What To Watch For In Aerospace And Defense In 2021

The year is one of challenges and opportunities for the Lockheed Martin F-35 program as the U.S., UK and Belgium review long-standing procurement numbers, even as the stealth fighter competes for a total of about 200 combined aircraft orders this year from Canada, Finland and Switzerland.

The UK and its partners Italy and Sweden are hoping the Tempest future combat air system (FCAS) program will receive a positive outcome from the UK government’s Integrated Review of defense capability. This would move the program into the concept design phase, while the rival Franco-German-Spanish FCAS program struggles to agree on terms to share work among the three partner nations.

Startup Boom Supersonic plans to fly its XB-1 one-third-scale demonstrator in 2021 as a crucial precursor to the formal launch in 2022 of its Mach 2.2 airliner, the 65-88-seat Overture. On the current schedule, the Overture is planned to fly in 2026. Entry into service is expected by 2029 or 2030.

While the uncrewed reflight of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft has been delayed again—this time to April—SpaceX is looking ahead to the first privately chartered orbital flight of its Crew Dragon capsule. Chartered by entrepreneur Jared Isaacman, the Inspiration4 mission is targeted for launch in October.

The Tianhe core module for China’s space station could be launched as early as April, beginning construction of a crewed facility in low Earth orbit that will eventually comprise three modules. The first launches of crew to the station are also expected in 2021, along with the first cargo resupply flights.

A new competitor will enter the world narrowbody fleet in 2021, with China’s Comac expected to begin deliveries of the C919 to launch operator China Eastern Airlines by year-end. But first deliveries of Russia’s equivalent, the Irkut MC-21, to launch customer Aeroflot have slipped into 2022.

With sustainability firmly back on the agenda as aviation looks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, zero-emission propulsion will come to the fore: ZeroAvia is planning a 300-mi. test flight on hydrogen fuel-cell power, and Rolls-Royce is aiming to set a 300-mph electric aircraft speed record with the battery-powered Spirit of Innovation.

Developing the latest generation of commercial rotorcraft has proven challenging, but Bell aims to certify its Model 525 super-medium helicopter this year. Airbus is close to U.S. certification and delivery of the H160 medium twin, having received European approval in 2020, but Leonardo is now looking to 2022 for the debut of its AW609 civil tiltrotor.