Iran

The Soyuz-2.1b medium-lift vehicle with a Fregat upper stage took off Nov. 4 at 6:18 p.m. EST from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport.

The defense contractor’s revenue and earnings per share in the September quarter both exceeded Wall Street’s consensus estimate.

This event coincided with a worrying escalation by Russia in its 33-month war against Ukraine.

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

The escalating conflict in the Middle East not only affects flights in the region, but also the most important detour for flights between Europe and Asia.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Aug. 11 ordered the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group to accelerate its deployment to the region.

The Iranian government has confirmed the deaths of President Ebrahim Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Cost is becoming an increasing challenge to missile defense systems, even as Israel’s success against Iran shows the value of the capability.

The U.S. Navy is approaching a total of $1 billion in munitions expended in the Red Sea and Eastern Mediterranean.

U.S. aircraft and ships took down scores of drones and missiles, including several before they were launched in Yemen, as part of the broad defense of Israel.

The full details of the multinational, multilayered defense against the Iranian attack are still kept secret.

Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft “destroyed a number” of Iranian one-way attack drones used in Tehran’s direct attack on Israel.

Several airlines have made changes to their routings or schedules following Iran’s attack on Israel over the April 13-14 weekend and related airspace closures.

Traditionally when increased regional tensions and high oil prices coincide, defense spending in the Middle East and North Africa tends to see robust growth.

Iran launched more than 300 missiles and attack drones, both from within its borders and from sites in Iraq, Syria and Yemen.

An Israeli Defense Forces spokesman said within three hours of the strikes unfolding that most of incoming rounds had been shot down.

A targeted U.S. drone strike on a vehicle in Baghdad killed a reported commander of the Iranian-backed militia tied to attacks on American forces in the region.

China Eastern will become the first Chinese airline offering regular scheduled flights to Saudi Arabia, while China Southern is adding a second route to Iran.

Multiple U.S. aircraft including B-1B long-range bombers conducted dozens of air strikes on Feb. 2 targeting Iranian officials and militias in Iraq and Syria.

The U.S. is preparing a “multi-tiered,” sustained response targeting Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria.

U.S. forces struck the Houthi missile as it was being prepared to launch at an unidentified aircraft.

The defense tech ecosystem is coming into its own as the Pentagon works to overcome the so-called “valley of death.”

The announcement comes in defiance of calls by three European governments for Iran to halt development of space launch vehicles.

Pakistani combat aircraft and UAS have struck targets in Eastern Iran a day after Tehran conducted a missile and drone strike in Western Pakistan.

Houthi forces continue to launch ballistic missiles targeting commercial vessels in the Red Sea despite ongoing airstrikes by U.S. forces to degrade the Iranian-backed militia.