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Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, June 20, 2025

VOL. 292 NO. 58 June 20, 2025
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Operations

starship explodes
article

Starship For Flight 10 Explodes On Test Stand

Jun 19, 2025
A SpaceX Starship vehicle being prepared for the company’s upcoming 10th integrated flight test exploded on a test stand around midnight EDT June 19.
Caption: Angara A5’s first operational launch from Plesetsk (photo credits – Russia’s Defense Ministry)
article

Heavy Angara A5 Orbits First Payloads From Plesetsk

Jun 19, 2025
More than a decade after its first liftoff, Russia’s Angara A5 heavy rocket finally has become operational.
Two Chinese satellites SJ-21 (left) and SJ-25
article

Slingshot Aerospace Tracks Possible On-Orbit Refueling Of Chinese Sats

Jun 19, 2025
Two Chinese-built satellites may be on the verge of conducting an on-orbit, satellite-to-satellite refueling activity for the first time, U.S. space situational awareness company Slingshot Aerospace recently announced.

Daily Briefs

In Brief

t-6 U.S. Air Force
article

Borsight Wins $2.18b T-6 Avionics Contract

Jun 17, 2025
The U.S. Air Force has awarded Borsight Inc. a contract worth up to $2.18 billion to replace the avionics for its entire T-6 Texan II trainer fleet.

Funding & Policy

french nanosatellite
article

France Launches Military Space Projects

Jun 19, 2025
The French government has launched several military space efforts, spanning space situational awareness initiatives to nanonsatellites.

Programs

vsr700
article

France Reveals Framework Deal Firming Up VSR700 Naval Adoption

Jun 18, 2025
France has established a framework deal paving the way for a single-source purchase of Airbus Helicopters and Naval Group’s VSR700 uncrewed rotorcraft.
RTX rendering of fighter jets
article

RTX Reaches Positive Thrust With Rotating Detonation

Jun 17, 2025
RTX says they have achieved positive thrust with a rotating detonation combustor in a turbine engine in a relevant thrust class for a weapon.
Caption: Angara A5’s first operational launch from Plesetsk (photo credits – Russia’s Defense Ministry)
article

Protected Tactical Satcom Ground System Debut Expected In FY ’27

Jun 19, 2025
The U.S. Space Force anticipates the initial use of a ground system developed to support its new protected tactical waveform on orbit in fiscal 2027.
MBDA
article

MBDA Targets French Need For Long-Range, One-Way Attack Drone

Jun 16, 2025
MBDA has lifted the lid on a low-cost, long-range, one-way attack drone concept used to saturate an adversary’s air defenses.
a330-800
article

Airbus Planning MRTT To Neo-Derived MRTT+ Transition In 2028

Jun 16, 2025
Airbus is planning a “seamless” transition in both production and conversion of its A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to the new A330-800-based MRTT+.
electra el9 military rendering
article

Lockheed Partners With Electra To Boost eSTOL EL9 Development

Jun 19, 2025
Lockheed Martin Skunk Works has agreed to explore opportunities with Electra.aero for the startup’s in-development EL9 ultra-short-takeoff-and-landing aircraft.

The Debrief

The Trump administration’s June 6 executive order signals a new, more aggressive phase in the U.S. effort to reduce dependency on China-made drones Image credit: StockCake
article

Debrief: Trump Administration Aims High With UAS Executive Order

Jun 19, 2025
The second Trump administration’s executive order signals a new, more aggressive phase in the U.S. effort to overcome dependency on Chinese drone supply chains.

Business

dielh safran munition model
article

Diehl, Safran Plan Air-To-Ground Munition Cooperation

Jun 18, 2025
Diehl and Safran have agreed to work together on development of light modular air-to-ground munitions, the companies said at the Paris Air Show.
Telescopes on Elytra come from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Credit: Firefly
article

Firefly Aerospace Unveils Sat-based Lunar Imaging Service

Jun 18, 2025
Firefly Aerospace plans to offer ultraviolet and visible spectrum imaging of the Moon from a lunar-orbiting satellite.

Aviation Week Forecasts