Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Maksim Pyadushkin
Iran plans to complete two space launches in the coming months, the head of the country’s Space Agency Hassan Salariyeh said.
Satellites

By Robert Wall
Hours after NASA laid out a new plan for returning Mars samples to Earth, Rocket Lab said it could do so “faster and more affordably.”
Space Exploration

Aviation Week Staff
News in brief.
Aerospace_Daily_departments

Aviation Week Staff
BOEING gets EPAWSS full-rate award... KRONE leaves Mercury’s board... PARAZERO announces new drone safety system...
Aerospace_Daily_departments

By Irene Klotz
Either option would cut the flagship $11 billion Mars Sample Return mission’s cost by at least 30% and as much as 47%.
Space Exploration

By Vivienne Machi
The companies have developed prototypes for the Space Force’s Protected Tactical Satcom program under a 2020 contract award.
Satellites

By Steve Trimble
The latest totals mean that historical F-35 deliveries now exceed 1,100 production aircraft over a 15-year span.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
Anduril plans to raise annual capacity at the facility by tenfold to more than 6,000 solid rocket motors for tactical missiles.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Tony Osborne
Development of the new missiles follows the introduction of weapons with a range of 800 km into the national inventory.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Sean Broderick
Grozny's airport reportedly was under attack by Ukrainian drones at the time.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Pentagon designation complies with Section 1260H of the fiscal 2021 National Defense Authorization Act.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Garrett Reim
The investment is part of a larger strategic capital and business alliance with Toyota aimed at the “mass production of rockets.”
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
Although CEO Eric Trappier had expected 35 Falcon deliveries in 2024, the actual figure stands higher than 2023’s total of 26.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt succeeds Giancarlo Mezzanatto after his three-year rotational stint from Leonardo.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Marine Corps MV-22s will get cockpit voice recorders installed under an upcoming contract, 24 years after they were mandated by Congress.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Robert Wall
Israel has signed agreements with Elbit Systems for the purchase of air-launched weapons and to support local advanced production of energetics.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Blue Origin plans to flight-test its first orbital launch vehicle, with liftoff of New Glenn from Cape Canaveral SFS targeted for the early hours of Jan. 10.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Leonardo Helicopters has lifted the veil on the design of the Proteus uncrewed rotorcraft demonstrator, due to fly this summer.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
North Korea has conducted its first missile test in 2025, claiming it was an intermediate-range ballistic missile topped by a hypersonic glide vehicle.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Ben Goldstein
Perhaps the biggest elephant in the room: airspace integration of large numbers of AAM aircraft.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Matthew Fulco
Antimony is a crucial material for aerospace and defense.
Supply Chain

By Robert Wall
The U.S. Navy said the system reached the IOC milestone in December.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Brian Everstine
If all options are exercised under the $1.45 billion indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity award, it would represent the company’s largest award.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Garrett Reim
As part of the agreement, AST SpaceMobile will provide Ligado Networks with $113 million of AST SpaceMobile warrants and usage rights payments.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble
The quiet Dec. 23 announcement that the Kaveri jet engine is now cleared to reenter flight test after a 15-year-long hiatus could be easily missed.
Aircraft & Propulsion