NATO Meeting To Focus On Emerging Tech, Pressuring Russia
NATO’s defense ministers are meeting in person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brussels, where they will announce a new fund to develop disruptive technologies and attempt to exert more pressure on Russia after Moscow severed its diplomatic ties with the organization.
andy.savoie@av… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 22:34
Primary Category

U.S. Air Force ‘Weak,’ Conservative Think Tank Says

By Brian Everstine Oct 20, 2021
The U.S. Air Force has lost effectiveness by not having enough aircraft available and not flying them enough, and is undertaking a modernization effort that does not address current needs, the conservative Heritage Foundation says in its yearly assessment of military strength.
Budget, Policy & Operations
B-1Bs Deployed To Indo-Pacific, Europe Simultaneously
The U.S. Air Force has deployed its B-1B Lancer to both the Pacific and Europe simultaneously, a message that the service has growing confidence in the health of a fleet that faced readiness struggles and has seen heavy cuts within the past year.
andy.savoie@av… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 22:01
Primary Category
House Panel Explores Space Nuclear Propulsion
In testimony before the U.S. House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Oct. 20, NASA made it clear the agency faces significant strategic and technical challenges in developing a nuclear propulsion capability to lead the way for the human exploration of Mars by the end of the 2030s.
andy.savoie@av… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 21:50
Author
Primary Category

First Aksungur MALE UAV Delivered To Turkish Navy

By Tony Osborne Oct 20, 2021
Turkish Aerospace Industries’ Aksungur twin-engine, medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system has entered service with the Turkish navy, the first customer for the platform.
Aircraft & Propulsion
Scotland Targets £4 Billion Space Economy By 2030
Scotland is hoping that its space industry can contribute more than £4 billion ($5.53 billion) to its economy by 2030.
andy.savoie@av… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 17:03
Author
Primary Category
Solar Array Issue Delays Deployment Of Lucy Instrument Pointing Platform
Attempts to fully unfurl and latch a solar array on NASA’s recently launched Lucy asteroid probe will resume no earlier than the end of next week, NASA said on Oct. 19.
andy.savoie@av… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 16:20
Author
Primary Category

KAI Dives Into KF-21 Low Observability Studies

By Kim Minseok Oct 20, 2021
Korea Aerospace Industries is working to improve the low observable capability of its new KF-21 fighter, although the plan has yet to be approved by the Ministry of National Defense and defense procurement agency DAPA.
Aircraft & Propulsion
Singapore Validates CH-47F Integrated Operations
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is putting its new Boeing CH-47F Chinooks through their paces, validating capabilities at the annual Exercise Wallaby in Australia.
michael.stearn… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 14:24
Author
Primary Category
China Tests 500-Metric-Ton-Thrust Solid-Rocket Booster
The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. has successfully tested what it is calling the world’s most powerful integral solid-rocket booster.
michael.stearn… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 13:33
Author
Primary Category

International Space Station Takes On New Role As Movie Set

By Irene Klotz Oct 20, 2021
Science fiction becomes science fact as iconic Star Trek actor flies in space.
Commercial Space
An Emotional Shatner Sees Life, Death In Blue Earth And Black Space
Actor returns from spaceflight deeply touched by experience.
audra.avizieni… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 08:00
Author
Content summary

Shatner, Unscripted

Primary Category
NASA Probe Heads For Close Look At Asteroids Trapped In Jovian Orbit
The mission, which is costing NASA $981 million, including the launch, is the first to the Trojan asteroids.
ARTURO.MORA@IN… Wed, 10/20/2021 - 08:00
Author
Content summary

Lucy in the Sky With Asteroids

Primary Category

LeoLabs Adds Sixth Space Radar Site In Australia

By Graham Warwick Oct 20, 2021
The Australian location will provide good coverage of launch corridors from East Asia, and improve space coverage in the Southern Hemisphere.
Commercial Space
Rocket Lab Eyes Nov. 11 For Next Flight
Rocket Lab will attempt a controlled ocean splashdown and recovery of the Electron small satellite launcher earmarked for flight next month, the company said on Oct. 19.
andy.savoie@av… Tue, 10/19/2021 - 22:18
Primary Category
Boeing Working Through Starliner Valve Issue
Boeing is nearing the end of a winding technical analysis of a valve problem that scotched plans for an uncrewed orbital flight test of its CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in August.
andy.savoie@av… Tue, 10/19/2021 - 22:01
Author
Primary Category
Meggitt Expects Parker Merger To Proceed Despite UK Intervention
Aerospace supplier Meggitt says it still expects its acquisition by Parker Hannifin to proceed, despite an intervention by the UK government over national security concerns.
andy.savoie@av… Tue, 10/19/2021 - 21:32
Author
Primary Category

Astronaut Flight Training Hangar Named For Apollo’s John Young

By Mark Carreau Oct 19, 2021
NASA has named an astronaut flight training hangar in honor of the late John Young, who launched on six space missions and served as commander of the Apollo 16 Moon landing and the first space shuttle mission.
Space

DOD Developing Common Standards, Interfaces For DEWS

By Steve Trimble Oct 19, 2021
The U.S. Defense Department has announced plans to apply modular open systems approach standards on an emerging class of directed energy weapon systems. 
Missile Defense & Weapons

USAF Takes First Step Toward Possible E-7A Buy

By Steve Trimble Oct 19, 2021
The U.S. Air Force plans to look into how much work it will take to convert Australia’s E-7A Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft into a U.S. Defense Department-compliant platform.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

Kendall Calls For More Hardened Fuel Systems, Weapons Storage

By Brian Everstine Oct 19, 2021
The U.S. military’s logistics infrastructure is vulnerable to both physical and cyber attacks and Capitol Hill needs to help the Pentagon defend its weak points, the U.S. Air Force’s top civilian said.
Budget, Policy & Operations

KAI Proposes Electric And  Turboprop Black Kite Variants

By Kim Minseok Oct 19, 2021
The propeller-driven trainer and light-attack aircraft is designed to replace South Korea's KT-1.
Light Attack and Advanced Training

BAE/Sierra Nevada Competes Against Northrop For GHOST

By Steve Trimble Oct 19, 2021
Three industry teams have been selected to compete for the next signals intelligence sensor being developed for the U.S. Air Force’s high-altitude aircraft fleet.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

Safran Begins Arriel 2E Helicopter Engine Assembly In Texas

By Tony Osborne Oct 19, 2021
Safran has begun producing Arriel 2E helicopter engines in Texas to support the U.S. Army’s purchase of the B-model UH-72 Lakota helicopter.
AUSA 2020

South Korea, Boeing At Impasse Over E-X Costs As Program Grows

By Kim Minseok Oct 19, 2021
South Korea’s DAPA defense acquisition agency has confirmed that its airborne early warning program, known as E-X Batch 2, has grown from two to four aircraft, but the agency is “struggling” in its negotiations with Boeing over its proposal due to its unexpectedly high cost.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare