Defense

After two successful launches in back-to-back months, the third Space Development Agency (SDA) Tranche 1 mission won’t launch until 2026.

The U.S. Space Force expects to release a solicitation for the next batch of new launch providers under the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program this month

The California hypersonic missile startup is increasing its overall capital war chest to $464.5 million since emerging from stealth mode nearly two years ago.

The Royal Thai Air Force has awarded Israel Aerospace Industries a contract for its Integrated Air Defense System program, according to a Thai government document seen by Aviation Week.

South Korea has kicked off development of its indigenous Short-Range Air-to-Air Missile-II (SRAAM-II).

Australia will begin in-country production of Lockheed Martin’s Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles as a new production line opens.

The author of the 1997 U.S. defense acquisition reform plan critiques Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new strategy.

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

NASA extends ISS research management accord... RAYTHEON gets MQ-9 PED station order... New security officer for AEROVIRONMENT...

Austria has finally signed a deal with Leonardo for a new fleet of 12 M-346 jet trainers and equipment worth $1.5 billion to replace its Saab 105 trainers.

Losses of Boeing F/A-18s from the USS Harry S. Truman were caused or exacerbated by a lack of training and communication, the U.S. Navy found.

The Royal Navy's Asia-Pacific potential concept of carrier operations has been turned on its head with a more Europe-focused approach.

Antares has raised a $96 million Series B funding round to develop, build and test microreactors, including for use on U.S. Army and NASA lunar bases.

A company successfully demonstrated a distributed passive sensor array that could help to mitigate interference caused by wind turbines on UK defense radars.

European emergency service aircraft operator Avincis has teamed with De Havilland Aircraft on support initiatives for the CL-215 and CL-415 water bombers.

Norway and the UK will work together on tackling Russian underwater warfare threats through a new agreement signed by the two countries.

A job advert posted by Anduril indicates that work is underway on a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) UAS in the Group 5 size category.

Denmark’s Defense Ministry will develop its Karup base as a future forward operating location for NATO’s multinational tanker unit.

The integration of the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile onto the CTOL Lockheed Martin F-35 has advanced, with ground-based testing beginning.

A sense of urgency led member states to fuel ESA with record funding.

The agency’s Lift Challenge aims for at least a fourfold increase in drone payload-to-weight capability.

Northrop Grumman’s Scaled Composites on Dec. 3 unveiled Project Talon, the company’s latest design of an uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft.

The Pentagon is casting a wide net for work under the Golden Dome air and missile defense program.

The U.S. is looking at options to increase its supply of tungsten, a mineral crucial to the defense industry, more so after Chinese export restrictions.

Advanced air mobility startups are looking to defense for early revenues, so Electra.aero is forming a dedicated defense unit to pursue potential military uses.