Defense

Russia on Dec. 15 MST, conducted a direct-ascent anti-satellite missile test, according to U.S. Space Command (Spacecom).

The U.S. State Department has approved the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Italy of two special-mission versions of the Gulfstream G550 business jet configured for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

Sweden’s parliament has approved plans to boost the capabilities of the country’s armed forces in the face of a growing regional threat from Russia.

Northrop Grumman helped lead a seed-round venture capital investment in Philadelphia-based Deepwave Digital, and the companies are looking to integrate Deepwave’s edge-compute, artificial intelligence (AI) technology into an “array” of sensor systems to improve capabilities and longevity.

German defense budget is increasing to meet modernization needs, but hurdles to progress remain.

While Russia’s defense budget is likely to flatten, Putin will maintain his focus on the nation’s strategic forces.

Pinched by COVID-related economic woes, New Delhi is still prepared to buy what it needs to counter border threats in Ladakh.

The defense budget is likely to reach 2.4% of GDP within two years. Slow naval programs will consume much of the money.

A decade of research and simulation is transitioning into a flight test series of autonomous aircraft projects in 2021.

Despite the pandemic, the industry continued to make progress in sustainability, space, aviation safety and more.

Beyond COVID-19, the new leadership team at the Pentagon will inherit a huge modernization agenda.

Recent market intelligence items for aerospace & defense professionals.

Redwire, the private equity-backed space rollup, said Dec. 15 it bought LoadPath, a developer of payload adapters, deployable structures and thermal products for the space industry.

The U.S. Air Force says it has delivered the last of 84 F-15SA Advanced Eagles to the Royal Saudi Air Force.

The U.S. Space Force may establish its acquisition and sustainment arm, Space Systems Command, earlier than planned, the chief of space operations says.

The U.S. military on Dec. 9 was able to demonstrate how a piece of its future military Internet of Things, the Advanced Battle Management System, might work.

BOEING has $109m FMS contract from US Navy to provide P-8A Poseidon simulator/classroom training for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).

The survivability of NASA’s exploration agenda depends substantially on bipartisan congressional support, according to Jim Bridenstine, the agency’s soon-to-depart administrator.

Japan has chosen Lockheed Martin as the technology support partner for Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in developing the F-X fighter, Japanese media said.

German air rescue service ADAC Luftrettung has reserved two VoloCity electric air taxis from Volocopter to prepare for operational emergency medical service tests of the piloted multicopters in 2023.

LUNA INNOVATIONS, VA has $6.2m Lockheed Martin contract to supply fiber optic-based measurement products to support F-35 Lightning II fleet.

The European Space Agency has awarded ArianeGroup a €33 million ($40 million) contract for the “initial development phase” of the Themis demonstrator for a reusable launcher’s first stage.

Iridium has officially launched its own Global Maritime Distress and Safety System service, providing a single terminal for emergency data and voice communications that company leaders said would be competitively priced.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency Hayabusa 2 mission scientists have confirmed the presence of a small, dark-grained material and vapor within the sample container that returned to Earth from the primitive asteroid Ryugu.

Ask the Editors: China and Russia are not likely to follow in U.S. footsteps and establish separate space force branches within their militaries.