Flight Global reports, “The first batch of autonomous ‘Collaborative Combat Aircraft’ being developed for the US Air Force will primarily be tasked with carrying extra precision munitions aloft, with other combat functions coming in subsequent designs.”
Full Story (FlightGlobal – Subscription Publication)
Tag: September 2024
NASA Seeks Input on LEO Microgravity Strategy
NASA published draft high-level goals and objectives outlining 42 key points in six main areas: science, exploration-enabling research and technology development, commercial low Earth orbit infrastructure, operations, international cooperation, and workforce and engagement. The agency invites stakeholders to submit comments on these goals and objectives by close of business Friday, 27 September.
Full Story (NASA)
U.S. Air Force Shares Video of B-21 Raider Taking Off and Landing
Flying Magazine reports, “The U.S. Air Force released footage of the B-21 Raider stealth bomber undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Wednesday’s video marks the service’s first reveal of the aircraft’s flight operations. ‘A B-21 Raider conducts flight testing, which includes ground testing, taxiing, and flying operations in California,’ the Air Force said in a statement accompanying the video.”
Ful Story (Flying Magazine)
Honeywell Unveils Its SAMURAI AI-Enabled Counter-Drone Swarm System
National Defense Magazine reports, “Honeywell has launched its Stationary and Mobile UAS Reveal and Intercept system, or SAMURAI, which is designed to counter swarm drones and protect critical assets in an increasingly contested airspace, the company announced Sept. 16. The system, which can be used on vehicles and fixed-based platforms, combines ‘beyond-visual-line-of-sight communication with command-and-control capabilities’ to ‘detect, track and then counter drone swarms.’”
Full Story (National Defense Magazine)
Lockheed Martin Unveils New, Long-Range Stealth Cruise Missile
Interesting Engineering reports, “Lockheed Martin has unveiled its new extreme-range Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), the AGM-158 XR. It was showcased at this year’s Air, Space & Cyber 2024 in Washington. The new missile can travel further and pack more punch than its predecessors.”
Full Story (Interesting Engineering)
Launch Companies Increasing Flight Rates of New Vehicles to Meet Demand
Space News reports, “Companies that are fielding new launch vehicles are now facing the challenge of scaling up operations to meet the continued high demand for them. During a panel discussion at World Space Business Week here Sept. 16, executives with several launch companies that have or are about to introduce new launch vehicles say they are turning their attention to increasing their launch cadence. Among the most aggressive is Blue Origin, whose New Glenn rocket is scheduled to make its inaugural launch as soon as November.”
Full Story (Space News)
Air Force Addresses Major Flaw in its Drone Wingman Strategy
Defense News reports, “Whatever the next chapter of U.S. air power will look like, there will be drones — and lots of them — accompanying manned fighters into battle. But as Air Force leaders translated their vision into an acquisition strategy, a novel meeting of the minds — at least by Defense Department standards — may have saved the service from a major miscalculation: A new cohort of so-called collaborative combat aircraft, as originally envisioned, wouldn’t be able to fly far enough to be effective in combat, which would have been a serious problem in the Pacific theater.”
Full Story (Defense News)
Heart Aerospace Shows Off Full-Scale Demonstrator for First Time
Flying Magazine reports, “Swedish hybrid-electric aircraft manufacturer Heart Aerospace unveiled Wednesday a 30-seat demonstrator dubbed Heart Experimental 1, or Heart X1. The aircraft—the company’s first full-scale demonstrator of its ES-30 aircraft under development—will serve as a testing platform and marks a ‘major milestone’ for development of the regional airplane set to make its fully electric first flight in the second quarter of next year, the company said.”
Full Story (Flying Magazine)
Vertical Aerospace Completes VX4 Phase One Testing
Reuters reports, “UK-based Vertical Aerospace has completed the first phase of piloted testing of a prototype of its air-taxi, VX4, it said on Thursday, sending the company’s shares up 3.9% in U.S. premarket trading. The VX4 has 1,500 pre-orders worth $6 billion from companies including Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines and Japan Airlines. The phase one testing included multiple piloted tethered flights and ground runs. It completed 70 individual test points to validate its safety in the real-world flight scenarios.”
Full Story (Reuters)
FAA Says Agency Must Ensure Adequate Safety Measures Before 737 Max Production Can Expand
Reuters reports, “The head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday the agency must ensure the planemaker’s safety processes are adequate before it will lift its 737 MAX production cap. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said he raised the issue with Boeing’s new chief executive Kelly Ortberg and wants to ensure the planemaker follows through on its quality turnaround plan.”
Full Story (Reuters)