Defense and Space

Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week

Aviation Week parroted the U.S. government’s statement that the aircraft was down due to a mechanical failure, not a Soviet missile, which proved to be wrong.

Balloon industry says it can survey the Earth better than satellites and for less cost.

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of 1,000 Joint Direct Attack Munition bomb kits and 250 Paveway II guided bombs kits to Singapore.

The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract is part of the Foreign Commercial Imagery Program.

SpaceX fired up 32 of the 33 Raptor engines on its first Starship/Super Heavy booster for a static hot-fire on Feb. 9.

Key lawmakers are already calling for improvements to air surveillance to better detect high-altitude intrusions over the U.S.

Lunar Flashlight has experienced a succession of green propellant thruster issues.

The goals of the effort suggest a future battlefield in which robotic air/ground teams are able to perform missions with little risk to human operators.

Russia’s Progress MS-22 cargo mission was on a course to dock autonomously with the International Space Station following a successful liftoff Feb. 9.

South Korea aims for carrier-based KF-21; SOCOM’s 18-day deadline; Senator eyes electronic warfare progress; and U.S. Army prepares 2040 vision.

A bizarre, five-day saga revealed a new Chinese spy program, possible advances in light-than-air technology and new high-altitude skills for the F-22.

Ukraine has kept its skies contested using a collection of internationally donated systems, though experts warn of donors’ complacency.

Reliable Robotics will study the use of its automated flight and navigation technology in large, multi-engine U.S. Air Force jets.

The U.S. Army can accept some risk in crafting a vision for forces in 2040, U.S. Army Futures Command chief Gen. James Rainey said Feb. 8.

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee is prioritizing investment in military modernization, with an eye toward the electromagnetic spectrum.

Small satellites dominated the space industry in terms of numbers, accounting for 95% of all spacecraft launched in 2022, according to a report by Bryce Tech.

SpaceX is taking steps to prevent Starlink technology provided to Ukraine from being used for offensive military purposes.

SpaceX will attempt to test-fire the 33 Raptor engines of its first Starship/Super Heavy booster on Feb. 9.

NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel is urging the agency and its policymakers to address or continue addressing a series of safety risk concerns.

The UK Prime Minister's announcement preceded a fresh call for NATO members to send fighters to Kyiv by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Daher unveiled a new five-year "Take off 2027” strategic plan to "become a large, profitable international company” with four complementary businesses.

The news comes after Seoul scrapped plans for an F-35B-equipped light carrier.

Signs indicate that Russian Kh-101 stocks are running low.

A static firing of Super Heavy’s 33 Merlin engines is the last major milestone before debut launch.