In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Nov. 09 2022

Credit: Hybrid Air Vehicles. Flights connecting Scotland’s islands to the mainland, described as lifeline routes for remote communities, have been a focus of early interest from proponents of sustainable aviation alternatives.

Credit: Defense Science Technology Laboratory. Members of the UK’s DragonFire consortium developing a high-power directed energy weapon are gearing up for tests that will see the laser used in operationally representative scenarios. 

The U.S. State Department has approved an export package of mobile, long-range artillery systems to Lithuania that includes the Lockheed Martin Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). 

Credit: Airbus Helicopters. A community funded program to upgrade the avionics suite of Airbus’ out-of-production H120 turbine light helicopter has secured its first commercial customer. 

Credit: U.S. Air Force. U.S. Special Operations Command fired a stealthy cruise missile from an airlifter in the European theater for the first time on Nov. 9, showcasing an emerging capability to expand the number and types of launchers for stand-off missiles. 

Credit: Dronamics. European drone cargo airline Dronamics has partnered with the UK’s Cranfield Aerospace Solutions to integrate hydrogen fuel cell propulsion into its Black Swan long-range uncrewed cargo aircraft.

Credit: Leonardo. Leonardo has secured the certifications for the latest upgrade of its AW169 twin-engine, intermediate-light helicopter.

Credit: Space Engine Systems. A ramjet-powered, hypersonic demonstrator vehicle named Sexbomb will be moved from Canada to the UK to start ground testing, startup Space Engine Systems said on Nov. 7. 

Credit: Україна. Russia announced Nov. 9 that it will withdraw from the key Ukrainian strategic city of Kherson and back across the Dnipro River, a major setback in its invasion of the country.

Credit: Aviasg. As airlines continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are putting more emphasis than ever on shrinking their environmental footprint and increasing profits. 

Credit: USAF. The grounding of more than 100 C-130Hs will extend to months or even years, depending on how quickly new propeller systems can be procured from a production line that already has orders to work through while the service is searching across the globe for existing propellers to retrofit.

Cygnus

Credit: H2Fly. Germany’s H2Fly has begun the integration of a liquid-hydrogen storage tank into its Hy4 fuel cell propulsion test aircraft.

Credit: Astra Space. Astra Space on Nov. 8 announced layoffs of 16% of its workforce and $119 million in write-downs of assets as the struggling rocket startup seeks a “financial runway” into 2024 amid a major business plan change.