Advanced Air Mobility

The U.S. Air Force has detailed its plans to accelerate the emerging advanced air mobility market, and potentially become an early adopter of electric vertical-takeoff-and-landing vehicles, but is making clear it does not intend to set requirements or fund development.

Having placed a bet on the return of supersonic air travel by becoming a supplier on Aerion’s AS2 business jet, aerostructures specialist Spirit AeroSystems is putting down a marker on the emerging urban air mobility industry.

Spirit’s eVTOL tieup; electrified commuter aircraft; kitplane-based MALE flies; Volocopter raises more funds; Sweden’s electric aviation.

“We see numerous companies that are pushing really cool technology that has a chance to really change the world,” Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper says.

The Neuron demonstrator flew a series of collaborative missions with five Dassault Rafale fighters and an E-3 airborne early warning platform.

A logistics division of German rail operator Deutsche Bahn and a venture fund established by Japan Airlines have joined Volocopter’s Series C funding round.

Stratospheric test flights to come as PHASA-35 high-altitude pseudo-satellite makes first flight in Australia.

Russian Naval aircraft’s first flight; Space Force to integrate MILsatcom; F/A-18s tested in Finland; and Turkey’s armed drone.

A National Academies study of advanced aerial mobility requested by NASA concludes the commercial cargo market is likely to be an early adopter of autonomous air vehicle technology for rural cargo operations, including “middle mile” distribution and “last mile” package deliveries.

The Russian military has confirmed the first order for the Forpost-R reconnaissance unmanned aircraft—a significantly redesigned variant of Israel Aerospace Industries’ Searcher.

BAE Systems has flown the first full-scale prototype of its PHASA-35 solar-powered high-altitude pseudo-satellite unmanned air system in Australia.

Advancing Asian UAM; removing space debris; fuel could help in gusts; measuring X-59’s shocks; DLR’s new Falcon testbed.

Kaman will work with United Arab Emirates military supplier Trust International on potential sales opportunities for Kaman’s unmanned K-MAX helicopter.

An appreciation of Clay Christensen’s theory through the lens of disruptive aerospace innovations.

The manufacturer and NASA have worked since 2011 to develop a C2 data link waveform for drones.

Boeing's jet-powered MQ-25 will embark on aircraft carriers “to conduct aerial refueling as a primary mission and provide some ISR capability as a secondary mission,” according to fiscal 2021 Navy budget documents.

Boeing plans for the Airpower Teaming System drone to fly for the first time this year, aiming at the global defense market, with Australia as the potential launch customer.

U.S. funds electric propulsion; Wisk to carry passengers; Gremlins mission demo; HAPS payload developed; Astra Space emerges.

Controp Precision Technologies is showcasing electro-optic and IR systems for counter-drone systems.

The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency envisions using MALE UAVs to support search, rescue and anti-pollution missions.

FAA is advancing a construct based on third-party UAS Service Suppliers—rather than air traffic controllers—providing flight authorization, traffic deconfliction and other services.

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.

After forming a strategic partnership in 2019, Alphabet company Loon and SoftBank subsidiary HAPSMobile have jointly developed a broadband-internet communications payload for the AeroVironment-designed Hawk30 high-altitude pseudo-satellite.

Air navigation service provider Airways New Zealand has entered into an agreement with a UK company to build on a proof-of-concept drone detection system currently being tested at Auckland Airport (NZAA).

Elbit will fly several different unmanned aircraft systems for the maritime demo, including its 1.2-metric-ton Hermes 900.