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Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, January 23, 2026

VOL. 295 NO. 15 January 23, 2026
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Daily Briefs

Daily Briefs
article

Daily Briefs

Jan 23, 2026
ELBIT buys UTACS... NEW SHEPARD flies... AURORA’s Langford join CLICK BOND board...

Programs

Air Force rendering of the VC-25B future “Air Force One.” Credit: U.S. Air Force
article

U.S. Air Force Expected To Limit Changes To Qatari-Donated 747

Jan 22, 2026
The U.S. Air Force expects a quick delivery of the Boeing 747-8i given to President Donald Trump by the government of Qatar.
François Delattre
article

FCAS Decisions Need To Be Faster, French Ambassador Says

Jan 22, 2026
FCAS is suffering due to a slow pace of decision-making rather than political will to work together, France’s ambassador to Germany says.
Rocket Factory Augsburg rocket RFA one launching
article

Rocket Factory Augsburg Secures Further ESA Launches

Jan 22, 2026
German space launch startup Rocket Factory Augsburg has secured two further ESA launches, while still working toward the inaugural liftoff of RFA One.
spanish eurofighter
article

Indra Makes Play For Fighter-Based Airborne Electronic Attack Market

Jan 22, 2026
Spanish defense electronics provider Indra says it is developing an airborne electronic-attack system for use on fighters.
BAE Systems
article

UK Preparing Groundwork For Hawk T2 Replacement Contest

Jan 22, 2026
The UK defense ministry is progressing with plans to launch a contest to find a replacement for the BAE Systems Hawk T2.
eurofighter radar
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UK Royal Air Force Eurofighters To Receive AESA Radar

Jan 22, 2026
Some of the UK RAF Eurofighter fleet is set to receive an advanced AESA radar under a $610 million contract.
Neutron rocket’s Stage 1 tank
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Rocket Lab Suffers Neutron Setback

Jan 22, 2026
Rocket Lab suffered a structural failure of the Neutron's Stage 1 tank during testing, setting back efforts to get the fully reusable launcher to liftoff.
new ssm japan
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Japan's New SSM Missile Begins Advanced Flight Testing

Jan 20, 2026
Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ new surface-to-surface missile (SSM) program has entered an advanced flight-test phase.
astra
article

Astra Ships 110 Satellite Engines, Eyes 2026 Rocket Test

Jan 21, 2026
Space startup Astra said on Jan. 21 that it has shipped 110 satellite engines since Jan. 2025 and is planning to test its new rocket (Rocket 4) this year.

Business

culp
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GE Aerospace Sees Operating Profit Milestone Two Years Quicker

Jan 22, 2026
Suppliers to GE Aerospace boosted their material input to the engine OEM by more than 40% in 2025, including a double-digit improvement in the fourth quarter.

Operations

: A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched a Lockheed Martin GPS III satellite for the U.S. Space Force on May 30, 2025. Credit: SpaceX
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Space Force Targets Jan. 25 For Next GPS III Launch

Jan 22, 2026
The U.S. Space Force plans to launch the next GPS III satellite no earlier than Jan. 25, the service’s Space Systems Command announced Jan. 22.
Crew-11 crew return to Ellington Field with Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, Kimya Yui and Oleg Platonov. NASA/Robert Markowitz
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NASA’s Crew-11 Dragon Crewmembers Doing Well

Jan 21, 2026
The four members of NASA’s Crew-11 Dragon mission appeared healthy and in good spirits as they gathered for a Jan. 21 news briefing.

Funding & Policy

Photo caption: The defense industry is racing to build non-China supply chains of the rare earth samarium, which is essential for military systems like the F-35 fighter jet and Tomahawk cruise missile Photo credit: Ted Small/Alamy Stock Image
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Debrief: Defense Industry Needs Stable Samarium Supply

Jan 22, 2026
Crucial for defense and scarce due to China’s export controls, samarium was recently named the most vulnerable critical mineral by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Aviation Week Forecasts

Forecasts
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Aviation Week Forecasts: Military Aircraft Aftermarket To Outpace Procurement Spending

Jan 23, 2026
While major new contracts generally grab the headlines within the global military aircraft market, Aviation Week’s newly released 2026 Military Fleet & MRO Forecast projects that aftermarket demand will far outstrip spending on procurement over the next decade.