Defense

Gen. John Raymond is now officially in charge of the first new U.S. military service to be created in more than 70 years.

Rocket Lab is building a new headquarters, mission control center and production complex in Long Beach, also home to rival Virgin Orbit.

Startup ABL Space Systems is working with AFRL to develop and test propulsion elements for unspecified launch vehicles.

Listen in as Aviation Week editors discuss how the Ukraine International Airlines flight found itself in the path of a SA-15 and what can be done to prevent future tragedies.

The Pentagon plans to award contracts in April for three to five counter-small unmanned aircraft systems for use in the Middle East.

BOEING is offering H-47 Chinook to German Armed Forces under its New Heavy Lift Helicopter program for 44-60 aircraft; contract award is expected in

A custom-made anti-drone system has been deployed at London Heathrow Airport (LHR), using technologies from different manufacturers.

Boeing says it expects Berlin to issue a contract award for a fleet of 44-60 helicopters plus sustainment and training in 2021.

After years of decline, Russian helicopter factory prepares for historic growth.

EUROCONSULT predicts four-fold increase in satellites launched worldwide by 2028, reaching yearly average of 990. Market will reach $292b over next

Selected U.S. military contracts from the past week.

Leonardo has won another key program in the U.S. Defense Department helicopter inventory.

First flight of Sierra Technical Services' Fifth Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) is scheduled for early 2020.

Thales and Leonardo, plans to study potential military uses of the Stratobus as part of a contract issued by the French defense materiel agency, DGA, and announced on Jan. 8.

The U.S. military is looking for an affordable, ground-based radar system to monitor deep-space activity.

"These astronauts could one day in fact walk on the Moon as part of the Artemis program," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $3.4b US DOD contract to build 50 C-130Js for USAF (24), USMC (20) and USCG (6) for 2021-2025.

Britain’s Royal Air Force is gearing up to establish a squadron that will fly the air arm’s first swarming drone unit.

Woodward andHexcel have proposed a stock merger to create one of the largest independent aerospace and defense supplier.

Iran has admitted accidentally shooting down a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 737, flight PS752, backtracking on previous denials that it was responsible for the Jan. 8 crash, which killed all 176 people on board.

The Swiss government has issued a second request for quotations for new combat aircraft and ground-based air defense systems.

U.S. Air Force will integrate the baseline version of the Northrop Grumman AARGM-ER on the Lockheed Martin F-35A, but as a testbed.

Singapore has opted to purchase the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the Lockheed Martin F-35.

European countries want a counter to the hypersonic weapons being fielded by Russia and China.

Readers discuss small module reactors, the U.S.-NATO relationship, an unusual plan for a new midmarket airplane, and Latin letters in China.