Defense

By Jay Menon
India’s home-grown Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) is getting ready for induction with the successful demonstration of its capability to carry out six turn spins.
Maintenance & Training

By Chen Chuanren, Kim Minseok
The South Korean defense ministry has played down Pyongyang’s claim that it successfully tested a hypersonic missile on Jan. 5, saying that North Korea had instead launched a Maneuverable Reentry Vehicle.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Michael Bruno
Shares in Momentus have fallen 60% since the space-tug startup went public in August 2021.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble
Military requirements for processing power are starting to diverge from the best that commercial industry can offer.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Irene Klotz
Two weeks after the JWST was launched into orbit, the final segment of its 21-ft.-dia. primary mirror—the largest mirror ever flown on a space observatory—was rotated into position, completing NASA’s risky and most technically complicated series of in-space deployments.
Space

By Guy Norris
Following the revelation in December that the U.S. Air Force plans to launch two new unmanned combat air vehicle programs, the service’s chief scientist says tactical autonomy and the use of manned-unmanned teaming “will become the next step in the evolution of the Department of the Air Force.”
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Irene Klotz
Flight controllers at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore are closing in on the final steps to reconfigure the James Webb Space Telescope, with the first of two primary mirror wing panels extended and latched into place on Jan. 7.
Space

By Brian Everstine
The Space Force’s two launch ranges have a shortage of spare parts for critical systems, which could impact future launches as the service projects a vast increase in missions, a new Pentagon report says.
Space

By Irene Klotz
After contributing 31 flights to a global record 146 orbital launches in 2021, SpaceX kicked off the new year by adding another 49 new satellites to its growing Starlink broadband network.
Commercial Space

NASA astronaut Mark Vande Hei’s trek toward a new U.S. record for human spaceflight marches on.
Space

By Tony Osborne
Turkish Aerospace (TAI) has opened a wave of new facilities as the company prepares for the development and production of an indigenous combat aircraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois
Arianespace may perform up to 17 launches in 2022 with its family of Ariane, Soyuz and Vega rockets, according to CEO Stephane Israel.
Space

By Chen Chuanren
Bangladesh appears set to purchase Russian Mil Mi-28NE attack helicopters ahead of Boeing AH-64E Apache.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
After a painful, prolonged development, NASA’s new space telescope is on its way.
Space

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Mark Carreau
Paragon Space Development Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Final Frontier Design as part of a joint financial effort to enhance future private spacesuit development for NASA and other spaceflight customers.
Space

The Defense Department organization that oversees global military sales has a new leader.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Brian Everstine
President Joe Biden has nominated Lt. Gen. Michael Kurilla to lead U.S. Central Command as the Pentagon looks to shift away from constant operations in that command’s area of responsibility to threats in the Pacific.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Graham Warwick
Joby Aviation has formally added a second preproduction prototype to the test program for its S4 tiltprop electric vertical takeoff and landing air taxi.
Advanced Air Mobility

By Tony Osborne
The Netherlands is sending its new MQ-9 Reaper medium-altitude, long-endurance platforms to the Caribbean as part of a shakedown and evaluation of the new aircraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
Bradley Feldmann has left Cubic’s corner office as the new private owners of the storied 70-year-old defense contractor appoint new leadership.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Molly McMillin
Dassault Aviation delivered 25 Rafale fighters to export customers in 2021, compared to 13 in 2020.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Norway’s F-35s have now taken on the mantle of NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties from the F-16, operating from newly established facilities within the Arctic Circle.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
Scaled Composites has unveiled a concept for an optionally piloted, high-altitude aircraft capable of carrying modular payloads up to 10,000 lb.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
NATO fighters were scrambled the equivalent of more than once a day during 2021, mostly in response to Russian military flights.
Budget, Policy & Operations