In Pictures: Top Aerospace & Defense Stories, Oct. 23 2023

Credit: Airbus Defense and Space UK.

Airbus and Northrop Grumman have teamed up to bid on the modernization of the UK’s Skynet military communications satellites.

Credit: NASA.

Pakistan and Belarus have joined the China-led International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) program, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA).

Credit: Navy.

The Pentagon is surging additional advanced air defense systems to the Middle East amid an increase in attacks on its forces in the region, with the threat only expected to rise amid Israel’s bombing campaign in Gaza.

Credit: Airbus Military.

Airbus Defense and Space has agreed to upgrade France’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports (MRTT) and turn the aircraft into communications nodes with enhanced command and control (C2) capabilities.

Credit: Qosmosys.

A Singapore-based company with French and U.S. offices has announced a “record-setting” $100 million “seed” round of venture capital investment toward its proposed platform for lunar transportation.

Credit: German Offshore Spaceport Alliance.

A team of European rocket developers are to help prove German ambitions for satellite launch at sea with a series of suborbital launches planned for spring 2024.

Credit: EpiSci.

In an early test of U.S. government policy on exporting artificial intelligence (AI)-based military technology, a 10-year-old Poway, California-based company says it has applied for an export license for a synthetic pilot that can command a simulated weapon system.

Credit: Leonardo Patent.

Leonardo Helicopters has applied for a patent for a multifan electric anti-torque system that would reduce weight and noise levels compared with a traditional tail rotor system.