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<keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>'s first C-295 aircraft has rolled out of the <keyword id="6356166" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="airbus" source="Orion">Airbus</keyword> defence production facility in the city of Seville, located in southern Spain.<br /><br />Images and videos of the military aircraft emerging from the Airbus Defence and Space's San Pablo site, which is home to the military transport activities and the Final Assembly Line (FAL) for the four-engine turboprop-powered A400M airlifter and twin-turboprop C295, have now gone viral on social media.<br /><br />The plane is the first of the 16 medium-lift tactical transport airport aircraft which will be delivered to the Indian Air Force (<keyword id="6355075" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="iaf" source="Orion">IAF</keyword>) in flyaway condition.<br /><br />It was in September 2021 that the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the procurement of 56 C-295MW transport aircraft from Airbus Defence following which the Ministry of Defence signed a contract for the acquisition of the aircraft with associated equipment.<br /><br />The induction of the aircraft that will replace the ageing Avro aircraft of IAF has been seen as another step towards the modernisation of the country's air force.<br /><br />A year later, Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems entered a collaboration for the manufacturing and assembly of the C-295 aircraft for the IAF.<br /><br />Under the agreement, Tata Advanced Systems was selected as the Indian Production Agency (IPA) by Airbus. It will not only produce 40 fly-away C-295 aircraft from its facilities but will also subsequently provide MRO support and service for the total 56 aircraft that will be procured by IAF.<br /><br />In October 2022, Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="narendra-modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> laid the foundation stone of the transport aircraft manufacturing project in Gujarat's Vadodara, giving a major boost to the 'Make in India' initiative and domestic aviation manufacturing.<br /><br />The Rs 21,935 crore project, the first-of-its-kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company, involves the full development of a complete industrial ecosystem - from the manufacture to assembly, test and qualification, to delivery and maintenance of the complete lifecycle of the aircraft.<br /><br />The first 16 fly-away aircraft are scheduled to be received between September 2023 and August 2025 while the first 'Made in India' aircraft is expected from September 2026.<br /><br />C-295MW, a transport aircraft of 5-10 tonne capacity with contemporary technology, is expected to strengthen the logistic capabilities of the IAF. It has a rear ramp door for quick reaction and para-dropping of troops and cargo. Short take-off/land from semi-prepared surfaces is another of its features. The aircraft can be used for civilian purposes as well.<br /><br />The Defence Ministry has stated that the project offers a unique opportunity for the Indian private sector to enter into the technology-intensive and highly competitive aviation industry. It will augment domestic aviation manufacturing resulting in reduced import dependence and an expected increase in exports.<br /><br />Manufacturing of over 13,400 detail parts, 4,600 sub-assemblies and all the seven major component assemblies will be undertaken in India, along with tools, jigs and testers. Also, 96 per cent of the total man-hour work per aircraft that Airbus employs at its manufacturing facility in Spain will be undertaken in India by the Tata Consortium.<br /><br />Various systems such as engines, landing gear, avionics, EW suite among others, will be provided by Airbus Defence &amp; Space and integrated into the aircraft by the Tata Consortium.<br /><br />All 56 aircraft will also be fitted with the indigenous electronic warfare suite of Indian DPSUs - Bharat Electronics Ltd and Bharat Dynamics Limited.<br /><br />After the completion of the delivery of 56 aircraft to IAF, Airbus will be allowed to sell the aircraft manufactured in India to civil operators and export to countries which are cleared by the Indian government.<br /><br /><b>SEE ALSO:<br /></b><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/sports/news/ronaldinhos-son-joao-mendes-follows-fathers-footsteps-joins-barcelona-academy/articleshow/98383353.cms"><strong>Ronaldinho's son Joao Mendes follows father's footsteps, joins Barcelona academy</strong></a><b><strong><br /></strong></b><b></b><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/were-building-next-gen-ai-to-become-a-global-powerhouse-rajeev-chandrasekhar/articleshow/98384258.cms"><strong>We're building next-gen AI to become a global powerhouse: Rajeev Chandrasekhar</strong></a>

Revealed: First glimpse of India's C-295 aircraft that Airbus and Tatas will co-produce

The Defence Ministry on Friday inked a nearly Rs 20,000 crore contract with <keyword id="6356166" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbus" source="Orion">Airbus</keyword> Defence and Space of Spain to procure 56 C-295 medium transport aircraft which will replace Avro-748 planes of the <keyword id="15141" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Air-Force" source="Orion">Indian Air Force</keyword>.<br /><br />The long-pending procurement was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security two weeks back.<br /><br />"Contract signed between #MinistryOfDefence and @AirbusDefence &amp;Space, Spain for procurement of 56 C-295 transport aircraft for the #IAF," Defence Ministry Spokesperson A Bharat Bhushan Babu tweeted.<br /><br />Under the deal, 16 aircraft will be delivered in a flyaway condition by the Airbus Defence and Space within 48 months of signing the contract.<br /><br />The remaining 40 planes will be manufactured in India by a consortium of the Airbus Defence and Space and Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) within 10 years of signing the contract, officials said.<br /><br />The C-295 MW aircraft is a transport plane of 5-10 tonne capacity.<br /><br />This is the first project of its kind in which a military aircraft will be manufactured in India by a private company.<br /><br />"All 56 aircraft will be installed with indigenous electronic warfare suite," the ministry had said on September 8 after the procurement was cleared by the Cabinet Committee on Security.<br /><br />The in-principle approval for the Avro replacement programme was accorded around nine years back.<br /><br />A large number of detail parts, sub-assemblies and major component assemblies of aerostructure are scheduled to be manufactured in India.<br /><br />The ministry had said that before completion of the deliveries, a servicing facility for C-295 MW aircraft is scheduled to be set up in India.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /></strong><b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/news/nasas-insight-lander-has-finally-detected-3-big-mars-quakes-including-one-that-lasted-nearly-90-minutes/articleshow/86468651.cms">NASA's InSight lander has finally detected 3 big Mars quakes, including one that lasted nearly 90 minutes</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/shares-of-sansera-engineering-listed-at-9-premium-over-the-issue-price-band-of-734-744-a-piece/articleshow/86471755.cms">Sansera Engineering IPO debuts with a little of 9% premium ⁠— short of what the grey market had indicated</a></b><br /><br /> <b><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/amazon-prime-video-channels-india-is-launched/articleshow/86472003.cms">Amazon enters the content distribution space in India, will allow customers to subscribe to more video streaming platforms</a></b><br />

A Tata Group company will make 40 Airbus C-295 transport aircraft out of the 56 ordered by the Indian Air Force

Researchers are working on a revolutionary new technology that could be used to power a return trip to Mars without refuelling, using recycled space junk as fuel in the spacecraft.<br />
<br />
The rocket propulsion system is heading to the International Space Station (ISS) for a year-long experiment that could revolutionise space travel.<br />
<br /> Recycling space junk for fuel means huge energy and cost savings, said <keyword id="3701865" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="patrick-neumann">Patrick Neumann</keyword>, former student at the University of Sydney.<br />
<br />
The thruster works by accelerating ions from an intensely hot, very small plasma ball.<br />
<br />
The record high thrust was obtained by using a magnetic nozzle that further accelerates the ions to give them extremely high velocity.<br />
<br /> <keyword id="2857349" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Airbus-Defence-Space">Airbus Defence &amp; Space</keyword> has signed a contract with Neumann Space, which is commercially developing the rocket engine, to fly Neumann's payload for long-term testing on the ISS.<br />
<br />
Research has not only demonstrated proof-of-concept record efficiencies but also suggested that magnesium, used commonly as a light and strong alloy for space materials and prevalent in space junk orbiting the Earth, could be re-used to fuel the engine in space.<br />
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"Our modelling suggests that our pricing would be competitive with other ion drives currently on the market, as our system can be built from current, commercially available components and does not require expensive alloys or finely constructed fuel tanks," Neumann said.<br />
<br />
"We also believe that our system can solve many issues in space propulsion, allowing small space vehicles to do more with less," said Neumann.<br />
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Professor Marcela Bilek from University of Sydney said the project was a success in the academic sense with the scientific credentials established in August by peer review and hopefully new success in the market place would follow.<br />
<br /> "In laboratory tests, the system has demonstrated more than 11,000 seconds of specific impulse - with this level of efficiency, it is possible to send missions to Mars, have them perform experiments in Mars orbit, and then bring the spacecraft back to Earth orbit without needing to refuel the spacecraft," <keyword id="1160698" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="David-McKenzie">David McKenzie</keyword> said.

New technology could power return journey to Mars 

<ul><li>The Indian government has started to give <keyword id="10817184" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="defence-procurement-contracts">defence procurement contracts</keyword> to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).</li><li>Dassault Group's software services subsidiary called <keyword id="181533" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dassault-Systemes">Dassault Systemes</keyword>, which already works with companies like NASA, Airbus and Boeing, sees this as an opportunity to enable these MSMEs to deliver on these contracts.</li><li>It is currently in early talks to set up a ‘common shared infrastructure model’ with state governments — like Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu — where MSMEs can design, test and start rolling out technology-enabled defence products.</li></ul>Everyone in India knows that French fighter jet maker <keyword id="230239" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Dassault-Aviation">Dassault Aviation</keyword> clinched the deal with India to deliver Rafale, despite all the controversies surrounding it. But, did you know that its parent company, the Dassault Group, has a subsidiary that provides engineering software, much like Microsoft and Oracle — and has an office in India?<br /><br />The software offshoot, Dassault Systemes, is looking to make roadways into the country by capitalising on the Modi administration’s push on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/economy/news/difference-between-narendra-modi-make-in-india-and-atma-nirbhar-and-why-the-latter-may-work-better/articleshow/77629449.cms"><em>Atma Nirbhar Bharat</em></a> (Self Reliant India). <br /><br />Under the massive reforms introduced last year, the Indian government is now handing out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/prime-minister-narendra-modi-signals-big-defence-budget-allocation-for-make-in-india/articleshow/80511082.cms">defence procurement contracts</a> to micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to boost domestic defence manufacturing. <br /><br />“The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has planned to invest about 63% of the outlay for 2021-22 — about ₹70,221 crore — on domestic procurement. This increase will have a positive impact on enhanced domestic procurement, having a multiplier effect on our industries, including MSMEs and startups,” said Defence Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/DefenceMinIndia/status/1363720075467841540">Rajnath Singh</a> during a webinar on February 22. A ‘Fund of Funds’ worth ₹10,000 crore has been specifically created for startups and MSMEs.<br /><br /><table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Company<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Defence procurement contract<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Item<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">ideaForge<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 145 crore <br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Unmanned aerial vehicles for high altitude areas<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Bharat Forge<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹178 crore <br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Kalyani M4 vehicles <br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">OshoCorp Global<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 1,325 crore<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Develop and supply auxiliary power units (APUs) for T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks<br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Alpha Design Technologies<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">₹ 590 crore<br /><br /></td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Digitise Pechora missile and radar systems<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><em>Source: Various reports</em><br /><br />Dassault Systemes wants to capitalise on this opportunity by introducing what they call a ‘common shared infrastructure model’, which essentially an <a href="https://www.3ds.com/insights/customer-stories/wichita-state-university">innovation centre</a>. It is currently in early talks with state governments⁠ looking to set up defence industrial corridors. Namely, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu as identified by India’s Finance Minister <a href="https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1579096">Nirmala Sitharaman</a>. <br /><br />“We’re working with the government to create a ‘common shared infrastructure model’, where the government and Dassault Systemes will invest to create the model. MSMEs will leverage the model and the technologies that are hosted there, so that they also get elevated in the technology adoption scale,” Ravikiran Pothukuchi, the Director of Dassault Systemes told Business Insider in an exclusive interview.<br /><br />Dassault Systemes is already the second-largest player in the global market when it comes to computer-aided design (CAD) software after Siemens. This is basically the use of computers to help with the creation, modification, analysis and optimisation of a product.<br /><br />        <div type="image" title="dassault systemes market share" msid="81183311" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Dassault Systemes global market share&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />Its clients include bigwigs like Boeing, Airbus, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its sister company, Dassault Aviation. In India, its clients include Ashok Leyland, Suprajit — India’s largest cable maker — and drone manufacturer General Aeronautics.<br /><br />        <div type="image" title="snapshot-1614137962426" msid="81183342" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Distribution of Dassault Systemes&amp;#39; customers across countries&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div><br />“What we realised is that the defence ecosystem of MSMEs [micro, small and medium enterprises] don't have the wavelength to invest in these technologies,” Ravikiran Pothukuchi, the director of Dassault Systemes told Business Insider in an exclusive interview.<br /><br /><strong>What is a ‘common shared infrastructure model’?<br /></strong>A ‘common share infrastructure model’ is basically a stage where defence manufacturing companies and startups can come, toy with their ideas, and test their concepts — both in the virtual and physical world. <br /><br />“[The companies] take back their learnings and industrialise at a mass scale in their operations set up,” explained Pothukuchi.”That’s the idea that we’re discussing locally as well. There are some governments that have shown interest.”<br /><br />The French IT software services company already has a similar set up in the US state of Wichita in collaboration with the Wichita State University. The state of Wichita is the aerospace hub of the US, like Bengaluru.<br /><br />“Initially, governments are helping them to adapt to these technologies and we’ll become relevant to them at a later date. That is an investment we’re making along with the government,” the IIM-Bengaluru graduate told Business Insider. <br /><br />He hopes that the project to roll out the model will take shape within the next few months.<br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/enterprise/news/datacracy-microsoft-ceo-satya-nadella-calls-for-a-common-set-of-global-rules-governing-data-not-fragmented-local-ones/articleshow/81176502.cms">Datacracy: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella calls for a common set of global rules governing data— not fragmented local ones</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/indian-space-startup-pixxel-wont-be-launching-its-satellite-on-february-28/articleshow/81170896.cms">Indian space startup Pixxel won’t be launching its satellite on February 28</a><br /></strong>

INTERVIEW: Dassault Group has an India software services unit offering defence MSMEs a digital ‘trial room’ where they can test their products to bag more contracts

<br /> Airbus Defence and Space CEO Bernhard Gerwert has met Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi">Narendra Modi</keyword> today, saying the company wants to '<keyword id="6354869" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="make-in-India">Make in India</keyword>'.<br />
<br />
The duo reportedly discussed several possible projects across civil and defense aviation. During Modi's visit to Airbus’s Toulouse facility, the company had promised him that it’ll extend its outsourcing to $2 billion over the next five years.<br />
<br /> The <keyword id="1784749" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="Airbus-Group">Airbus Group</keyword> currently operates two engineering facilities in the country – one on <keyword id="6368649" type="CITY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Civil-aviation">civil aviation</keyword>, other on defense. It also has a research and technology (R&amp;T) centre.<br />
<br />
The CEO has expressed interest in expanding the existing centres to help shoulder heightened design responsibilities for future programmes.<br />
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(Image credit: Indiatimes)<br />

Airbus wants to Make in India

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul><li><strong>SpaceX will try to re-launch and re-land a used Falcon 9 rocket booster for the first time.</strong></li><li><strong>A telecommunications company called SES plans to use the rocket to launch a satellite.</strong></li><li><strong>A spaceflight expert says the launch could be revolutionary in lowering the cost of access to space - if everything works.</strong></li></ul><p>It's make or break time for SpaceX.</p><p>On March 30, pending agreeable weather, Elon Musk's rocket company will try to make good on its promise to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-rocket-cargo-price-by-weight-2016-6">slash the immense cost</a> of launching stuff into space.</p><p>The goal is to re-launch and recover the lower half of a 229-foot-tall (70-meter-tall) Falcon 9 rocket, called a first-stage booster, that SpaceX first fired off <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-spacex-rocket-landing-works-2016-4">on April 8, 2016.</a> The booster in question helped deliver a satellite into orbit, screamed back to Earth, righted itself, and <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-rocket-landing-ocean-success-2016-4">self-landed on a drone ship</a> in the Atlantic Ocean.</p><p>This is highly unusual: Nearly all rocket parts today crash into the ocean following launch, sink to the bottom, and are never recovered or seen again. One booster - typically the most expensive part of two-stage rockets - can cost tens of millions of dollars.</p><p>Gwynne Shotwell, SpaceX's CEO, has said that reusing a rocket booster could give its customers&#xa0;- who have so far used SpaceX rockets to&#xa0;launch satellites and&#xa0;space station supplies&#xa0;- about a <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-recycled-booster-launch-2017-3">30% discount</a> on a Falcon 9 rocket launch, which typically costs $62 million.</p><p>SpaceX's orbital rocket system is already the most affordable in the world, but such a discount would save companies more than $18 million per launch.</p><p>"This is potentially revolutionary," <a href="https://elliott.gwu.edu/emeritus-faculty#logsdon">John Logsdon</a>, a space policy expert and historian at George Washington University's Space Policy Institute, told Business Insider. "Reusability has been the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/how-spacex-rocket-landing-works-2016-4">Holy Grail</a> in access to space for a long, long time."</p><p>Logsdon&#xa0;uses the word "potentially" because although SpaceX has been collecting used orbital rocket boosters, it&#xa0;has yet to re-launch and re-land any one of them. But&#xa0;that could change on Thursday.</p><h2>How to buy a used rocket</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><p>Demonstration flights like SpaceX's upcoming launch-and-landing attempt are vital to prove that the&#xa0;rocket system works as intended. But they're also inherently risky, since they test new capabilities that might fail.</p><p>That's why many demonstration launches fly without any valuable payloads on board; there are simply fewer consequences if there's a failure, especially since the payloads they carry (most often orbiting satellites) can be worth hundreds of millions of dollars.</p><p>However, SES - a Luxembourg-based telecommunications company and <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110314006547/en/SpaceX-SES-Announce-Satellite-Launch-Agreement">longtime customer</a> of SpaceX - actively pursued SpaceX so it could be the first to launch something on the used booster. In this case, the rocket will carry a satellite called <a href="https://www.ses.com/network/satellites/363">SES-10</a>, which will provide internet and television coverage for much of Central America and South America.</p><p>SpaceX's used booster will loft an upper-stage rocket dozens of miles above Earth, then separate from it. The upper-stage will then fire and take SES-10 into an orbit about 22,200 miles (35,700 kilometers) above the planet. Meanwhile, the booster will fall back toward the ocean and land on a ship.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Marcus Payer, the global communications director for SES, said the deal with SpaceX was solidified <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-recycle-reusable-rocket-launch-ses-10-2016-8">in August 2016</a>, with a planned launch for later that year. But an uncrewed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-rocket-explosion-launch-pad-2016-9">rocket explosion</a> on September 1 and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-rocket-explosion-2016-9">months-long accident investigation</a> that followed delayed the flight.<p>"Wherever we can change the industry equation, we will do it. We were waving our hands to be the first," Payer told Business Insider. "We are not risk-averse, otherwise we would not be launching satellites."</p><p>In light of SpaceX's recent launchpad failure, Payer sounded optimistic.</p><p>"We are not new to this business. These things happen," Payer said. "[The explosion] has not, at all, rattled our confidence in what SpaceX is doing."</p><p>SES declined to tell Business Insider how much they paid SpaceX for the upcoming launch, citing contractual issues and competition within the industry. SpaceX did not reply to Business Insider's request for comment on the matter.</p><p>But John Logsdon said he wouldn't be surprised if SES received a discount of 30% - or even managed to pay SpaceX nothing at all, since this is a demonstration flight.</p><p>"I think they're getting a low-cost ride, though there's no reason to think why this should not work," said Logsdon, who recently toured the Cape Canaveral, Florida-based facility where SpaceX is refurbishing used Falcon 9 rockets.</p><p>SpaceX designed its Falcon 9 rockets to be reusable from the beginning, and most of the multi-million-dollar construction cost is sunk into the first-stage booster. Meanwhile, refueling the rocket with liquid RP-1 (a type of kerosene) and liquid oxygen (to burn the fuel) costs <a href="https://arstechnica.com/science/2015/12/by-making-a-historic-landing-spacex-launches-new-age-of-spaceflight/">about $200,000</a>, Elon Musk has said.</p><p>"The booster is not some kind of strap-on accessory. There are nine rocket engines on the first stage, while there's only one on the second stage. And rocket engines are the most expensive item," Logsdon said, adding that that Falcon 9 rocket was designed from the ground-up to be easily repaired and reused.</p><p>"So this begins to come close to the image of launching these things, recovering them, turning them around at low cost, and launching them again," he said. "That's the goal."</p><h2>A future built on a ' very violent process'</h2><p>Engineers have tried to build reusable launch systems for decades, the most notable example of which was the space shuttle developed by NASA and its contractors. But they haven't seen much success.</p><p>"The space shuttle was supposed to be fully reusable at its inception. The orbiter itself was supposed to be able to go into orbit, land, get turned around, and go out to the launchpad again," Logsdon said. "It turned out to be much more difficult than that."</p><p>However, progress over the past few years has rekindled the dream of reusable launch systems.</p><p>SpaceX has raised eyebrows with the self-landing capability of its Falcon 9 boosters - on more than half a dozen occasions. Musk's company is also working on a much-larger <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-vs-apollo-saturn-v-rocket-2016-7">Falcon Heavy</a> launch system, which will use three such boosters, further compounding launch cost reductions.</p><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is also pursuing his own reusable rockets through his company Blue Origin.<p>Blue Origin was the first contemporary company to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blue-origin-launches-and-lands-the-same-reusable-rocket-for-the-4th-time-2016-6">launch, land, and reuse</a> a liquid-fueled rocket, called the New Shepard. As <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-jeff-bezos-rocket-launch-2015-11">Musk has pointed out</a>, however, Blue Origin's New Shepard system is a suborbital tourist rocket, so it's&#xa0;not designed to put heavy satellites into orbit - a feat that requires <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tweets-about-blue-origin-rocket-landing-2015-11">nearly 1,000 more energy</a>.</p><p>Blue Origin is developing the giant <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/blue-origin-test-escape-system-new-shepard-rocket-october-2016-9">New Glenn rocket</a> - a heavy-life launch system that recently <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-jeff-bezos-rocket-company-blue-origin-signs-eutelsat-as-first-customer-2017-3">attracted its first paying customer</a> - but SpaceX is ostensibly farther ahead in the reusable launch race.</p><p>Whatever direction the reusable launch industry goes, Logsdon said any company attempting to get in on the game is signing up for a long-term fight. It's no simple task to launch rockets at speeds of many thousands of miles per hour, land that hardware, and prepare it for another flight.</p><p>"Launching is still a very violent process," Logsdon said, adding that "each recovered booster will present a different challenge" in terms of damage to the rocket's engines, fuel pumps, navigation electronics, cylindrical body, and more.</p><p>Logsdon is eager to see how quickly companies like SpaceX can turn around boosters under heavy demand - and whether or not enough customers will actually want to fly on used merchandise.</p><p>But between SpaceX's goal of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-internet-satellite-constellation-2016-11">launching a global network of 4,425 internet satellites</a> and SES' plans to&#xa0;expand its satellite business, there may not be any shortage of demand for low-cost rocket rides.</p><p>"This is not a one-off. If it works, it will become a key element in all future satellite constellations," Payer said. "We'll be double-happy if this goes well, for both our sake and SpaceX's."</p><div><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56%"></div></div><div><div style="position:relative;padding-bottom:56%"></div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/deep-origin-rocket-spacex-competitor-jeff-bezos-new-glenn2017-3">Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin just showed off its SpaceX competitor</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="dlbjI3YTE6I8FJVGcaS8FMHOkTiMMfqx" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

SpaceX is about to try something 'potentially revolutionary' in the history of space travel

<p><div class="image-container float_right" style="width:400px"><div class="image"></div><p class="source">Pascal Parrot / Getty</p><p class="caption">Fabrice Bregier is loving this.</p></div>TOULOUSE, France, Jan 31 (Reuters) - <keyword id="6356166" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Airbus">Airbus</keyword> has studied alternatives to lithium-ion batteries for its next jet, the A350, and has time to adapt to any rule changes prompted by the problems that have grounded <keyword id="6357957" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="Boeing">Boeing</keyword> Co's 787 Dreamliner, its top executive said.</p>
<p>Airbus plans to use lithium-ion batteries on the A350, similar to the technology incorporated in Boeing's 787 airliners, and so far has stood by the modern power packs.</p>
<p>"We studied the integration of these batteries on the A350 very carefully," Airbus Chief Executive Fabrice Bregier told a group of French aerospace journalists on Thursday. "I am very relaxed about this."</p>
<p>The first U.S. grounding of a new model of passenger jet in over 30 years has focused attention on the risks that lithium-ion batteries can overheat and ignite a fire that is harder to put out than most flames, because of the solvents involved.</p>
<p>Airbus warned about the risks of lithium-ion batteries at a closed meeting of airlines in March 2011, according to a presentation first reported by Reuters this week.</p>
<p>"We identified this fragility at the start of development and we think we resolved it about a year ago," Bregier said. "Nothing prevents us from going back to a classical plan that we have been studying in parallel."</p>
<p>He did not provide details, but some aerospace industry sources caution that a redesign of the batteries could require months of engineering work and tests to obtain certification.</p>
<p>"We have a robust design. If this design has to evolve, we have the time to do that," Bregier said. "If it has to change in a more drastic way because the authorities reach the conclusion that the technology is not mature, then we have all the time we need to do this on the A350 before first delivery in the second half of 2014."</p>
<p>The head of the company that makes A350 batteries, France's Saft, told Reuters earlier on Thursday he did not believe there would be a radical rethink by aviation regulators on the use of lithium-ion as a result of the 787's problems.</p>
<p>It is the first time Boeing or Airbus has used the technology in designing commercial passenger jets.</p>
<p>POWER BOOST</p>
<p>Lithium-ion batteries are a third lighter than their older nickel-cadmium counterparts and are also capable of supporting other electrical systems that make the plane lighter. They take up less space than the nickel cadmium batteries used on most jets.</p>
<p>Experts say the 787 relies more heavily than the A350 on electrical systems instead of traditional hydraulics to control brakes and other systems, and therefore needs more power back-up.</p>
<p>The head of the National Transportation Safety Board said after a press conference last week that the lack of a fire-fighting system in the 787's battery compartment, which also contains flight electronics, was one area being examined.</p>
<p>Airbus has declined to say whether the A350 would include battery fire extinguishers, but industry sources say burning materials would instead be expelled outside the plane and that the fire hazard is reduced by electronics also provided by Saft.</p>
<p>Saft declined to comment on the A350 battery design.</p>
<p>Boeing's 787 batteries are supplied by French defence electronics company Thales, which sub-contracts the lithium-ion cells to Japanese company GS Yuasa Corp.</p>
<p>A year after intense global publicity surrounding wing cracks on its A380 superjumbos, Airbus is keen to avoid a public split with its commercial rival on safety issues. But after sending a public message of support to Boeing on the 787 this month, Bregier exhibited frustration at growing speculation over the saga's impact on the A350.</p>
<p>"I'm not going to give any lessons to Boeing. At the same time, I don't have to take any either, when I think we have done well and have a plan which allows me to have aircraft flying with batteries that don't catch fire," he said.</p>
<p>"Let's allow the U.S. authorities to come up with their own recommendations and decisions."</p>
<p>Boeing Chief Executive Jim McNerney said on Wednesday the U.S. planemaker was "narrowing down" the potential causes of the two battery incidents that led to the 787 grounding.</p>
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While Boeing Faces Crisis, Airbus CEO Is 'Very Relaxed'

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>PA</span></p><p class="caption">Proton-M rocket carries the ExoMars probe to Mars.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>LONDON - The stratospheric ambitions of the British space industry and its role in discovering life on Mars will not be blown off course by Brexit, according to the <keyword id="6354868" type="COUNTRY" weightage="60" keywordseo="UK">UK</keyword> Space Agency boss.</p><p>Chief executive Katherine Courtney said she is confident that the growing sector, which now contributes more than £5 billion ($6.3 billion) to UK GDP, will continue to thrive once Britain leaves the European Union.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>PA</span></p><p class="caption">Katherine Courtney.</p></div><p></p></div></div>The UK Space Agency collaborates closely with the European Space Agency (ESA) - perhaps most notably on <a href="http://exploration.esa.int/mars/" target="_blank">the ExoMars mission.</a></p><p>The British government is <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2859504/Britain-lead-European-space-mission-life-Mars-using-hi-tech-rover-built-Stevenage.html" target="_blank">providing £47 million of funding</a> to help send an unmanned rover to Mars in 2020. The first part of the mission, to send a satellite to study the atmosphere of the Red Planet, <a href="https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/04/esa-releases-first-color-photos-of-the-exomars-crash-site/" target="_blank">did not go to plan in October 2016 when the probe crash landed.</a></p><p>Europe is also the biggest export market for the British space industry. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/575784/Size_and_Health_summary_report_2016.pdf" target="_blank">A London Economics review of the sector in December last year</a> found that 18% of its £13.7 billion revenue came from Europe in 2014/15. This includes £351 million from the ESA and £65 million from the European Commission.</p><p>Speaking to Business Insider from the Airbus Defence and Space centre in Stevenage, Courtney said she is upbeat about the future. Far from raising fears about what a "Hard Brexit" might mean for British space trade in Europe, she was cheered by Prime Minister <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/theresa-may-single-market-customs-union-hard-brexit-speech-2017-1" target="_blank">Theresa May's Lancaster House speech last week.</a></p><p>"Brexit obviously is an important change for the country. I'm quite confident that, actually, the close collaboration that we've always had in science and space will continue after Article 50 is triggered and beyond," Courtney said.</p><p>"European funding is important to our industry, but we have a very strong domestic industry in the UK space sector. We export outside of the EU as well. We have strong collaborations with other countries on space programmes. EU funding is one element of what is driving the sector's growth."</p><p>She was "particularly reassured" that May singled out space in her Brexit speech. The UK Space Agency is an executive arm of the Department for Business, Energy &amp; Industrial Strategy, and the prime minister said last week it will continue to be central to collaboration with Europe on "major science, research, and technology initiatives."</p><p>May said: "From space exploration to clean energy to medical technologies, Britain will remain at the forefront of collective endeavours to better understand, and make better, the world in which we live."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_left"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2015/12/Tim_Peake_thumbs_up">NASA</a></span></p><p class="caption">Tim Peake aboard the International Space Station.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Courtney was speaking to BI at the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38760802" target="_blank">opening of a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths centre at Airbus in Stevenage on Thursday.</a> British astronaut Tim Peake was also at the opening, <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/boost-for-uk-space-sector-as-european-space-agency-plans-second-tim-peake-space-mission" target="_blank">fresh from announcing that he is returning to the International Space Station with ESA.</a></p><p>Peake has previously made clear that the UK's involvement in ESA will not be affected by Brexit because the agency is a "separate entity" from the EU. But he did say the result of the 23 June 2016 referendum has created uncertainty. "What we do have to be careful of is science, which will be affected by the EU referendum, and I know that there are many people involved in science in the UK who're concerned about how that's going to be affected," <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-36805080" target="_blank">he told the BBC last year.</a></p><p>Courtney said Peake's work underlines the health of the British space sector, which aims to capture 10% of the global market for space by 2030. She explained: "The UK space industry is one of the fastest growing, it generates over £13 billion in revenue for the UK economy and employs 37,000 people. It's a very thriving industrial sector for us and having an ambassador [like Peake]... that continues to show the world that the UK is a leading space nation."</p><h2>The mission to find life on Mars</h2><p>One of the UK Space Agency's top priorities is finding life on Mars through the ExoMars mission, Courtney said. The discovery rover is being assembled and tested in a giant sandpit "Mars yard" in Stevenage, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/across-the-universe/2016/apr/29/tim-peake-takes-mars-rover-for-a-test-drive-in-stevenage" target="_blank">with Peake playing with a prototype last year.</a></p><p>"That search for signs of life has long been a fascination for scientists and the general public alike. Understanding the history of the universe and that search for signs of life continues to be an interesting and stimulating bit of scientific work we do through the space agency," she said.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>PA</span></p><p class="caption">ExoMars rover prototype.</p></div><p></p></div></div>"I have been told by people who are much smarter than I am that it's not a question of if, but a question of when. Missions to asteroids and other planets have shown that there are the ingredients for life."</p><p>Courtney also provided hope for Elon Musk's vision to colonise the Red Planet. The SpaceX founder and billionaire wants to <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mars-speech-transcript-2016-9/#-1" target="_blank">launch a million people to Mars in hopes of saving humanity from doom.</a></p><p>She said: "If you look at some of the entrepreneurs out in the US, like Elon Musk, there are lots of people who are absolutely convinced that's not only feasible but they have plans to make it happen. It's bold and ambitious to have a vision that says: 'I want to go to Mars and come back.' And actually at one time when I was born in 1963, taking humans to the moon and back safely was a bold an ambitious mission. Now it's almost pedestrian."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/omega-globemaster-apple-watch-expensive-rare-2017-1">We got our hands on the $44,000 watch that only 352 people can own</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

UK SPACE AGENCY BOSS: Brexit won't derail our mission to discover life on Mars

The first of the <keyword id="2573" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="air-india" source="Orion">Air India</keyword> aircraft with GE engines are expected to be service ready in 2023 itself, Vikram <keyword id="142" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="rai" source="Orion">Rai</keyword> - Country Head, South Asia and Indonesia of GE Aerospace said on Thursday.<br /><br />Air <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>, part of Tata group, had signed an order for 40 GE engines, plus a multi-year engine services agreement.<br /><br />"The first of the new aircraft will enter service in late-2023, with the bulk to arrive beginning mid-2025," Rai said in an exclusive interview with ANI. "Air India already has started taking delivery of 36 leased B777 and A320 aircraft to accelerate its fleet and network expansion."<br /><br />Terming Air India's engine order as a "big opportunity" for the jet engines and systems suppliers company, he said it reflects continued confidence in GE Aerospace technology --which has been powering Air India's carriers for more than 40 years.<br /><br />Earlier this month, Air India, in a historic deal, announced it will buy 250 aircraft from Airbus and has also selected Boeing for the purchase of up to 290 planes as part of its growth strategy. Air India was looking for a mix of aircraft to boost their domestic and international network through recent orders. Soon after the divestment of the airline, the airline indicated it was going for a historic order.<br /><br />"This order further deepens that relationship," Rai added.<br /><br />When asked how GE sees Indian aviation space becoming a key player in the coming years with multiple stakeholders or companies looking to expand its base, he said the majority of the aircraft that domestic carriers have on order right now is expected to be powered by engines from GE Aerospace and CFM (a joint venture between GE Aviation and Safran Aircraft Engines).<br /><br />"Approximately 1,100 of the 1,200 aircraft that are currently on order will be powered by GE or CFM."<br /><br />India is the third-largest civil aviation market and it has the potential to expand exponentially with an increasing number of flyers and the country's economic growth story. <br /><br />"There are currently more people in the middle class--around 440 million--than the entire population of the US. But India has only 700 commercial aircraft, compared to the US's over 5000 aircraft. The potential to grow the commercial aviation market is huge. We are happy to help local airlines and also partner with airframers to bring the best of our technology to this market," he said.<br /><br />In the same breath, he said India is not just a market for GE Aerospace as it is also where it innovates on aerospace technology at its engineering centre in Bengaluru, in partnership with industry and academia.<br /><br />"We also source engine parts from 13 Indian manufacturers and from our own factory in Pune for our global supply chain," Rai added.<br /><br />India aims to develop itself as a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub for defence equipment and systems.<br /><br />"GE helped set up Air India's MRO facility that includes GE90 testing capabilities in <keyword id="4072" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="nagpur" source="Orion">Nagpur</keyword> in 2018-19. We are keen to help our partners set up service and maintenance capabilities locally," he told ANI.<br /><br />On a question posed what is GE's medium and long-term plan for Indian aviation space and also has been in touch with any other Indian carriers for similar deals, he, without getting into specifics, said, GE engages with various Indian carriers from time to time.<br /><br />"Other than this historic Air India order some of our notable previous orders for GE and our joint venture partner CFM includes: <keyword id="11911527" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="akasa-air" source="Orion">Akasa Air</keyword> with CFM for its LEAP-1B in 2021; IndiGo LEAP-1A order for 310 Airbus A320neo family aircraft in 2021; IndiGo for LEAP-1A to power 280 Airbus A320neo and A321neo aircraft in 2019; Vistara order for GEnx-1B engines for six Boeing 787 aircraft in 2018," he added. <br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO:<br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/oyo-plans-to-add-approximately-1800-premium-hotels-in-2023/articleshow/98180189.cms">OYO plans to double premium hotels in 2023 as biz travel surges</a></strong><br /><strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/data-privacy-labels-for-most-top-apps-in-google-play-store-misleading-mozilla/articleshow/98181627.cms">Data privacy labels for most top apps in Google Play Store misleading: Mozilla</a></strong><br />

First GE-made Air India aircraft to be service ready in 2023 itself

In a recent meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council, India decided to carry out a significant capital procurement deal. Headed by the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the meeting held on Thursday, November 28, 2019 finalized an approval to procure defence equipment and <keyword id="6356319" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="weapons">weapons</keyword> estimated to cost the country around ₹22,800 crore. It is quite interesting to note some of the top of the list items that are on the agenda of the capital procurement deal finalized now. <br /><br />Some of the important highlights of the capital procurement include six additional P-8I long-range patrol aircraft for the Indian Navy that will be supplied by the US, additional Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) that are made indigenously.<br /><br /><strong>Acceptance of Necessity</strong><br /><br />During a review of the successfully accomplished Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&amp;C) program championed indigenously, the DAC perceived the Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for the purchase of additional AWACS aircraft. In a statement made to the press, the Ministry remarked, “The mission system and sub-systems for these aircraft would be indigenously designed, developed and integrated into the main platform by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).”<br /><br />At present, the Indian Air Force has three units of Israeli Phalcon AWACS and three units of smaller indigenous Netra AEW&amp;C systems that are found mounted on Embraer aircraft.<br /><br />The aerial engagement with the Pakistan Air Force that took place a day after the Balakot air strike was an eye opener that stressed on the importance of augmenting the number of our force multipliers. These platforms are capable of on-board command and control and ‘early warning’, which can be of immense help to the Indian Air Force to achieve an effective dominance in the air space within a very short while of time. The new systems that will be procured will be mounted on the Airbus aircraft.<br /><br /><strong>Indigenous design<br /></strong><br />The Defence Acquisition Council also approved the idea of indigenously designing, developing and manufacturing ‘thermal imaging night sights’ for assault rifles. The Ministry said they will be manufactured by the Indian Private Industry partners and will be used by the troops arrayed on the front line.<br /><br />The DAC also approved purchasing twin-engine heavy helicopters for the use of Coast Guard. The council said these aircraft will prove to be of immense help to the Coast Guard on its different missions aimed at preventing maritime terrorism and rescue operations.<br /><br /><br /><br />

What Equipment And Weapons Are Being Purchased By India?

<p><span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Hello! Here's what you need to know for Wednesday.</span></p><p><strong>1. </strong>The <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/plane-flying-from-barcelona-to-dusseldorf-crashes-in-france-2015-3">black box has been recovered from the Germanwings Airbus A320 that crashed in the French Alps</a> on Tuesday morning, carrying 144 passengers, as it was flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf. </p><p><strong>2. </strong>Kraft Foods is reportedly<a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-private-equity-firm-3g-capital-in-talks-to-buy-kraft--2015-3"> in talks to be acquired by Brazilian private equity firm 3G Capital</a>.</p><p><strong>3.</strong> <span style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em;">Sweden intercepted <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-sweden-intercepts-russian-planes-over-baltic-amid-regional-tensions-2015-3">four Russian military planes flying with their transponders off</a> over the Baltic region.</span></p><p><strong>4.</strong> "Top Gear" host <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/report-top-gear-host-jeremy-clarkson-will-be-fired-by-the-bbc-2015-3">Jeremy Clarkson will reportedly be fired by the BBC</a> for involvement in a "fracas" with one of the show's producers.</p><p><strong>5. </strong><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-saudi-arabia-moving-military-equipment-to-near-yemen-border---us-officials-2015-3">Saudi Arabia is building up military equipment near the Yemen border</a>, which appears to be a defencive move to combat Iranian-backed Houthi Shi'ite militants.<strong><br /></strong></p><p><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">6. </strong></strong>Ukrainian governor Ihor Kolomoisky, who is <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32045990">widely credited with helping to stop the advance of pro-Russian rebels in the east</a> and one of the country's richest men, has been ousted by <span>Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.</span><br><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><br><strong style="color: #222222; line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">7. </strong></strong></strong></br></strong></strong>Thousands of people in Singapore watched as a<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-thousands-line-singapores-streets-to-pay-respect-to-lee-kuan-yew-2015-3"> gun carriage took the body of the late first Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew to the Parliament House</a>, where he will lie in state until Saturday.</br></p><p><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;"><strong style="line-height: 1.5em;">8. </strong></strong>Delhi officials have asked India's Information Technology industry to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-delhi-government-asks-federal-ministry-to-block-uber-ola-mobile-apps-official-2015-3">block car-sharing app Uber and its Indian rival Ola</a>.<br><br><strong>9.</strong> A company behind the Hyperloop, a high-speed transportation system dreamt up by serial entrepreneur Elon Musk, <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hyperloop-20150325-story.html">is hiring workers and leasing space in downtown Los Angeles</a>.</br></br></p><p><strong>10. </strong><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/r-china-gives-priority-list-of-wanted-officials-to-us-2015-3">China has provided the US with a list of "economic fugitives," </a>many of them corrupt government officials, who may have fled to the states. <a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/twitch-got-hacked-2015-3"><br /></a><strong><br>And finally ...</br></strong></p><p><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/stunt-cyclist-world-record-3139-steps-taipei-krystian-herba-2015-3">A guy set a record by climbing 3,139 steps in a Taipei skyscraper on a bicycle</a>.<strong><br /></strong></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/map-how-indo-european-languages-evolved-2014-12">This Animated Map Shows How European Languages Evolved </a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="wwMjI2cjq9yWkT5MO7-968mt2D9V_wxN" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

The 10 most important things in the world right now

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>SpaceX's biggest competitor isn't in the US, which is probably why you've never heard of them. They're a French-based company called Arianespace.<p>They specialize in the production, operation, and sale of rockets, like their Ariane 5 rocket - their most powerful launch vehicle - shown in the image to the right.</p><p>Even though you might be unfamiliar with this space company, they have been launching rockets into space for over 30 years - long before Elon Musk founded his private space company SpaceX in 2002.</p><p>When it was founded in 1980 (when Musk was just 9 years old), Arianespace became the world's first commercial provider of launch vehicles to help boost satellites into orbit.</p><p>Arianespace has dominated the market for launch vehicles until only recently. In 2004, for example, they held over 50% of the world market.</p><p>Today, Arianespace has three different launch vehicles, the most powerful of which is their Ariane 5. In comparison, SpaceX offers only one launch vehicle: the Falcon 9. (They're first launch vehicle, the Falcon 1, is no longer available for purchase.)</p><p>The Ariane 5 can carry a payload of <a href="http://www.arianespace.com/launch-services-ariane5/ariane-5-intro.asp">44,000 pounds</a> into low-earth orbit - where the International Space Station orbits - while the latest Falcon 9 version can carry a little over half that at <a href="http://www.spacex.com/falcon9">28,000 pounds</a>. But the Falcon 9 has an advantage: it's much cheaper.</p><p>In 2013 SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket was the cheapest launch vehicle on the market. You could buy one for just $56.5 million. The Ariane 5, by comparison, cost a hefty $200 million, according to <a href="http://www.spaceflight101.com/ariane-5-eca.html">Spaceflight 101</a>.</p><h2>Is the company making a comeback?</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>This enormous cost difference put a great deal of pressure on Arianespace, and they have been taking big steps to stay in competition with SpaceX ever since.<p>For example, in June of last year, Arianespace teamed up with Airbus Group and French engine maker Safran to "propose a new family of competitive, versatile and efficient space launchers," <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/airbus-and-safran-are-teaming-up-to-take-on-spacex-2014-6">the two companies announced</a>.</p><p>Arianespace also said that they would offer <a href="http://spacenews.com/38331spacex-challenge-has-arianespace-rethinking-pricing-policies/">more flexible prices</a> for some of their future launches. Since 2015, the company has successfully launched <a href="http://spaceflightnow.com/2015/04/16/no-time-wasted-in-spacexs-rapid-fire-launch-campaign/">two payloads into space</a> while SpaceX has launched four.</p><p>Right now, SpaceX is still leading the way in commercial spaceflight with lower costs and a higher number of 2015 launches, but it will have to stay on its toes if it wants to compete with the well-accomplished, experienced Arianespace.</p><h2>Game-changing reusable rockets</h2><p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>One thing that would put SpaceX ahead of the game is if they can successfully reuse their rockets, which SpaceX President and COO Gwynne Shotwell has said could reduce the cost of launching Falcon 9 rockets from tens of millions to just <a href="http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/01/14/shotwell/">$5 to $7 million.</a><p>Right now, they're attempting to do this by landing the first stage of their Falcon 9 rockets on a floating platform, shown in the image above. So far, the first two landing attempts made this year have been unsuccessful.</p><p>As of this January, Arianespace has <a href="http://www.arianespace.com/news-feature-story/2015/1-6-2015-press-conference.asp">not designed any of their rockets</a> for reuse.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-9-reusable-rocket-2015-4">How Elon Musk and SpaceX plan to drastically reduce the cost of space flight</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="RoYjFmdDqzlnykrwWfoldbxWYwdvQpBh" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "Airbus Defence Space" and got 12 results

Revealed: First glimpse of India's C-295 aircraft that Airbus and Tatas will co-produce

IANS

A Tata Group company will make 40 Airbus C-295 transport aircraft out of the 56 ordered by the Indian Air Force

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INTERVIEW: Dassault Group has an India software services unit offering defence MSMEs a digital ‘trial room’ where they can test their products to bag more contracts

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Airbus wants to Make in India

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SpaceX is about to try something 'potentially revolutionary' in the history of space travel

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While Boeing Faces Crisis, Airbus CEO Is 'Very Relaxed'

Reuters

UK SPACE AGENCY BOSS: Brexit won't derail our mission to discover life on Mars

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First GE-made Air India aircraft to be service ready in 2023 itself

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What Equipment And Weapons Are Being Purchased By India?

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The 10 most important things in the world right now

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SpaceX's biggest competitor is a company you've never heard of

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