Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

News in brief.

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The U.S. Space Force has identified the 12 companies currently on contract to develop space-based interceptors ahead of a planned 2028 demonstration.

The U.S. Air Force will start replacing its C-37A/B executive airlift fleet with a newer variant starting in fiscal 2027.

A long-endurance uncrewed aircraft has been powered in flight via laser beam while conducting a surveillance mission during a demo on a U.S. Air Force range.

JETSTREAM announces investment in SHIELD AI ... CANADA’s Future Aircrew Training program begins instructor flights ... PRATT gets F135 award...

The U.S. Air Force plans to field 263 KC-46 refueling tankers to fully replace its KC-135 fleet, .

NASA has taken delivery of its newly modified Boeing 777-200ER airborne science laboratory from conversion specialist L3Harris Technologies.

NASA’s next SpaceX Crew Dragon mission to the International Space Station will deliver four crewmembers for a long-duration mission.

Just five years ago, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and when U.S. security commitments to Europe looked solid, projections for defense spending on the continent appeared flat.

The MBDA-led team leading one of two European hypersonic interceptor efforts is poised to settle on its preferred configuration within weeks.

News In Brief

LITHUANIA buying AIM-9X... NETHERLANDS interested in more Hellfires... JORDAN, LATVIA sign Artemis Accords...

A group of bipartisan lawmakers have introduced a series of bills to further increase U.S. military aircraft procurement and pilot retainment.

The competition to build the U.S. Navy’s next-generation trainer has narrowed.

U.S. Special Operations Command is going to refresh its nonstandard aviation fleet.

The first flight of the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray uncrewed refueler is imminent, as the Navy outlines an updated spending plan for an aircraft.

U.S. advanced battery developer Sion Power has pivoted from its long pursuit of the electric vehicle market to target defense and aerospace applications.

The country of Jordan has become the 63rd nation to sign NASA’s Artemis Accords.

NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office says 40,155 near-Earth objects of all sizes have now been discovered and tracked.

Lockheed Martin encountered development problems with its latest F-16 configuration, denting earnings along with issues on the C-130J Hercules.

LIG Defense & Aerospace finalized a $94 million contract with Malaysia for the export of the K-SAAM, marking the system’s first international sale.

Dutch defense startup Destinus says it has begun flight trials of key features of its Ruta Blk. 2 deep-strike weapon.

Saab has been delivering its Giraffe 1X air surveillance radars built before orders were even placed to Middle East customers to address urgent needs there, CEO Micael Johansson says.

Saab could be building as many as 20 Gripen fighters annually in about a year's time, says CEO Micael Johansson, as the aircraft-maker scales up output.