Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The UK is set to upgrade the Sea Viper air defense system that equips its Type 45 destroyers to enable improved capabilities against ballistic missiles.

German lawmakers have approved €1.23 billion ($1.34 billion) in funding for the development of a new mobile short-range air defense system.

Sierra Space has successfully completed an ultimate burst pressure test of a full-size inflatable space station module, rupturing the structure at 77 psi.

The Dragon Freedom capsule made contact with the orbital lab's U.S. segment Harmony module at 5:42 a.m. EST, initiating a 15-min. docking sequence.

Europe’s two fast-rotorcraft demonstrator projects are racing to achieve first flight before the EU’s long-running Clean Sky 2 research program finishes.

During a test run on the ground, the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine ingested a flashlight left inside an inlet during a maintenance inspection.

Japan has become the fifth country to soft-land a spacecraft on the surface of the Moon, but engineers are assessing an issue with its power system.

Cellphone-from-space startup AST SpaceMobile on Jan. 19 announced a long-awaited investment round,.

Kaman, a storied pioneer of helicopters and UAVs and scion of New England aerospace, will be acquired by private-equity firm Arcline Investment Management.

Congressional leaders are planning to increase oversight of the U.S. Air Force’s massive intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) modernization program.

China’s new generation of transport and manned rockets could be ready for launch in 2025-26, according to the Long March 7 chief designer, Xu Lijie.

UK Defense Ministry analysis says Russia has moved its Beriev A-50 operations further from Ukrainian territory after one of the airborne early warning aircraft was shot down on Jan. 14.

The UK’s DragonFire laser directed energy demonstration weapon has been tested against aerial targets for the first time.

Danish lawmakers have agreed on a plan to purchase long-range UAS to patrol the Arctic and North Atlantic.

The Japan Defense Ministry (JMOD) has signed on to acquire Raytheon RGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles through the Foreign Military Sales process.

The European Parliament has taken a step toward creating policy that would encourage states to increase investment in electric regional and UAM technologies.

Astrobotic wrapped up its first space mission with the destructive reentry of its Peregrine lunar lander in Earth’s atmosphere on Jan. 18.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket kicked off the planned 14-day Axiom-3 (Ax-3) mission with launch at 4:49 p.m. EST from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.

The exchange came four days after a Russian air force A-50 airborne warning and control system was reportedly downed near the Sea of Azov.

AAM startup ZeroAvia has entered into a conditional accord to supply 20 of its 600-kW ZA-600 hydrogen-electric powertrains to an Indian regional operator.

Impulse Space has unveiled additional details about its Helios kick stage, which is scheduled for a demonstration launch mission in early 2026.

U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets carried out air strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on Jan. 18.

Mercury Systems (MRCY), a tech provider to the aerospace and defense industry, said it would consolidate its Mission Systems and Microelectronics divisions.

Test personnel at Stennis Space Center have successfully conducted the fourth in a second round of 12 ground test firings of the upgraded RS-25 rocket engine.

Pakistani combat aircraft and UAS have struck targets in Eastern Iran a day after Tehran conducted a missile and drone strike in Western Pakistan.