In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Aug. 30 2023

Credit: Firefly Aerospace.

Space Systems Command’s Victus Nox rapid launch demonstration has entered its “hot standby phase.”

Credit: U.S. Navy.

The U.S. Navy expects to provide requirements this coming fiscal year on a new initiative to field low-cost, high-quantity munitions to augment carrier magazines that are currently not carrying enough bombs and missiles. 

Credit: Rheinmetall.

Billions of dollars are being invested in model-based and digital everything.

Credit: Lockheed Martin.

Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works has canceled an ambitious project to build a nuclear fusion reactor, a top executive said on Aug. 28, confirming a previously undisclosed decision made at least three years ago. 

Credit: NASA.

NASA is preparing a low Earth orbit space communications technology demonstration mission for launch to the International Space Station (ISS) to establish the agency’s first two-way, end-to-end laser relay system capable of high-data-rate transmissions.

Credit: Elfy Group.

The Norwegian government has confirmed a more than $8 million grant for Elfly Group, enabling the startup to proceed with construction of a prototype of its Noemi electric amphibious regional aircraft.

Credit: Shield AI.

A team of three V-Bat uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) equipped with the Shield AI Hivemind pilot monitored a simulated wildfire with no human intervention, demonstrating a multi-agent autonomy capability that could be deployed next year. 

Credit: Diamond Aircraft.

Diamond Aircraft’s single-piston DA40 trainer has proven a hit with flight schools around the world, racking up thousands of sales since its first flight in the late ’90s. 

Credit: Revo.

A new urban air mobility (UAM) service has been launched in traffic-clogged Sao Paulo, initially using helicopters but with plans to shift to electric- vertical-takeoff-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft from Eve Air Mobility.