Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

Aviation Week Staff
News in brief.
Aerospace_Daily_departments

Aviation Week Staff
SwRI working on USAF product lifecycle management system... LOCKHEED gets JASSM award... GE AEROSPACE funded to repair F404 engine components...
Aerospace_Daily_departments

By Brian Everstine, Guy Norris
Northrop Grumman is presenting a three-pronged approach to offer a “family of systems” for the USAF if it progresses with that plan for future refuelers.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
Astrolight plans to demonstrate its new laser communications terminals in space for the first time following the launch of SpaceX’s Transporter-16 mission.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
Spain’s Indra and Italy’s ELT Group have signed a strategic framework for closer collaboration on space and uncrewed aircraft systems.
Operations & Safety

By Tony Osborne
Airbus has described 2026 as a “year of testing” for the latest addition to its portfolio, the H140 twin-engine light helicopter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Hypersonic test company Stratolaunch has completed back-to-back launches of two Mach 5-plus, rocket-powered Talon-A vehicles from two different carrier aircraft in the space of just fourteen days.
Emerging Technologies

By Robert Wall
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz wants the military to do a proper requirements assessment for a potential next-generation fighter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
A proposal to increase the size of the B-21 Raider program of record depends on getting U.S. Air Force approval to accelerate deliveries.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Boeing has supplemented the dedicated 777-9 test fleet with the temporary addition of a fifth aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
European missile-maker MBDA has secured a backlog of orders now valued at around €44 billion ($52 billion), joint venture partner BAE Systems disclosed Feb. 18.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Robert Wall
BAE Systems' sales growth generated in Europe is poised to accelerate after with the business there now surpassing the British defense company’s sizable Saudi Arabian activities.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Michael Bruno
Carpenter Technology's current president and chief operating officer Brian Malloy will become chief executive officer July 1.
Supply Chain

By Mark Carreau
A Senate panel has again passed the Orbital Sustainability Act, which authorizes $150 million in 2026-2030 to remediate Earth orbital debris.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

By Tony Osborne
Spain has added a signals intelligence capability to its General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) fleet.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The U.S. Air Force is now planning for its first missile pad test launch of its next intercontinental ballistic missile next year.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Matthew Fulco
Raytheon will team with the U.S. photonics engineering group G&H to domestically produce thin film lithium niobate wafers following its win of an AFRL contract.
Supply Chain

By Steve Trimble
Canada will prioritize domestic businesses for the award of an estimated C$180 billion in military procurement contracts over the next 10 years.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
3D printing has yet to turn aircraft production on its head.
Supply Chain

By Robert Wall
Spanish startup Sateliot has booked a launch with compatriot PLD Space to deploy its first two high-capacity 5G direct-to-device satellites.
Commercial Space

By Graham Warwick
An air-launched missile-carrying UAS developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems for DARPA’s LongShot project has been designed the X-68A.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
The EU plans to establish what it calls a Military Mobility Transport Group in a move that could be a boon to Airbus by paving the way for more A400M orders.
Multi-Mission Aircraft

By Robert Wall
AAC Clyde Space says it is moving ahead with plans to expand its Vireon Earth-observation satellite constellation.
Satellites

By Irene Klotz
Countdown clocks for a second wet dress rehearsal for NASA’s Artemis II mission are expected to begin ticking at 6:40 p.m. EST Feb. 17.
Operations & Safety

By Robert Wall
British startup Orbex has made what seems like a last-minute push to generate appetite in its business as it faces closure, releasing previously unseen images of its Prime rocket.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion