FlightGlobal reports Belgium is joining the US in “not accepting new deliveries of the latest Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighters, pending the certification of an improved flight computer and new software.” Belgium’s defence ministry “says it will follow Washington’s lead in not accepting F-35s assembled in the new Technical Refresh 3 (TR-3) configuration, which Lockheed is in the process of flight testing. The military airframer is experiencing delays completing flight certification of the TR-3 package, which prompted Lockheed to lower its F-35 delivery targets for 2023, as customers pause accepting new fighters.” On August 1, the Belgian ministry of defence said, “The refusal of the US government means that the process of certification and qualification is still ongoing and that the US government does not want to accept (and therefore pay) for hardware as long as the software is not fully finished. … This is a completely logical decision that also applies to Belgium.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal)
Tag: Pending
FAA Grounds Blue Origin New Shepard Rocket Pending Investigation of Aborted Launch
The Orlando Sentinel reports that the FAA has grounded the Blue Origin New Shepard rocket pending an investigation to “determine whether any system, process, or procedure related to the mishap affected public safety” after the New Shepard suffered a launch mishap about a minute after liftoff. The FAA wrote, “The anomaly that occurred triggered the capsule escape system. The capsule landed safely and the booster impacted within the designated hazard area. No injuries or public property damage have been reported.”
Full Story (Orlando Sentinel)