September 2021 news

Defense Aviation and Aerospace Industry


 

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics to explore the development of an all-electric heavy lift UAS

BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics have announced plans to explore the development of an all-electric ‘heavy lift’ uncrewed air system (UAS) as a potential new solution to deliver cost-effective, sustainable rapid response capability to military, security and civilian customers.

Leonardo contracts next stage of Tempest flight test aircraft Excalibur

Leonardo has placed the latest in a series of contracts with UK-based aviation services company 2Excel to commence the next stage of the Tempest flight test aircraft (FTA) programme.

Belarus tests new radars during exercise at Ashuluk range

The Belarusian military has tested new radars during an exercise at the Ashuluk range in the Astrakhan Region, Russia, according to State Military-Industrial Committee (Goskomvoenprom).

UAV Corp announces successful pre-flight testing of DATT MA 600 hybrid electric airship prototype under US Air Force AFWERX

UAV Corp’s Skyborne Technology (STI), Research in Flight (RIF) as Prime contractor, Auburn University and Gulf Coast State College have successfully tested the pre-flight systems of the U.S. Air Force AFWERX program prototype the DATT MA 600 (Detachable Airship from a Tether Technology) Hybrid Electric Extended Range Airship with Modular Payload (e2RAMP) under the 1St phase of the Air Force AFWERX contract. With initial buoyancy modifications, multiple test flights are planned for later this month.

USA: CH-53K King Stallion logs first successful fleet mission

The US Marine Cops CH-53K King Stallion successfully recovered a US Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter from Mount Hogue in the White Mountains of California on Sunday, September 5. The two-day operation was the first official fleet mission for the US Marine Corps’ new heavy lift capability, which is in the midst of Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, Ca.

Royal Air Force next-generation Remotely Piloted Aircraft takes to UK skies

A pre-production example of the UK’s new Protector aircraft has taken to the UK skies as part of preparations for the arrival of Protector to RAF Waddington. The air station has been selected as the home of the Protector International Training Centre, as part of a £94 million investment into infrastructure improvements to assist with housing the aircraft ahead of its entry into service in 2024.

Northrop Grumman demonstrates Next Generation Electronic Warfare and radar interoperability at Northern Lightning

Making its first test flight, the Northrop Grumman Corporation Next Generation Electronic Warfare (NGEW) system joined the AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR) at Exercise Northern Lightning. NGEW and SABR demonstrated full interoperability in a realistic and contested electromagnetic spectrum environment.

BAE Systems to provide Identification Friend-or-Foe Technology for E-2D Hawkeye

The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $26 million contract for Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) spares for the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Under the contract, BAE Systems will provide Beamforming Networks (BFNs), an integral part of antenna control for the AN/APX-122A IFF Interrogator system, onboard the carrier-capable tactical aircraft.

Bulgaria and USA practice low-level tactical flights and airdrop drills in exercise Thracian Summer 21

Bulgarian and American service members participated in the air exercise Thracian Summer 2021, August 17 – September 7. The exercise allowed both Allies to test their interoperability and demonstrate their capability.

Russian jets arrive in Belarus for joint training

Russian Su-30SM fighter jets arrived in Belarus to create a joint training center of the two countries, the Belarussian Defense Ministry said.

Royal Air Force hands over the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania to the Royal Canadian Air Force

The RAF detachment that has been conducting the NATO enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania has handed over the mission to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

L-3 Communications wins $173M to support Missile Defense Agency Airborne Sensors Program

L-3 Communications Integrated Systems L.P., doing business as L3 Aeromet, Tulsa, Oklahoma, is being awarded an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum amount of $172,719,699. A single initial task order in the amount of $22,878,503 is being issued.

India to convert six civil A319s from Air India into AEW aircraft

The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security approved six new made-in-India Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft (AEW&C).

India to procure 56 C-295MW transport aircraft

In India, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft. A total of 40 aircraft will be manufactured in the country.

Russia and Syria hold first joint exercise of helicopter pilots in desert

Russia and Syria has held the first-ever joint exercise of helicopter pilots in the deserts of the Syrian Arab Republic, the chief of Russia’s air component in Syria Andrey Yermakov told media.

Collins Aerospace awarded three agreements for US Air Force U-2 program

Collins Aerospace was awarded an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) sustainment contract for the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) U-2 program with a ceiling value of $493 million to support the USAF’s fleet of U-2 electro-optical/infrared sensors. The USAF also awarded Collins a $66.2 million Task Order for the first year of support, and fully-negotiated options for the second and third years of services and support valued at $114.6 million.

Official creation of Franco-German C-130J squadron

On 30 August 2021, the German Minister of Defence Mrs. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer met with her French counterpart, Mrs. Florence Parly, in Paris. On this occasion, the two ministers signed the second Inter-governmental agreement on Franco-German cooperation in the field of tactical air transport.

Northrop Grumman demonstrates connectivity for Long Range Command and Control

Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully demonstrated a data link for connecting aircraft in highly contested airspace for long-range command and control through an open architecture network. This experiment is a critical milestone in the evolution of a distributed multi-domain battle management command and control architecture that maintains decision superiority for the U.S. military and allies.

Archer Aviation enters agreement with US Air Force to collaborate on eVTOL flight testing

Archer Aviation Inc., a leading developer of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, announced an agreement with the USAF to establish a collaborative strategy to explore the technical readiness and suitability of Archer’s eVTOL aircraft for USAF purposes.

Arktika-M satellite completes flight trials

The flight trials of the Arktika-M hydrometeorological satellite have been completed, a recommendation for commissioning is obtained, according to the Roscosmos space agency.

Page 3 of 5