Later this year, Space Force Colonel Nick Hague will pilot a NASA mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 mission aboard the Dragon spacecraft, the service announced. The mission will be the ninth rotation admission at the space station under NASA’s commercial crew program.

• READ MORE: U.S. Space Force Activates Europe, Africa Command

“The core of our mission on the space station is to perform science experiments and collect data,” Hague said. “The [ISS] provides a unique platform in microgravity, which allows researchers from around the world to explore and discover processes that could have significant impact on the behavior of our bodies and the environment around us, both on Earth and off planet.”

The launch, scheduled for no earlier than August, is a history-making first for a Space Force Guardian but marks Hague’s second mission to ISS. In March 2019, Hague, who was then in the Air Force, began a 203-day mission at the space outpost, where he spent nearly 20 hours conducting spacewalks.

• READ MORE: SpaceX’s Starship Selected to Launch Starlab Space Station

Joining Hague on the Crew-9 mission will be Commander Zena Cardman, Mission Specialist Stephanie Wilson, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov. Once the crew arrives at the station, Hague will transition to a flight engineer role. The Crew-9 mission will then conduct a handover with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission, which is set to launch to the ISS no earlier than February 22. 

• READ MORE: U.S. Space Force’s Secret Robot Spaceplane Could Be Headed to Deep Orbit

“Being a part of this mission is a unique honor, but it’s truly a collective effort,” Hague said. “Guardians worldwide ensure safe and secure operations of critical systems for launch and on station. From GPS satellites that underpin our station navigation systems, to space domain awareness sites around the globe that help NASA prevent orbital debris from colliding with the space station, to the launch range that my crew will use when we lift off, Guardians provide critical support without which our NASA human spaceflight program wouldn’t be possible.”

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Wednesday’s video (below) marks the service’s first reveal of the aircraft’s flight operations.

• READ MORE: B-21 Flight Testing, Production ‘Continues to Make Progress,’ Air Force Says

“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. “Flight testing is a critical step in the test campaign managed by the Air Force Test Center and 412th Test Wing’s B-21 Combined Test Force (CTF) to provide survivable, long-range, penetrating strike capabilities to deter aggression and strategic attacks against the United States, allies, and partners.

“The B-21 will be the backbone of the service’s future bomber force, and will possess the range, access, and payload to penetrate the most highly contested threat environments and hold any target around the globe at risk,” the service said.

The stealth strike bomber was unveiled in December 2022 and officially moved into low-rate production earlier this year. In January, Northrop Grumman said six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing at its facility in Palmdale, California.

• READ MORE: B-21 Raider Takes First Flight

The Air Force has said it intends to purchase at least 100 of the aircraft. Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, has been designated as the first main operating facility for the B-21 and its formal training unit. The bomber is expected to arrive at Ellsworth by the mid-2020s.

Friday, the Air Force announced that the service’s newest bomber would also be based at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas.

“We continue to achieve B-21 production milestones,” General Thomas Bussiere, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, said in a statement. “Through digital engineering and open architecture design, we are getting an agile strategic deterrent that delivers a decisive response as required.” 

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At least one Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone operated by Ukrainian forces was involved in the operation when it was used to distract the Russian war ship’s air defenses, Forbes reported.

If true, the news is the latest development celebrating the combat drone to emerge since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The TB2 has become not only a force multiplier overhead, but also a symbol of Ukraine’s resistance to the Russian invasion, and a source of national pride.

• READ MORE: Turkish Bayraktar Drone Inspires Song of Ukrainian Resistance

The ship, along with its crew of about 500, was a symbolic military target because of its role leading the naval assault on Ukraine, including soldiers stationed on Snake Island, the BBC reported.

Ukrainian officials quickly took credit for the sinking, claiming the ship was taken out by two Neptune anti-cruise missiles—a claim quickly dismissed by Russia.

The #Russian army has set a reward for each piece of destroyed #Ukrainian military equipment by its soldiers. The reward for shooting down a #Bayraktar TB2 is 50,000 rubles. pic.twitter.com/wziURJtTtb

— David Moroney (@David__Moroney) April 11, 2022

“It has been confirmed that the missile cruiser ‘Moscow’ today went exactly where it was sent by our border guards on Snake Island!” Odessa Regional State Administrator Maxim Marchenko said April 13. “Neptune missiles guarding the Black Sea caused very serious damage to the Russian ship.”

Russian state news agency TASS said the ship went down during a storm while it was being towed after it had suffered damage when ammunition onboard detonated during a fire.

On Friday, a U.S. defense official confirmed the Ukrainian account, saying that the ship had been struck by the Neptune missiles, CBS News said.

• READ MORE: Tactical Combat Drones Play a Role in Ukraine Air Defense

Ukraine’s Navy purchased six of the TB2 drones last year as a surveillance force multiplier in the Black Sea in order to relay enemy location to ground-based assets, according to defense blog Oryx. 

Reports that Ukraine effectively used a TB2 to distract the Moskva crew have also emerged unofficially from Russia, however, are likely not true, the defense blog said.

“Though it makes for a compelling tale, this narrative is almost certain to be false,” Oryx said. “Not only are the radars and their operators onboard a warship like the Moskva more than capable of detecting and tracking more than just a single target, and would in fact do so virtually automatically so long as they were operating, but if they were in fact tracking a drone then situational awareness should have been at at a higher level than if the attack had occurred out of the blue.”

The TB2 drones have played a critical role in Ukraine’s fight against the invasion of Russian ground forces. The drones are capable of carrying up to four laser-guided munitions that have a reputation for being effective against ground-based targets, such as Russian tanks and mobile air defense systems. The drones have a flight range of up to around 186 sm, and can fly up to 27 hours and at a maximum altitude of 25,000 feet. Taking off, landing, and flight control are all fully automated. 

It’s the kind of threat that has prompted a Russian bounty, according to a photo circulating on social media. For every TB2 drone destroyed, Russia is said to offer a 50,000 ruble reward— worth about $626.

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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.

Heart X1 will initially be deployed for ground-based testing, including taxiing, turnaround procedures, and charging operations, the company said. 

• READ MORE: Electric Airplane Manufacturer Heart Aerospace Taps Honeywell for Flight Control System

The aircraft, which boasts a 32-meter (105-feet) wingspan, will produce less emissions and noise pollution and be cheaper to operate in comparison to conventionally fueled regional aircraft, according to the company.

“Our industry is approaching a 30-year innovation cycle, and we have less than 25 years to decarbonize aviation,” Anders Forslund, co-founder and CEO of Heart Aerospace, said in a statement. “It is a testament to the ingenuity and dedication of our team that we’re able to roll out a 30-seat aircraft demonstrator with a brand-new propulsion system, largely in-house, in less than two years. “

• READ MORE: Heart Aerospace Gets LOI for Electric Regional Airliner Fleet

Earlier this year, Heart Aerospace announced it had raised $107 million in a series B round, which was earmarked for ES-30 type certification from the European Aviation Safety Agency. It also received a $4.1 million grant from the FAA’s Fueling Aviation’s Sustainable Transition (FAST) program in August for development of the aircraft’s hybrid-election propulsion management system.

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The Egyptian Armed Forces announced the purchase of the stretch variant of the C-130J that boasts an additional 15 feet of cargo space at the Egypt International Airshow. The purchase makes Egypt the 23rd country to operate the tactical airlifter.

The acquisitions will add to the country’s C-130H fleet, which is among the largest in the world, according to the aircraft manufacturer. 

• READ MORE: Georgia ANG Takes Delivery of First C-130J-30 Super Hercules

“Egypt is a distinguished C-130 operator, flying its Hercules fleet to support some of the most challenging mission requirements,” Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s air mobility and maritime missions line of business, said in a statement. “With these new C-130J-30s, the Egyptian Air Force’s tactical airlift presence will deliver unmatched capabilities and aligned force amplification to serve Egypt, North Africa and the world.”

More than 545 C-130J Super Hercules airlifters have been delivered to operators around the world, Lockheed Martin said.

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Regent’s Viceroy seaglider seats up to 12, is capable of flying routes as long as 180 sm (156 nm) on a single charge, and is designed to combine the speed of an aircraft (cruising at 180 mph or 156 knots) with the functionality of a boat. It flies 20 to 30 feet above the water using ground effect, propelled both in the air and on the water by on-wing propellers.

• READ MORE: Regent Eyes Electric Seaglider Service in Abu Dhabi

While the craft is defined as a maritime vessel, it is regulated by USCG with FAA technical support, according to the company.

Approval of the navigational safety risk assessment will allow Regent to test its full-scale seaglider in Narragansett Bay and Rhode Island Sound, the Rhode Island-based company said.

• READ MORE: Regent Craft Says Its Monarch Seaglider Will Handle Harsh Hawaiian Conditions

The move also clears the way for another significant step in the seaglider’s development, according to a company official.

“U.S. Coast Guard approval of Regent’s navigational safety risk assessment marks a significant step in bringing us closer to seaglider prototype testing with humans on board,” said Ted Lester, the company’s vice president of certification.    

Regent said it expects testing of the full-scale seaglider prototype with humans on board will begin by the end of the year.  

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Government officials signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government foreign military sale Thursday, making the country the 19th to purchase the aircraft, the company said.

• READ MORE: Embraer Signs A-29 Super Tucano Deal With Paraguay

“We are excited to welcome Greece into the F-35 enterprise,” U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Mike Schmidt, director and program executive officer of the F-35 Joint Program Office, said in a statement. “The F-35 will provide exceptional capability to the Hellenic Air Force, build interoperability between our allies, and strengthen the combat effectiveness for all of NATO.”

• READ MORE: Last Known Battle of Britain Pilot Turns 105

The Hellenic Air Force also operates F-16s and C-130s, as well as S-70 B and MH-60R helicopters, according to Lockheed Martin. Earlier this year, Greece also signed an LOA worth nearly $2 billion for the purchase of 35 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters.

The post Greece Signs Deal to Buy 20 F-35 Lightning IIs appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The Salinas, California-based aviation nonprofit focuses on inspiring at-risk youth to  engage in STEM education. The program has a Cessna 152 and Redbird Flight Simulations FMX AATD, which allow students to pursue a private pilot certificate. 

• READ MORE: Paying It Forward

The program also offers students an opportunity at completing ground school utilizing the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) high school curriculum.

The foundation’s $1.5 million donation, which was funded by Tom Siebel, Craig McCaw, and David Leushchen, also includes operational support for the aircraft and guaranteed job interviews for program graduates with industry partners Cirrus, CubCrafters, and Game Composites.

• READ MORE: Bob Hoover Academy Gets Redbird Simulator

“This donation is about providing hope and tangible opportunities for a better future,” Siebel said in a statement. “Salinas is a city where many young people face daunting challenges daily. We are honored to support the Bob Hoover Academy led by impassioned aviator Sean D. Tucker. They are changing lives through the magic of aviation combined with a solid education.” 

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Under the terms of the purchase agreement, which was announced Tuesday during the Farnborough International Airshow in the U.K., deliveries will begin next year.

Originally designed for the Brazilian Air Force in 1999, the A-29 offers armed reconnaissance, close air support, light attack, and advanced training mission capabilities. It is currently operated by 16 air forces, according to the company.

• READ MORE: Super Tucano Takes First Flight for Nigerian Air Force Program

The PAF intends to deploy the aircraft as part of its mission “safeguarding territorial integrity,” according to the service’s top official.

“To face emerging threats, we are in the process of modernizing our aerial and detection capabilities, and we intend to be up to the technological standards that allow us to correctly apply the measures established in the Law on Surveillance and Protection of Paraguayan Airspace in a to effectively contribute to the preservation of regional and international peace and security,” Air General Júlio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes, commander of the Paraguayan Air Force, said in a statement. 

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The stealth strike bomber was unveiled in December 2022 and officially moved into low-rate production earlier this year. In January, Northrop Grumman said six B-21 bombers are in various stages of final assembly and testing at its facility in Palmdale, California.

On Wednesday, the Air Force released a new image of the aircraft it calls the “backbone of the  U.S. Air Force bomber fleet.”

Northrop Grumman on Thursday released an additional image of the bomber in flight, saying the test campaign at Edwards AFB was led by a Combined Test Force (CTF) composed of personnel representing the Air Force and the manufacturer.

“CTF test pilots indicate the jet is performing as expected with the aircraft flying like the simulator, reflecting the precision of the digital environment on B-21,” Northrop Grumman said in a statement.

• READ MORE: Pentagon Greenlights B-21 Production

Andrew Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics, addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month on the B-21’s progress.

“We are in the flight test program, [and] the flight test program is proceeding well,” said Hunter. “It is doing what flight test programs are designed to do, which is helping us learn about the unique characteristics of this platform, but in a very effective way.” 

Designed to carry out long-range conventional and nuclear missions, the B-21 is set to eventually replace aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit fleets. The B-21 is scheduled to hit full operational status in the mid-2020s.

• READ MORE: B-21 Raider Takes First Flight

The Air Force has said it intends to purchase at least 100 of the aircraft. Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, has been designated as the first main operating facility for the B-21 and its formal training unit. 

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