Aerospace and Defense

Manufacturing co. boosts Arizona economy with opening of optical production facility and new headquarters

November 22, 2022

Viavi Solutions Inc. announced it has opened its new production facility in Chandler, Arizona. The company has added to U.S. manufacturing capacity as it has grown its presence in the state, including the move of its global headquarters. Since preparations to move its global headquarters from California began in 2021, the company has already made significant contributions to the business and technology community.

Tucson startup Phantom Space heralds milestone with successful rocket engine test

November 21, 2022

Tucson-based space rocket maker Phantom Space says it has reached a major milestone in its development with a successful test of its signature rocket system. Using a single Hadley thrust engine from Colorado company Ursa Major Technologies, the Arizona startup’s 60-second hot-fire test on Nov. 14 at Spaceport America in New Mexico validated elements of the first and second stages — together called the pathfinder stage — for the company’s Daytona Launch system. A hot-fire test is the final systems test and first launch of a flight stage.

Honeywell Aerospace providing component for B-52 bomber’s upgrade

November 2, 2022

Honeywell’s Phoenix-based aerospace division announced it has been selected by Boeing to provide a key component on the U.S. Air Force’s long-range B-52 bomber as the aircraft is upgraded for a future generation. The deal, which is part of the Commercial Engine Replacement Program, or CERP, calls for Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) to provide its 36-150 auxiliary power unit (APU), which provides high-pressure air to start the aircraft’s main jet engines before departure. Financial details of the project were not disclosed.

Honeywell Aerospace wins contract to provide engines for UK military helicopters

October 13, 2022

Honeywell Aerospace has signed a contract to supply 34 of the company’s workhorse T55 engines for the United Kingdom military. The contract, awarded through the U.S. Army Foreign Military Sales office, will build the latest model of the Honeywell T55-GA-714A engine for the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s fleet of H-47 Extended Range Chinook helicopters. Financial details of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Boeing sells Apache helicopters to Poland, expands Mesa operations

October 3, 2022

Aerospace and defense giant Boeing secured a contract to produce 96 Apache helicopters for the Polish Armed Forces as the company scales up its manufacturing capabilities in Mesa, Arizona. Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s Minister of Defense, announced September 8th that the Central European nation had selected Boeing Defense, Space & Security to be its partner for the KRUK Attack Helicopter Program, an initiative started to replace the currently “outdated, Soviet-designed Mil Mi-24 fleet.”

Raytheon, Northrop Grumman awarded hypersonic missile contract worth nearly $1B

September 26, 2022

A partnership between Raytheon’s Missiles & Defense division and Northrop Grumman has been awarded a nearly $1 billion contract to develop the Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) for the U.S. Air Force. The air-launched HACM will be the first of its kind, and the $985.34 million contract calls for the two companies to design, develop and deliver the missile by March 2027. The project is part of a joint initiative between the U.S. and Australia called the Southern Cross Integrated Flight Research Experiment, or SCIFiRE.

TechFocus Member Spotlight: Tom Smelker, VP and GM of Microsystems for Mercury Systems

August 12, 2022

Connect with Mercury Systems and Tom Smelker, VP and GM of Microsystems. A DMEA accredited microelectronic manufacturer, Mercury delivers mission-critical products and solutions to advanced applications deployed across land, sea, air, space and cyberspace domains.

Honeywell Aerospace inks deal with Cyient to make parts for cloud-connected cockpit system

August 9, 2022

Phoenix-based Honeywell Aerospace is teaming up with a global technology company to produce the aviation industry’s first cloud-connected cockpit system. The multiyear joint project with Cyient, a company headquartered in Hyderabad, India, is focused on the Honeywell Anthem system — a flight deck using a software platform that can be customized for large passenger and cargo planes, business jets, helicopters, general aviation aircraft and new advanced air mobility (AAM) craft.

Archer partners with Honeywell for electric aircraft technology

August 3, 2022

Honeywell Aerospace will supply Santa Clara-based Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) with flight control actuation and thermal management technologies in an agreement announced this week. Honeywell’s (NASDAQ: HON) actuation technology is vital for Archer’s 12 tilt 6 configuration, and the company’s cabin-cooling technology will “provide a best-in-class in-cabin experience,” Archer stated in an announcement.

Tucson-based Universal Avionics gets $33M contract to help supply head-worn vision systems for pilots

July 26, 2022

Universal Avionics Systems Corp., a Tucson-based manufacturer of systems for commercial aircraft, has been awarded a $33 million contract to supply enhanced flight vision systems that can be worn by pilots. The company won the contract from AerSale (Nasdaq: ASLE), a Florida-based company that provides integrated aftermarket services and products for airlines operating jets from Boeing, Airbus and McDonell Douglas.

Aerospace and Defense

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