successfully demonstrated a low noise profile, following testing with NASA.

Another established airline has backed a U.S. startup’s sea-skimming, harbor-to-harbor alternative to regional aircraft.

UK space startup Orbex has unveiled a fully completed prototype of the company’s Prime satellite launcher.

Hydrogen is gaining momentum as the zero-emission fuel of the future for aviation but requires massive investment in new infrastructure as well as completely new propulsion systems or aircraft designs to be used to its full potential.

The FAA has approved airworthiness criteria for the Wingcopter 198 delivery drone, a key step toward certification of the aircraft, Germany’s Wingcopter said May 11.

Swedish Biofuels has announced plans to bring 400,000 metric tons (130 million gal) of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) annually to the Swedish market by building three new plants producing alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) fuel.

Flewber, a technology platform that allows users to book private air travel on demand, has released a new version of its app with two new ways to book flights.

Satellite air launch company Virgin Orbit has secured an agreement with conversion specialist L3 Harris Technologies to acquire two Boeing 747-400 airframes to support growth plans for additional launch capacity.

The CityAirbus NextGen will use a custom version of the Magidrive, a lightweight brushless motor.