In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, May. 10 2023

Credit: Defense Department.

The blanket hold placed by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) on a series of high-profile Pentagon command nominations will create long-lasting problems in the department if it is not lifted, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin writes in a new letter.

Credit: U.S. Army.

The White House’s Office of Management and Budget is modifying its recently submitted fiscal 2024 budget request to add more multiyear munitions block buy authorities and to reprioritize some funding for emerging technology. 

Midnight

Credit: Aerovodochody.

The Czech Republic may consider donating to Ukraine a small fleet of Aero L-159 light attack fighters as Western governments continue to wrestle with demands by Kyiv for Western-made fighters and long-range missiles and other munitions. 

Credit: NASA.

NASA is seeking industry input in developing a strategy for a commercial, controlled end-of-life deorbit of the International Space Station (ISS) into an unpopulated region of Earth.

Credit: Blue Canyon Technologies/NASA.

In the midst of its campaign to deliver a four-cubesat constellation into orbit to track hurricanes, Rocket Lab was awarded another NASA contract to launch a second multi-cubesat mission to demonstrate autonomous swarm technologies. 

Credit: Jekta.

Swiss electric seaplane startup Jekta has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Honeywell to identify a suite of systems to be integrated into the 19-passenger PHA-ZE 100 amphibious flying boat. 

Credit: Honeywell.

Honeywell has introduced a small satellite communications system for the advanced air mobility (AAM) and uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) industry that combines satcom and cellular connectivity to enable beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) communications.