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Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, March 18, 2026

VOL. 295 NO. 52 March 18, 2026
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The Debrief

President Donald Trump rolls out his plans for Golden Dome in May 2025, with Gen. Michael Guetlein on the far left.
article

Debrief: The Cost Of Golden Dome Is Growing, But By How Much?

Mar 17, 2026
The director of Golden Dome argues that cost estimates predicting huge increases to the program's price tag are fundamentally flawed.

Daily Briefs

In Brief

Programs

U.S. Air Force
article

Loosening ‘Requirements Bind’ Sparked VC-25B Progress—USAF

Mar 17, 2026
The U.S. Air Force and Boeing are in a strong place to turn around the VC-25B future “Air Force One” program.
Elbit Systems laser on fighter jet rendering
article

Elbit CEO Discloses Helicopter-Based High-Power Laser

Mar 17, 2026
Elbit Systems' CEO has disclosed that the Israeli defense technology company is working on a helicopter-based high-power laser application.
THAAD launcher. Credit: U.S. Army
article

U.S. Army To Take On THAAD Procurement

Mar 17, 2026
The U.S. Army is finally taking on the procurement in addition to the operational responsibility of the THAAD system from the Missile Defense Agency.
Turkish Aerospace Industries
article

Turkish Aerospace Secures Local Certification For Gokbey Helicopter

Mar 17, 2026
Turkish Aerospace Industries’ (TAI) T625 Gokbey twin-engine helicopter has secured domestic civil certification from the country’s aviation regulator.
A test of a GAU-18 gun on the Sikorsky HH-60W. Credit: U.S. Air Force
article

U.S. Air Force Changes Armament Plans For HH-60W Helo

Mar 16, 2026
The U.S. Air Force is changing the armament on its new Sikorsky HH-60W combat search and rescue helicopter as the fleet is being rolled out.
Caption: Telesat Lightspeed constellation. Credit: Telesat
article

Telesat Adding Military Ka-Band To Lightspeed Constellation

Mar 17, 2026
Telesat plans to add 500 MHz of military Ka-band spectrum to its initial Lightspeed satellite constellation.
romania
article

Airbus Exploring Local Assembly Options For H225 In Romania

Mar 16, 2026
Airbus Helicopters is discussing possible industrialization options with Romania over the potential sale of the H225M.

Funding & Policy

spacepae
article

Space Force Delineates Mission Areas In New PAE Structure

Mar 17, 2026
The U.S. Space Force has laid out how it plans to divide most of its mission areas under the Pentagon’s new portfolio acquisition executive (PAE) system.
Concept art of Telesat Lightspeed satellites on orbit. Credit: MDA Space
article

Canada Makes Dedicated Push Toward Sovereign Space Launch

Mar 16, 2026
Canada wants to stand up a sovereign spaceport, with plans to invest $200 million CAD ($146 million) over 10 years for a multiuser launchpad.

Technology

space computing rendering
article

Nvidia Deepens Space Push With Satellite-Focused GPU

Mar 17, 2026
Nvidia is deepening its efforts to secure a share of the space economy, with the launch of a new GPU to deliver more edge computing horsepower on spacecraft.

Business

hex
article

SpaceX Acquires Hexagon Masterworks

Mar 17, 2026
SpaceX has bought Maryland-based Hexagon Masterworks Inc.

Operations

art
article

NASA Shifts Artemis II Rollout To March 20

Mar 17, 2026
NASA was aiming to return its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B on March 20.