Aerospace & Defense Roundup: June 03

Aviation Week Forecasts: Evidence Grows For Flat U.S. Defense Budgets

The Biden administration’s first defense budget request, released last week, may not have included the customary Future Years Defense Plan (FYDP) outlining medium-term budget projections, but accompanying documentation does provide some useful hints on future plans and expectations.

See the full forecast

Credit: U.S. Air force

IAI, Australians Consider Joint ‘Sovereign’ Missile Development

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and the Australia Missile Corp. (AMC) are discussing collaboration with the aim of meeting Canberra’s requirement for “sovereign” Australian guided weapons. While information of the proposed partnership remains scarce, an IAI spokesperson said the two companies are considering cooperation in “several vectors.” Credit: Royal Australian Navy

Italy Plans Midlife Update For Block 1 MQ-9 Reapers

General Atomics plans to provide a midlife upgrade for Italy’s MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft. The OEM will upgrade Italy’s fleet of Block 1 MQ-9s to Block 5 configuration, adding an improved electrical power capability, new strengthened landing gear, and new versions of the company’s Lynx multi-mode radar and its Raytheon-developed electro-optical sensors. Credit: Wikipedia

LeoLabs To Expand Space Surveillance With New Funding

Space situational awareness startup LeoLabs is expected to accelerate the expansion of its ground-based radar sites and subscription services after securing $65 million in Series B funding. Credit: LeoLabs

SpaceX Cargo Ship En Route To ISS

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on June 3, sending a Dragon Cargo ship on its way to the International Space Station (ISS) with more than 7,300 lb. of equipment and supplies, including a pair of next-generation, Roll-Out Solar Arrays to boost the station’s power output. Credit: Carleton Bailie

Scheduling, Admin Issues Drive MH-139 Order Pause

Most of the underlying issues that drove a one-year production pause for the Boeing/Leonardo MH-139 Gray Wolf helicopter should be resolved within six months, according to Gen. Timothy Ray, the head of Global Strike Command. Credit: Boeing