Defense and Space

Every category of incident, from the most expensive Class A through the lowest Class D, has increased for ship-related operations since 2011.

On its 75th anniversary, the service looks to a future using increased autonomy and a further migration of key missions to space.

The service aims to become “ruthless” in selecting development programs under ongoing review.

Here is an overview of 10 of the service’s top priorities as it looks to shape its future force.

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

An intake blank designed to protect the F-35’s engine from foreign objects has been linked to the loss of a Royal Air Force-operated aircraft last November.

Houston-based Axiom Space, one of two companies selected by NASA to develop, manufacture and operate spacesuits for Moon-walking astronauts, has been awarded a $228.5 million task order for the first purchase under NASA’s public-private Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services program.

Following ongoing work to repair a hydrogen leak that derailed the inaugural launch of the Space Launch System rocket on Sept. 3, NASA plans to conduct a tanking test at Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39B as early as Sept. 17.

The assistance raises the Biden administration’s overall financial commitment to Ukraine’s defense to about $15.2 billion.

A panel of experts assembled by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics has expressed optimism that NASA, two cabinet departments and the commercial sector are prepared to address the challenges of embracing space-nuclear power and propulsion.

Poland wants to triple the size of its attack helicopter force, having declared plans to purchase nearly 100 Boeing AH-64 Apaches.

GOVT OF POLAND selected Boeing's AH-64E Apache for its KRUK Attack Helicopter program; it is expected to acquire 96.

PCX AEROSTRUCTURES acquired PACIFIC CONTOURS, CA (CH-47/F-35 flight critical components/assemblies).

Airbus is testing a pair of UK defense cubesats in readiness for the first orbital launch from the UK.

Northrop Grumman quietly developed a nickel-alloy combustor that could unlock a decades-long hurdle to rapid propulsion.

Using space shuttle engines on NASA’s new Moon rocket brings with it shuttle-era hydrogen issues.

Rocket Lab has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with U.S. Transportation Command to explore using the company’s Neutron and Electron launch vehicles to transport cargo around the world.

When the war in Ukraine shifted East in May and it was clear Kyiv would need different types of weapons from the West, the Pentagon posted a call to industry.

Albedo, a startup developing very-low-Earth-orbit imagery satellites, has raised a $48 million Series A round.

U.S. military officials are showing off a new long-range missile-launching role for large cargo aircraft to foreign countries.

Korea Aerospace Industries is about to deliver FA-50 light combat aircraft (LCA) to an undisclosed first customer in Africa.

The discovery puts pressure on Lockheed’s goal to deliver 147-153 F-35s this year and highlights growing concerns about Chinese suppliers in critical U.S. defense supply chains.

Meteosat Third Generation-I1, an Earth-observation satellite designed to provide significantly improved weather data, is in the final stages of integration at Thales Alenia Space’s assembly facility.

The Pentagon plans within the next week to release new guidance on reducing the impact of inflation on vendors, particularly smaller companies that have firm, fixed-price contracts without flexibility to deal with increasing costs.

The Royal Australian Air Force is not flying its Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs and Boeing EA-18G Growlers to their full combat capabilities at Exercise Pitch Black.