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Magazine Issue

Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, August 20, 2026

VOL. 297 NO. 36 August 20, 2026

Daily Briefs

Daily Briefs
article

Daily Briefs

Aug 19, 2026
XTI AEROSPACE management shakeup... New GBSD maintenance facility... F-35 flight equipment award...

In Brief

Briefs logo
article

In Brief: NASA Selects Commercial Payload Processing Services Providers

Aug 19, 2026
NASA Selects Commercial Payload Processing Services Providers

The Debrief

Credit: Bill Ingalls/NASA Caption: A composite image showing the progression of a total solar eclipse over San Millan de los Caballeros, Spain on Aug. 12.
article

Debrief: NASA Tech Test To Advance Search For Life Beyond Earth

Aug 19, 2026
With the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA is poised to open a new frontier in coronagraph technology.

News

GA-ASI
article

U.S. Navy Reveals Interest In MQ-9B Lease Deal

Aug 19, 2026
The U.S. Navy revealed a long-term interest on Aug. 19 to lease MQ-9B SeaGuardians and SkyGuardians, two types of uncrewed aircraft systems.
Swift
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NASA Calls Off Swift Telescope Reboost

Aug 19, 2026
The low-budget attempt to restore NASA’s gamma ray-hunting Swift space telescope into an operational orbit has been canceled due to attitude control issues with the servicing spacecraft.
military missile launcher fires rocket
article

Switzerland Seeks More Funds To Speed Air Defense Buys

Aug 19, 2026
The Swiss government will ask parliament for a further 970 million Swiss francs ($1.2 billion) to speed the fielding of air defense equipment.
Photo credit: GA-ASI Photo caption: General Atomics can build on 30 years of experience and multiple aircraft to design the Wildfire UAS concept (not pictured).
article

GA-ASI Reveals Ambitious Design Options For New Wildfire UAS

Aug 18, 2026
The company that invented the MQ-9A Reaper is now aiming to reinvent the medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) category.
DALO chief Lt. Gen. Per Pugholm Olsen and Terma CEO Henriette H. Thygesen
article

Denmark Taps Terma To Build Country-Wide Counter-Drone Surveillance System

Aug 19, 2026
Denmark is asking local defense technology champion Terma to build a nationwide counter-drone system as European states grow increasingly anxious about illicit uncrewed aircraft system activity within their borders.
Destinus
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Destinus, Danish Firms Team On Naval Anti-Drone Capability

Aug 19, 2026
Dutch weapons developer Destinus has teamed up with Danish firms Cubedin and Odense Maritime Technology to develop a naval version of Destinus’ Hornet anti-drone interceptor.
Credit: U.S. Army
article

Pentagon Forming Fast-Track Path For Directed Energy Prototypes

Aug 19, 2026
A Pentagon-level organization is being created to fast-track prototypes for defeating uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) with airborne lasers, continuous wave lasers and high-power microwaves.
rocket launch
article

France Adopts Boosted Military Spending Law

Aug 18, 2026
France has formally adopted an updated military programming law that adds €36 billion ($42 billion) over the 2026-30 period.
Whisper Aero
article

Whisper Completes First Piloted Flights Of Ultraquiet Electric Propulsion

Aug 19, 2026
Whisper Aero tests ultraquiet electric ducted fans on a modified Swift 3 glider, achieving low noise levels and advancing military and FAA projects.
Caption: A father-son team won the challenge Credit: NASA
article

NASA Selects Winner For Lunar Rover Wheel Challenge

Aug 19, 2026
NASA has selected a winner for its “Rock and Roll” lunar wheel challenge, a competition to find lightweight and durable wheels for long-duration lunar rover surface operations.
dovbush
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Ukraine Reveals Siberia-Range Strike UAS

Aug 17, 2026
Ukraine’s military revealed a long-range uncrewed aircraft system on Aug. 17.
signing of radar agreement
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Australia And UK To Cooperate On AESA Radar Development

Aug 13, 2026
Australia and the UK have inked agreements to deepen cooperation on the development of advanced radars developed by Australian firm CEA Technologies.

Air Forces and Focus

AFIF: British Army
article

Air Forces In Focus: British Army Embracing Uncrewed Dominance

Aug 20, 2026
The UK’s June 2026 Defense Investment Plan (DIP) switched the country’s defense modernization into 6th gear, with £298 billion ($402 billion) in funding to be made available through 2029.