Rob Coppinger / London
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Andrews Space, Lockheed Martin and Orbital Science have joined Northrop Grumman in receiving contracts to study Hybrid Launch Vehicle (HLV) concepts under the US Air Force’s Operationally Responsive Spacelift programme. The HLV is to place up to 6,800kg (15,000lb) into orbit within 48h. The contracts could lead to a subscale demonstrator, with a full-scale vehicle planned to be operational by 2018.
Source: Flight International
AeroVironment’s Switchblade 600 is now the first lethal platform to be officially purchased under the Pentagon’s so-called Replicator initiative to field mass numbers of autonomous combat systems.
Electric aircraft start-up Pyka is expanding into the defence realm, teaming with defence systems provider Sierra Nevada to offer a militarised version of the company’s Pelican uncrewed cargo aircraft.
The US airframer is continuing to build toward delivering flight-worthy MQ-25 autonomous refuelling jets for the US Navy, most recently testing software that will enable the pilotless aircraft to transfer fuel to crewed fighters.
