Missile Defense & Weapons

Putin’s false pretext for war will stain Russia’s reputation for decades.

A solicitation for a $334 million hypersonic demonstrator missile is now in industry hands, with responses due to the Air Force Research Laboratory in May and contract award in December.

The U.S. Air Force wants to make it easier to export some of its highest-end air-to-air weapons to ensure close partner nations can have the most advanced missiles so that their F-35s, for example, can be effective.

Airbus Ventures, L3Harris Technologies and Heico have joined a group of venture capitalists to invest $60 million in CesiumAstro, a four-year-old active-phased-array startup, the companies announced March 2.

Days after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his nuclear forces to be on a special alert, the Pentagon announced it has postponed a test of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile from this coming weekend to try to lower tensions.

Germany’s Diehl Defense has confirmed its intention to join Australia’s Sovereign Missile Alliance to help local industries develop and build guided-missile systems for the Australian Defense Force under the Sovereign Guided Weapons Enterprise.

North Korea test-fired another ballistic missile on Feb. 27, which Pyongyang claims was testing equipment for a “reconnaissance satellite.”

The U.S. Air Force wants to expand the use of its experimental Rapid Dragon palletized munition system, issuing a new request for information to determine what existing or upcoming systems it could deploy.

South Korea has reportedly test-fired its indigenous long-range surface-to-air missile, which is primarily designed to protect the country against ballistic missiles.

A400 launches drone; Northrop wins deep-space radar contract; Australia to upgrade BAE trainers; Emiratis create swarming drone system.

What is Zircon exactly? The answer may seem obvious.

The UK is facing further delays to the integration of MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile onto the Lockheed Martin F-35.

Emirati defense manufacturer Edge Group says it has developed a swarming drone capability designed to overwhelm an adversary’s defenses.

The UK and France have launched the long-awaited next step in their joint development of both a future cruise missile and an anti-ship weapon.

The Lockheed Martin fighter is on track to be certified to carry a nuclear weapon by January 2023 and deploy on nuclear missions a year later.

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

The Israeli manufacturer is adapting to a future split-ownership structure.

Australia hires U.S. firms for JADC2 program; UK, U.S. join forces on rotor requirements; Raptor heads to UAE; and Raytheon’s new execs.

U.N. report finds Yemeni rebels have increased the range and firepower of their UAS response to Saudi-led strikes.

A joint venture makes it the best of both worlds.

The UK defense ministry is to investigate alternative technologies for the midcourse guidance of missiles that reduce or eliminate reliance on satellite-based navigation systems.

Happenings at Singapore, including new customers a variety of aircraft systems.

Royal Air Force picks Falcon 900LX for VIPs; South Korea’s first P-8; F-15J cost estimate; and the U.S. Air Force’s new acquisition boss.

Industry officials have one last chance to influence the U.S. Army’s strategy for acquiring a family of vehicles, payloads and mission systems for Air-Launched Effects, scheduled to become operational in fiscal 2025.

A new 70-page report on the oft-ignored topic of hypersonic defense opens with a first line that neither sugarcoats the scale of the challenge nor wishes it away.