Subscription Required

 

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, December 22, 2025 is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, an Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) Market Briefing and is included with your AWIN membership.

Already a member of AWIN or subscribe to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report through your company? Login with your existing email and password.

Not a member?  Learn how you can access the market intelligence and data you need to stay abreast of what's happening in the aerospace and defense community.

LoginLearn How
Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, December 22, 2025

VOL. 294 NO. 57 December 22, 2025
Download PDF

Programs

Rocket Lab Lightning spacecraft
article

Rocket Lab Moves Into Missile Defense With SDA Tranche 3 Award

Dec 19, 2025
Rocket Lab is making its missile defense development debut as the SDA awarded the company one of four contracts for the next phase of its Tracking Layer
Gene Blevins via Aviation Week archives
article

Could The Secretive RQ-170 Support Ongoing Caribbean Operations?

Dec 19, 2025
The DOD has surged assets to the Caribbean and the southern border to back military operations in the region including, potentially, the RQ-170 reconnaissance drone.
hornet fighter jet
article

RMAF Seeks To Accelerate MRCA Program Amid Hornet Acquisition Delays

Dec 19, 2025
Malaysia is looking to fast-track its multirole combat aircraft program after plans to acquire ex-Kuwaiti Boeing F/A-18 Hornets are expected to face delays.
Försvarsmakten
article

Saab Gets More Swedish Gripen Upgrade Funding

Dec 19, 2025
Saab has secured another 2.5 billion in Swedish krona ($200 million) to support the evolution of the Gripen fighter.
Leonardo Helicopters
article

Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Technology Demo Finally Flies

Dec 19, 2025
Leonardo Helicopters has completed the long-awaited first flight of its Next Generation Civil Tiltrotor Technology Demonstrator.
Test fire of a newly developed Mk. 72 motor. Credit: Northrop Grumman
article

Northrop Grumman Test-Fires New Mk. 72 Motor For U.S. Navy

Dec 18, 2025
Northrop Grumman announced Dec. 18 it had test-fired a prototype of a new solid rocket motor for the U.S. Navy.
MBDA
article

MBDA Eyes Higher Taurus Cruise Missile Output

Dec 18, 2025
MBDA says it has doubled production of the Taurus cruise missile.

Daily Briefs

In Brief

Business

ISA
article

HawkEye 360 Buys Signal-Processing Specialist ISA

Dec 19, 2025
Signals intelligence-focused satellite company HawkEye 360 has acquired Innovative Signal Analysis to enhance usage of its orbit-collected data.
Credit: ESA
article

Arkadia Space Sees More Thruster Deals After MaiaSpace Agreement

Dec 19, 2025
Spanish space startup Arkadia Space says it is looking to secure more contracts for its reaction control system after kicking off the year with a deal with Arianespace.
Zone 5's initial batch of low-cost cruise missiles are intended for use by Ukraine Credit: Kongsberg
article

Kongsberg To Buy Zone 5 Tech, U.S. Maker Of Low-Cost Cruise Missiles

Dec 19, 2025
Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace of Norway plans to acquire Zone 5 Technologies, a U.S. maker of low-cost cruise missiles.
Credit: NanoXplore
article

France, MBDA Take Stake In French Chip Maker

Dec 19, 2025
The French Defense Innovation Fund and MBDA have taken a stake in NanoXplore, a company specializing in reprogrammable special-purposes semiconductors.
Drone
article

Quantum Systems, Ukraine Firm Team For Drone Production In Germany

Dec 15, 2025
German drone-maker Quantum Systems has set up a joint venture with Ukraine’s Frontline Robotics to build drones at scale for use by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The Debrief

Astro Mechanica Caption – Astro Mechanica’s ground demonstrator is based on a GE CT7 turbofan, driving a generator powering two propulsors
article

Debrief: Astro Mechanica’s Electric Supersonic Engine To Be Tested

Dec 19, 2025
U.S. startup Astro Mechanica plans to take its hybrid-electric supersonic engine into high-altitude and high-speed ground testing in 2026.

Funding & Policy

Duffy at NIAR
article

Duffy, Officials Celebrate NIAR’s New Advanced Manufacturing Hub

Dec 16, 2025
Wichita’s National Institute for Aviation Research marked its 40th anniversary with a sneak peek of its new innovation advanced manufacturing hub.

Fleet Snapshot

Calendar