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Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, October 21, 2025

VOL. 294 NO. 15 October 21, 2025
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Programs

SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System development is behind schedule Credit: SpaceX
article

NASA To Open SpaceX’s Artemis III Contract To Blue Origin, Others

Oct 20, 2025
SpaceX's Starship Human Landing System development is behind schedule.
flying x2 rotorcraft
article

Lockheed Exec Pushes X2 Tech For Korean UH-60P Replacement

Oct 20, 2025
Lockheed Martin’s long tech collaboration with KAI could see development of a military variant of the high-speed X2 rotorcraft platform, a Lockheed exec says.
Gripen E taking off
article

Swedish Air Force Takes Delivery Of Saab Gripen E Aircraft

Oct 20, 2025
The Swedish Air Force has taken delivery of its first Gripen E combat aircraft.
NB/IA
article

Bell, Ukraine Assess Options Related To AH-1Z, UH-1Y Sale

Oct 20, 2025
Bell has confirmed new discussions with Ukrainian government agencies over a potential Foreign Military Sale of AH-1Z and UH-1Y attack and utility helicopters.
ZUMA Press, Inc.
article

MQ-28 Ghost Bat Readies For Fighter Demonstration Next Year

Oct 20, 2025
The next step for the Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat is a flying demonstration next year.
Minseok Kim
article

KAI Reveals Updated Small CCA Concept

Oct 20, 2025
KAI’s concept rebrands Collaborative Combat Aircraft as Adaptable Aerial Platforms.
phoenix aew&c illustration
article

South Korea Awards AEW&C Contract To L3Harris Team

Oct 20, 2025
South Korea awarded L3Harris a contract to deliver the new Phoenix airborne early warning and control aircraft based on a Bombardier bizjet and an IAI radar.
KTF-5500
article

Hanwha Aerospace Unveils 5,500-lb.-Thrust Turbofan

Oct 20, 2025
Hanwha Aerospace has unveiled the design of the first member in a family of future turbofan engines at ADEX 2025 that are sized between 5,500-17,000-lb. thrust.
An F/A-18 with an IRST Block II system. Credit: U.S. Navy
article

Lockheed Gets IRST Block II Order For U.S. Navy F/A-18s, Guard F-16s

Oct 20, 2025
Lockheed Martin has received a $233 million contract to deliver infrared search and track sensors to the U.S. Navy.
leonardo radar with uas
article

Leonardo Wins Swiss Radar Deal To Fill Air Surveillance Gap

Oct 20, 2025
Switzerland says it plans to buy Leonardo Tactical Multi-Mission Radar systems to plug an air surveillance gap in its network.

Daily Briefs

In Brief

The Debrief

lockheed assembly line
article

Debrief: Shutdown Casts Shadow Over Earnings

Oct 20, 2025
The U.S. government shutdown may not have kicked off until the end of Q3, but its effects will be a common thread in upcoming defense earnings discussions.

Technology

Softbank also plans to fly a pilot cellular broadcast program in 2026 using Sceye's HAPS airship Credit: Softbank
article

Japanese Companies To Demo Laser Comms Between Sat, HAPS

Oct 16, 2025
Four Japanese companies plan a joint demonstration of laser communications between a satellite and a high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS).

Funding & Policy

As part of their critical minerals agreement, the U.S. and Australia will together invest $3 billion in mining projects Image credit: Aleks Taurus/Alamy Stock Photo
article

U.S., Australia Sign Big-Ticket Critical Minerals Deal

Oct 20, 2025
The U.S. and Australia agreed to invest $3 billion together in critical minerals projects over the next six months.

Business

pelican 2 rendering 1
article

Planet Projects Revenue Growth Above 20%

Oct 17, 2025
Earth-observation company Planet is projecting 20% sales growth in the medium term as governments bolster access to imagery and related data from space.