Defense

A web of challenges is holding back aerospace and defense from exceeding expectations, especially labor and supply chain issues.

The U.S. Space Force has awarded small satellite manufacturer Millennium Space Systems and launch service provider Firefly Aerospace contracts for its Victus Nox mission, an attempt to demonstrate the ability to launch a small satellite into low Earth orbit less than 24 hr. after requested.

L3Harris Technologies’ move to acquire Viasat’s Link 16 Tactical Data Links product line for roughly $1.96 billion will bolster the former’s effort to remain a large, trusted disruptor for the U.S. military, while also providing cash for the latter, which is reshaping its portfolio ahead of its own major acquisition.

The Space Development Agency, the defense space acquisition startup launched more than three years ago to shake up how the Pentagon acquires capabilities in orbit, is now officially part of the U.S. Space Force.

The Russian government plans to allocate additional funds to Roscosmos Space Corp. to facilitate the deployment of the new Sfera multisatellite orbital constellation of more than 300 satellites by 2030.

If the U.S. Air Force’s current plan succeeds, a single or a family of fully autonomous, collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) could enter service by the end of the decade, but what ... are they?

The U.S. Army on Sept. 30 awarded Boeing a $63 million firm-fixed-price contract for two more CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters.

The action comes despite recent market turmoil that plunged the pound to near parity with the U.S. dollar.

U.S. space infrastructure specialist Redwire said it will buy Qinetiq Group’s Space NV business, a provider of integration, equipment and other backbone space systems in Europe, for about €32 million ($31.4 million).

Sabena says that half of the French military helicopter fleet will now benefit from its services.

The new facility will enable the integration of eight satellites onto Virgin Orbit’s LauncherOne rocket.

The rocket upstart recently shelved its troubled small launch vehicle to focus on developing a larger launcher.

Firefly Aerospace has recovered from the unsuccessful 2021 debut launch of its Alpha small-satellite booster with a successful follow-on flight test.

Vulcan’s debut launch, targeted for late this year or early 2023, will send a privately owned lander, carrying payloads for NASA and other customers, to the surface of the Moon.

A program aimed at identifying cost savings inadvertently led to a major performance improvement for the Lockheed Martin stealth fighter.

Russia and Belarus have finalized an agreement on joint development of a new Earth monitoring satellite that can enhance the nations’ mapping capabilities.

A joint U.S.-Australian space surveillance telescope—relocated from New Mexico to Australia to help avoid potential collisions and monitor asteroids—reached initial operational capability (IOC) on Sept. 30.

The U.S. Department of Defense has released a request for proposals for “Proliferated Low Earth Orbit Satellite-Based Services.”

For aid to Ukraine, the industry has struggled to ramp up production despite Pentagon funding.

A baseline estimate released on Sept. 30 by the F-35 Joint Program Office proposes a sharp drop in new orders for the single-engine stealth fighter in production lots beyond Lot 17.

Under an unfunded Space Act Agreement, NASA and SpaceX plan to study the feasibility of a commercial Dragon mission to raise the orbital altitude of the 32-year-old Hubble Space Telescope, potentially extending its operations into the 2030s.

The French defense budget will rise to €43.9 billion, the sixth consecutive annual increase.

Delays have slowed the gathering of experience that ArianeGroup needs for its proposed family of reusable launchers.

The sailing of the long-delayed aircraft carrier is a trial run ahead of its 2023 operational deployment.

The U.S. military services are looking for a range of autonomous aircraft—from expensive high-end aircraft to less costly lower end systems. Aviation Week editors discuss what industry is offering, particularly for mid-range attritable systems, and some of the complications involved with cultivating the new technology.