Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

By Mark Carreau
Russia's Soyuz MS-27 made a successful parachute-assisted landing in remote Kazakhstan early Dec. 9, safely returning three crewmembers from the ISS.
Operations & Safety

By Chen Chuanren
Boeing and the Royal Australian Air Force have conducted the first air-to-air live-fire test of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, with the CCA firing an AIM-120 Amraam.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Mark Carreau
The U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee reported favorably on the renomination of Jared Isaacman to become NASA administrator late Dec. 8.
Budget, Policy & Regulation

Aviation Week Staff
Selected U.S. military contracts from the past week.
Aerospace_Daily_departments

Aviation Week Staff
News in brief.
Aerospace_Daily_departments

Aviation Week Staff
LOCKHEED gets $1.14b F-35 award... SWEDISH SPACE CORP. to rebrand... New CFO for TERRAN ORBITAL...
Aerospace_Daily_departments

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force will not award a second contract to build a future missile warning and tracking constellation in medium Earth orbit until fiscal 2027.
Satellites

By Garrett Reim
Lockheed Martin has signed a memorandum of understanding with Hadrian to help increase production of parts for several missile systems.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Michael Bruno
Boeing and Airbus announced the long-sought finalization of their complex splitting-up of Spirit AeroSystems on Dec. 8.
Manufacturing & Supply Chain

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force is seeking prototype proposals for space-based interceptors.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Matthew Fulco
Taiwan's Thunder Tiger plans to participate in the U.S. Army’s Drone Dominance program.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
Lawmakers in the compromise fiscal 2026 defense policy bill are authorizing an increase to the Pentagon’s budget beyond the White House’s request.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
While Beijing is criticizing the U.S. pursuit of space-based interceptors as reckless, China’s academic institutions are quietly researching similar concepts.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The much-anticipated first flight of the Boeing MQ-25 Stingray for the U.S. Navy has been pushed to early 2026.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
GKN Aerospace Norway and Norwegian Catapult Manufacturing Technology in Kongsberg have signed an agreement.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau
A lunar-orbiting, human-tended Gateway space station could provide an asset for establishing an efficient Mars exploration strategy, a longtime proponent says.
Space Exploration

By Steve Trimble
Canada’s Defense Investment Agency will manage acquisitions of AEW aircraft, ground-based surveillance radars and air transport fleet upgrades.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Guy Norris
Beehive says Frenzy test results for performance, ignition at altitude, operability, and durability “met or exceeded challenging Air Force requirements.”
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Chen Chuanren
South Korea has approved a KRW65.8 trillion ($45 billion) defense budget for 2026, a 7.5% year-on-year increase.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
Gen. Michael Guetlein, Golden Dome program director, said the first batch of contracts for space-based interceptor technology were awarded in November.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Brian Everstine
The Office of Management and Budget director said the administration views reconciliation as a strategy to fund key defense needs outside of an appropriations process that requires 60 votes in the Senate.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
The Pentagon says there is a commitment to deliver a new U.S. Navy fighter even as the F/A-XX source selection process remains stalled and industrial base capacity is uncertain.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Vivienne Machi
After two successful launches in back-to-back months, the third Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 mission won’t launch until 2026.
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Vivienne Machi
The U.S. Space Force expects to release a solicitation for the next batch of new launch providers under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program this month
Launch Vehicles & Propulsion

By Garrett Reim
The uncrewed air vehicle (UAV) is designed to operate in challenging environments, such as flying over mountains, rivers, lakes, and bays.
Advanced Air Mobility