Defense

British parliamentarians say a lack of transparency over costs and a poor response to media reports could undermine confidence in the UK’s purchase of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy prioritizes sustaining the U.S. nuclear arsenal and building up capability in missile defense, space and cyberspace.

Thales is fleshing out its expansion into so-called digital offerings with a Dec. 17 announcement that it will buy digital security company Gemalto.

Stratolaunch Systems successfully conducted the first taxi tests of the company’s enormous six-engine, air-launch rocket carrier aircraft on Dec 17.

A committee of British MPs is urging the UK’s defense ministry to undertake a comprehensive review of its equipment spending.

ArianeGroup has started building the first Ariane 6 launcher, scheduled to lift off in July 2020.

A high-temperature airflow test site designed to evaluate a key technology in the Reaction Engines’ hypersonic air-breathing combined cycle Sabre rocket engine is under assembly.

The Swedish government has signed a $47.5 million contract with Saab to ensure that more of the country’s new fleet of Gripen E fighters are new-build aircraft.

Canada is providing nearly $42 million to space companies, almost all of which will go to MDA, for the Mobile Servicing System on the space station.

GKN Aerospace has signed a three year contract extension worth over US$8 million (Initial order value ZAR 89M), covering the technical product support, maintenance and parts supply for the Gripen RM12 Engines of the South African Air Force.

Findings of a NASA team studying hypoxia in the Navy’s F/A-18s suggest the complex man-machine interface is to blame.

The International Space Station received new opportunities to display its versatility as an orbiting testbed early Dec. 17, with the berthing of SpaceX's 13th NASA-contracted Dragon resupply vessel and 4,800 lb. of crew supplies, science experiments and technology demonstrations.

The Pentagon will start ramping up its investments in safer and more reliable cluster munitions that don’t leave unexploded ordnance lying around the battlefield.

SpaceX wrapped up its 2017 East Coast launch manifest on Dec. 15 with a cargo run to the International Space Station for NASA.

Spacesuit researchers are working on a rescue system that would use automated navigation to help a spacewalking astronaut return to safety in an emergency.

Earth-i intends to launch 15 satellites in batches of five, starting in early 2019.

NATO is stepping up its protection of vital undersea cables in the face of a new unconventional threat from Russia, Britain’s defense chief says.

NASA must do better at focusing on the health risks astronauts will face if they are to live, work and explore beyond low Earth orbit for extended periods, an assessment says.

Japan is probably more interested in standoff air-to-surface missiles for defense against an amphibious attack than the North Korean ballistic threat.

Vietnam is an exception in its region. It is spending to face external threats, especially by modernizing its navy

With an election coming up, the Brazilian armed forces likely will stay the course through 2018.

With big bills coming due and more new contracts in limbo, India’s defense ministry is looking for a cash infusion.

A new generation of EW systems is on verge of entering service, bringing latest digital technologies to bear in the battle for electromagnetic spectrum.

Two Russian Su-25s on Dec. 13 flew into coalition airspace on the east side of the Euphrates River near Abu Kamal, Syria, violating verbal agreements.

The private investor behind the Sea Launch project plans to support the development of future space transportation technologies with the purchase of at least 50 next-generation Soyuz launch vehicles.