Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

NASA is looking to no earlier than Feb. 15, 2026, to launch four crewmembers to the International Space Station aboard the SpaceX Crew-12 Dragon mission.

Next year is when more than a half-dozen companies aim to show they can emulate the SpaceX model of turning early setbacks into orbital success.

NASA’s SPHEREx observatory completed the first of four planned all-sky surveys as 2025 closed out to help answer some key astrophysical questions .

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has demonstrated that the six-wheeled “Percy” Perseverance Mars rover has the durability to operate until at least 2031.

Boeing has resumed F-15EX deliveries quickly after the end of a 15-week strike—but budget data shows the U.S. Air Force program is well behind schedule.

Airbus has unveiled a concept to weaponize the MQ-72C Lakota Connector with a modular system that can carry and deploy dozens of air-launched effects.

A Sukhoi Su-57 fighter completed a first flight powered by a 35,000-lb.-thrust Izdeliye 177 engine this month.

The U.S. Air Force has outlined two new updates to its Boeing C-17 airlifter fleet

The Advanced Aviation Engine Development Project will develop, test and certify a turbofan engine with 16,000 lb.-thrust at military power and 24,000 lb.-thrust on afterburner.

The delivery of the first MC-55 Peregrine multi-intelligence platform to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is imminent.

As 2025 draws to an end, the Resilient-GPS program “doesn’t have a future fate,” one contractor says.

Spain ordered 18 Airbus C295 transport aircraft days after the government in Madrid gave the OEM's helicopter arm a boost with a mammoth 100-rotorcraft deal.

South Korea is boosting its funding for a next-generation launch system with a focus on rocket reusability, according to the Korea AeroSpace Administration.

China failed in a second attempt to demonstrate the ability to recover the first stage of a launcher, this time during Long March 12A's inaugural flight.

Innospace's attempt to become the first South Korean launch operator to reach orbit suffered a setback when its Hanbit-Nano rocket failed its inaugural flight.

News in brief.

Howmet Aerospace said Dec. 22 it is buying the Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing fastener and fittings business from Stanley Black and Decker.

DARPA wants to harness the noisy radio frequency environment of the ionosphere.

The market for crewed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft, as well as for maritime patrol, will reach $23 billion through 2034.

Hydrogen-electric propulsion developer ZeroAvia has revealed a shift in strategy.

Honeywell's aerospace segment will record a $470 million financial charge in Q4 2025 for Flexjet-related litigation payments.

Skyryse has completed the first flight of a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter equipped with its SkyOS automated flight control system.

United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno has resigned after more than a decade of leading the Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint launch venture.

Six years have passed since Northrop Grumman won an opportunity to upgrade the system on the U.S. Air Force fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s.

The U.S. Air Force announced Dec. 22 that it has designated the Northrop Grumman Project Talon uncrewed aircraft prototype the YFQ-48A.