Aerospace Daily & Defense Report

The Japanese Ministry of Defense (JMD) is to fund development of a privately operated synthetic aperture radar satellite constellation.

NASA is looking to field a drone-detection and analysis system to help spot activities over the John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC).

Japan plans to study the use of General Atomics MQ-9B UAS for aerial interception missions, as it faces airspace intrusions by Chinese and Russian aircraft.

The Indian government has given the green light to buy a range of homegrown and imported missile, drone and counter-drone systems.

The Philippines has signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries to upgrade its Air Force’s existing fleet of 11 FA-50PH light combat aircraft.

Israel has taken delivery of the first operational Iron Beam system from prime contractor Rafael.

Outgoing United Launch Alliance President and CEO Tory Bruno will join Blue Origin as its new president of national security.

News in brief.

LOCKHEED gets $10b added to C-130J contract... BOEING has $2b B-52 engine replacement award... RAYTHEON funded for 219 more Tactical Tomahawks...

L3Harris plans to double production next year of Kratos-designed Zeus solid rocket motors for hypersonic vehicles, the company said on Dec. 23.

The U.S. Navy on Dec. 23 announced it was awarding Leonardo UK a $54.3 million contract for ALQ-260 BriteCloud decoys to protect the Pentagon’s F-35 fleet.

LIG Nex1 won a contract for a seven-year program to develop the Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile (SRAAM)-II, the South Korean defense company said.

The Office of Naval Research on Dec. 23 awarded Skydweller’s U.S. arm the $1.4 million contract for the development.

The U.S. Marine Corps has laid out an ambitious goal to field thousands of uncrewed systems following a model laid out earlier this year by the U.S. Army.

In 2026, the U.S. Space Force wants to pass several development milestones for its Operational Test and Training Infrastructure (OTTI) program.

A Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decision to ban Chinese-made drones for communications has instilled uncertainty among public-sector users.

The first iteration of the Pentagon's annual China report published during President Donald Trump’s second term illustrates a tonal shift on the prospects of an amphibious assault of Taiwan.

Ukraine is gearing up to prepare for the arrival of Saab Gripen fighters from Sweden, the embattled country’s defense minister said.

Russian space agency Roscosmos says it plans to have built a lunar power station by 2036.

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.

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 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.

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.