USAF: Hypersonic Development Needs To Focus On Moving Targets

By Brian Everstine May 13, 2022
U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told lawmakers May 13 that current U.S. hypersonic weapon systems lack the capability to engage moving targets, which would be critical if the weapons were to be effective in Air Force operations.
Missile Defense & Weapons

Sweden Safer Under NATO, But Russian Backlash Likely, Report Says

By Tony Osborne May 13, 2022
Sweden would be safer under NATO’s security umbrella, but the country would be at risk of a Russian backlash during the application process, a government report suggests. 
Budget, Policy & Operations
Virgin Orbit Could Sell Up To $250M In Shares To Sustain Ops
Virgin Orbit, the newly public satellite launch provider, saw revenue halve and its net loss double in the first quarter of 2022. 
guy.ferneyhoug… Fri, 05/13/2022 - 11:40
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U.S. EVTOL Makers Call For Increased FAA Rule-Making Clarity

By Guy Norris May 13, 2022
Advanced air mobility aircraft manufacturers are calling for clearer guidance from the FAA over certification requirements after the regulator signaled a change in rules governing approval for winged electric vertical-take-off-and-landing vehicles.
Advanced Air Mobility
Viasat Shares Russia Hack Data Via USSF Commercial Integration Cell
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. 
andy.savoie@av… Thu, 05/12/2022 - 21:58
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Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine Prompts Norwegian Defense Spending Upticks

By Tony Osborne May 12, 2022
Norway is eyeing additional increases in defense spending in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Milky Way’s Black Hole Brought To Light

By Irene Klotz May 12, 2022
An international team of astronomers has directly imaged for the first time the telltale ring of gas surrounding the black hole at the center of the Milky Way galaxy, some 27,000 light years from Earth.
Space

Axiom Space Breaks Ground As Houston Spaceport Tenant

By Mark Carreau May 12, 2022
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.
Commercial Space

Royal Mail Eyes Rapid Expansion Of UAS Postal Delivery Services

By Tony Osborne May 12, 2022
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.
Advanced Air Mobility

Kazakh Industry To Build Anka UAS

By Tony Osborne May 12, 2022
Turkish Aerospace’s Anka medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air system will be produced in Kazakhstan under a new arrangement between the OEM and industry in the Central Asian country.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Raytheon Investment Forms Hypersonic Boost For Hermeus

By Guy Norris May 12, 2022
Hypersonic aircraft and propulsion system developer Hermeus has received a boost from Raytheon Technologies, which has announced a strategic investment in the company through its recently established corporate venture capital group, RTX Ventures.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Thales Wins Helmet Mounted Display Replacement For F-16s

By Steve Trimble May 12, 2022
A Thales system will replace the helmet mounted display on all Lockheed Martin F-16s flown by Air National Guard and Reserve pilots, the company says. 
Aircraft & Propulsion
FARA Engine Running Well But Supply Chain Issues Remain
General Electric’s T901 turboshaft, the powerplant for the U.S. Army’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA), is performing well in early tests and is on track to be delivered in November to Bell and Sikorsky, the two FARA competitors.
guy.ferneyhoug… Thu, 05/12/2022 - 15:11
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Finnish Leaders Endorse NATO Membership

By Tony Osborne May 12, 2022
Finland’s prime minister and president have together said the Nordic country “must apply” for NATO membership “as a matter of urgency” to strengthen the country’s security. 
Budget, Policy & Operations

Advanced Battery Startup Amprius To Go Public In SPAC Deal

By Graham Warwick May 12, 2022
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.
Advanced Air Mobility

South Korea To Consider FA-50 Upgrades

By Kim Minseok May 11, 2022
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will seek funding for a midlife upgrade of the FA-50 from South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration this year.
Aircraft & Propulsion

Colorado Lawmakers To Continue SPACECOM Fight Despite IG Report

By Brian Everstine May 11, 2022
Several lawmakers are continuing to raise concerns about the decision to base U.S. Space Command’s headquarters in Alabama even after the Defense Department Inspector General on May 10 issued its findings that the Air Force’s choice was reasonable.
Budget, Policy & Operations

U.S. Army Tests Downing Drones With High-Powered Microwaves

By Brian Everstine May 11, 2022
The U.S. Army recently wrapped up more than two weeks of testing high-powered microwave systems to down small drones, with one of three entrants fully meeting the test’s goals and another showing promise.
Missile Defense & Weapons

NASA SpaceX Crew-3 Astronauts Praise Space Station’s Role

By Mark Carreau May 11, 2022
Less than a week after their safe return to Earth, NASA’s four SpaceX Crew-3 astronauts offered a positive assessment of a growing workload aboard the International Space Station and the level of mutual trust and camaraderie among the astronauts and cosmonauts who serve despite Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.
Space

Don’t Accelerate Hypersonic Missile Because Of Sub Struggles, USN Says

By Brian Everstine May 11, 2022
Despite increased interest in hypersonic systems on Capitol Hill—with some lawmakers looking to increase funding for individual efforts—the U.S. Navy is not looking to accelerate its Conventional Prompt Strike weapon because of continued delays in upgrades for its new attack submarines.
Missile Defense & Weapons

U.S. Navy Appears To Second Guess Plan To Cut Expeditionary Growlers

By Brian Everstine May 11, 2022
The U.S. Navy already appears to be wavering on its plan to divest five squadrons of Boeing EA-18G electronic attack jets over the next three years, with the squadrons remaining in demand and a lack of capacity in carrier-based units to pick up the slack. 
Budget, Policy & Operations

U.S. Army Confirms Ramjet For Extreme-Range PRSM Variant

By Steve Trimble May 11, 2022
A range-boosting combined cycle propulsion system and a seeker for moving targets have been tested for an anti-ship version of the Lockheed Martin Precision Strike Missile, U.S. Army officials say.
Missile Defense & Weapons

UK Agrees To Defense Pacts With Finland, Sweden

By Tony Osborne May 11, 2022
The UK has agreed to mutual defense pacts with Finland and Sweden that would see the UK help defend the Nordic nations if attacked.
Budget, Policy & Operations

Hawaiian Airlines Eyes Seagliders For Interisland Services

By Graham Warwick May 11, 2022
Another established airline has backed a U.S. startup’s sea-skimming, harbor-to-harbor alternative to regional aircraft. 
Airlines & Lessors

Orbex Reveals Prototype Prime Launcher

By Tony Osborne May 11, 2022
UK space startup Orbex has unveiled a fully completed prototype of the company’s Prime satellite launcher.
Commercial Space