Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, January 7, 2022

2021, from 2
civilian and contract personnel assigned to a 481-square mile in- Launch Copmlex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. ics and pilot displays.
stallation. Brown explained that during his time in service, he has Falcon 9 launched the Dragon. The Dragon spacecraft was launched “Project Hydra marks the first time that bi-directional communi-
personally seen first-hand the technological advancements that were atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 reusable, two-stage rocket. On April 24, cations were established between 5th Generation aircraft in-flight
tested at Edwards. the Dragon docked with the International Space Station. This is while also sharing operational and sensor data down to ground
April 6 — The U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School graduated the operators for real-time capability,” said Jeff Babione, vice presi-
first-ever Space Test Fundamentals class at Edwards. Fifteen en- dent and general manager, Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®. “This
listed, officer, civilian Airmen and Guardians represent the first next-level connectivity reduces the data-to-decision timeline from
class dedicated to testing within the newly contested domain of minutes to seconds, which is critical in fighting today’s adversaries
Space. The course enables the USSF to enhance its test and evalu- and advanced threats.”
ation mission and multiply its ability to deliver combat-ready space May 5 — Gen. Timothy Ray, the commander of Air Force Glob-
forces. Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, the U.S. Space Force chief al Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic
of space operations, was on-hand to give the graduation address. Command, visited several organizations across the bomber test
April 8 — The Air Force released its new mission statement: To enterprise to receive first-hand updates on the progress of the B-21
fly, fight, and win … Airpower anytime, anywhere. This change program during a visit to Edwards Air Force Base and Plant 42, in
emphasizes the primary competitive advantage and capabilities that California, May 5-6.
Airpower provides to the nation and joint operations. His first stop was at Edwards AFB, where he met with the 419th
The ability to fight and win with airpower is key to facing emerg- Flight Test Squadron, Global Power Bomber Combined Test Force.
ing competitors and near-peer adversaries, according to service He was updated on the organization’s continued efforts to test up-
leaders. “As we developed this new mission statement, we con- SpaceX screenshot grades to the B-2 Spirit in order to modernize the B-2 and integrate
sulted Airmen from across the entire spectrum – enlisted, officers, SpaceX’s Crew-2 mission launchedApril 23 from historic Launch future weapons systems.
reservists, guardsmen and civilians,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Copmlex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Falcon He then visited the 420th Flight Test Squadron, B-21 CTF. Ray
Charles Q. Brown, Jr. said. 9 launched the Dragon. The Dragon spacecraft was launched was briefed on the construct for the Combined Test Force and the
Since the domain of space falls under the Space Force, the Air atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 reusable, two-stage rocket. On April 24, benefits it will bring to bear for the B-21 program. The B-21 CTF
the Dragon docked with the International Space Station.
Force can now focus solely on airpower and maintain a sustained is an integrated team of test professionals from Northrop Grum-
focus on core air domain missions. man, 420th FLTS and Detachment 5, Air Force Operational Test
With a Total Force of more than 689,000, Airmen work to sup- and Evaluation Center. The B-21 CTF provided a comprehensive
port all aspects of airpower, which includes five core missions: air the first human spaceflight mission to fly astronauts on a flight- update on the team’s readiness to support the B-21 program when
superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, sur- proven Falcon 9 and Dragon. The Falcon 9 first stage supporting it transitions into flight test.
veillance and reconnaissance; and command and control. Airpower this mission previously launched the Crew-1 mission in November On the following day, Ray visited the Northrop Grumman fa-
also requires people and resources dedicated to unit readiness, base 2020, and the Dragon spacecraft previously flew Robert Behnk- cilities at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, and saw the
infrastructure and talent management. en and Douglas Hurley to and from the International Space Station significant progress made on the build of the first flight test aircraft
April 8 — The Edwards Air Force Base Civilian/Military Sup- during SpaceX’s Demo-2 mission in 2020. As part of the Commer- that will one day make its way to Edwards AFB for flight testing.
port Group announced at their monthly board meeting on April 8 cial Crew Program, NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough and Megan Northrop Grumman personnel updated Ray on build progress and
that the organization has made a donation of funds towards the first McArthur, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Aki- the value of building those test articles using the same production
phase of upgrades at the Edwards AFB Airman Leadership School. hiko Hoshide, and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pes- line, tooling and procedures that will manufacture the final produc-
The project, which is expected to take two months to complete, quet flew aboard the Dragon spacecraft on its second operational tion aircraft.
began in March and will consist of a student resource space in one mission to the space station. This was the first time Dragon flew two May 20 — A B-1B Lancer was rolled into the Benefield Anecho-
of the buildings on the ALS campus and an instructor room, which, international partners and also the first time two Crew Dragons are ic Facility at Edwards. The aircraft will undergo testing of a portion
according to Staff Sgt. Nicholas Covello, an instructor at the ALS, is attached simultaneously to the orbiting laboratory. of the B-1B Defensive Software suite, Pre-processor Flight Soft-
“something we haven’t had in at least 10 years.” The resource cen- April 29 — Stratolaunch LLC, whose mission is to advance high- ware (PFS) 6.42. “We’re going to look at the AN/ALQ-161A and
ter will allow for a more comfortable learning environment where speed technology through innovative design, manufacturing, and its response to various threat signals,” said Capt. Shawn Whitney,
students can work on their studies both individually and as a team operation of world-class aerospace vehicles, successfully completed who serves as the B-1B PFS 6.42 project test lead for the Global
while the instructor room will serve as a much needed work space the second flight of the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan. The
for the ALS instructors. Civ/Mil’s donation will support the cost 385-feet wingspan aircraft flew for 3 hours, 14 minutes over the
of the project to include paint, fixtures, furniture and electronics.
April 14 — President Joe Biden announced his decision to with-
draw all U.S. troops from Afghanistan, bringing to an end America’s
longest war. Biden said he would withdraw troops ahead of Sept.
11, the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
April 16 — Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first
flight of Japan’s RQ-4B Global Hawk from Palmdale, Calif. With
an unmatched combination of range, endurance, and payload capa-
bility, Global Hawk is the only platform that provides greater data
collection flexibility than space or medium-altitude assets. “The

Stratolaunch photograph Air Force photograph by 1st Lt. Christine Saunders
April 29 — Stratolaunch LLC successfully completed the second Ground crews move a B-1B Lancer into position at the Benefield
flight of the world’s largest aircraft by wingspan. Anechoic Facility at Edwards AFB. The Lancer, from the 337th
Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, out of Dyess Air Force
Base, Texas, will be used to conduct testing of PFS 6.42.
Mojave Desert and reached an altitude of 14,000 feet. As part of
this latest flight, pilots further prepared the carrier aircraft to sup-
port launches of its upcoming hypersonic testbed vehicle, Talon-A. Power Bomber Combined Test Force. The aircraft used for the test
Initial results from that day’s test points include: is a B-1B Lancer from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron,
• Confirmation of the aircraft’s performance and handling char- 53rd Wing, out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It will be in the
acteristics BAF for approximately two weeks Whitney said.
• Continued demonstration of the aircraft’s capability, including May 31 — Memorial Day!
its payload capacity • Traditional solemnity and formal military precision were ac-
• Validation of the enhancements added to the Carrier Aircraft, companied and enhanced by a new and expanded perspective on
Northrop Grumman photograph including pressurization, gear doors, and robustness to the safety
April 16 — Northrop Grumman successfully completed the first systems honoring and remembering America’s war dead this Memorial Day
morning in ceremonies at the Palmdale’s Poncitlán Square Gazebo.
flight of Japan’s RQ-4B Global Hawk from Palmdale, Calif.
May 3 — Lockheed Martin Skunk Works®, the Missile Defense • Memorial Day 2021 at Lancaster Cemetery was a welcome
Agency and the U.S. Air Force successfully linked a U-2, five F- return to a bit of normalcy, as the tradition of remembering the
unarmed RQ-4B Global Hawk will provide Japan with on-demand 35s and an F-22 in air and provided real-time 5th Generation data fallen in service to country was welcomed back by a large gathering
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information support- to operators on the ground, introducing greater mission flexibility of local citizens and military folks that spanned many generations.
ing the Japan Air Self-Defense Force’s missions of protecting bor- across domains and an enhanced total operational picture for the • This year the East Kern Cemetery District and the Mojave
ders, monitoring threats and providing humanitarian assistance in joint warfighter. Named Project Hydra, the latest flight test lever- Transportation Museum Foundation joined together to organize
times of need,” said Jane Bishop, vice president and general man- aged an Open Systems Gateway payload aboard the U-2 to connect the Memorial Day Ceremony.
ager, autonomous systems, Northrop Grumman. “This successful an F-22 to five F-35s via native Intra-Flight Data Link and Multi- At 11 a.m., May 31, everyone noticed an aircraft coming towards
first flight is a significant milestone in delivering Global Hawk to function Advanced Data Link, successfully sharing data between the cemetery from Mojave Air and Space Port. It was a World War
our Japanese allies.” all airborne aircraft and with nodes on the ground. The target tracks II trainer aircraft, a North American T-6. Nothing sounds like a T-6
April 23 — SpaceX’s Crew-2 mission launched from historic were also transmitted by and through the U-2 into the fighter avion- See 2021, Page 4

January 7, 2022 Aerotech News and Review 3
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