Defense

The Supreme Court of India on Dec. 14 dismissed requests filed last October to block India’s planned purchase of 36 Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation.

Poland has exercised options to purchase an additional four M-346 advanced jet trainers from Leonardo, expanding its air force’s training capacity.

Hungary has followed up on its June order for Airbus H145M armed twin-engine light helicopters by ordering 16 H225M heavy helicopters.

The Netherlands has signaled it could purchase more Lockheed Martin F-35s after the country’s government approved further defense funding increases.

Italian defense company Leonardo on Dec. 13 said it was consolidating several electronics business units into a new division.

India’s first domestically built aircraft carrier—the INS Vikrant, or IAC-1—will begin sea trials in 2020.

India is seeking an OK from Russia to have more local content in Kamov Ka-226T helicopters, which are jointly made by both countries in the South Asian nation.

Northrop hopes its “flexible” Firebird UAS will open a new market for surveillance aircraft beyond a defense contractor’s traditional customer base.

Virgin Orbit hopes to attempt the first test flight of the LauncherOne rocket from its modified Boeing 747-400 carrier aircraft as early as March.

The Philippines is considering an offer from Japan to buy a ground-based air defense radar system, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana says.

U.S. defense officials have decided on a preferred option for the size and scope of a proposed Space Force, and a legislative proposal will be distributed within the Pentagon for comments starting on Dec. 14.

Deputy Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan confirmed on Dec. 13 that the Trump administration is developing fiscal 2020 budget proposals with overall amounts above $733 billion.

Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo suborbital spaceplane Unity powered its way at Mach 2.9 to an altitude of more than 51 mi. above Southern California on Dec. 13.

France placed a firm order for three Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) Dec. 13, completing a multiyear contract for 12 aircraft.

Slovakian defense officials have signed off on the country’s plans to purchase the Block 70/72-standard F-16 Fighting Falcon.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross is growing concerned that American states are pursuing too many spaceports.

NASA astronaut Nick Hague, with one aborted space launch to his credit, nonetheless remains confident in the ability of the six-person orbiting lab’s Russian partners to find and remedy the source of flight risks.

A national security meeting of Japan’s ruling party has called for the acquisition of shipboard fighters capable of short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL).

Germany’s defense ministry has ordered seven Airbus H145 twin-engine light helicopters to serve in the search-and-rescue role.

The European medium-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft system passed its system preliminary design review on Nov. 22, Airbus Defense & Space says.

USAF Space Command has assumed responsibility for procuring commercial satellite communications services for the DOD from the Defense Information Systems Agency.

As the Pentagon looks to change how it buys satellite communication services, Intelsat General is offering a new managed service for military customers.

The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) released a cyber security standard Dec. 13 to provide a solution to addressing new threats.

The FAA and Pentagon approve a broad agreement to accommodate military aircraft that are not equipped for ADS-B by the FAA’s 2020 deadline.

Indonesia’s KF-X payment plan; France upgrades milspace capacity; Philippines on verge of two helicopter orders and a new Peruvian maintenance facility.