Defense and Space

NASA and Northrop Grumman have reported a successful, first-ever limited orbital reboost of the International Space Station on June 25 using the gimbaled delta velocity engine on Northrop’s Cygnus resupply mission capsule.

The UK Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capability Office has decided not to proceed with the build and flight trials of its £30 million ($37 million) Mosquito Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft demonstrator.

The flight marks the first time NASA has launched from a commercial spaceport outside of the United States.

The U.S. Missile Defense Agency has narrowed a competition to build a hypersonic missile interceptor to Northrop Grumman and Raytheon, eliminating a bid by Lockheed Martin to enter the next stage of the Glide Phase Interceptor prototyping program.

Europe’s Eurofighter fleet grows; Will the Pentagon’s budget jump $37 billion? Aurora’s Army contract; and a new space acquisition chief.

They may not be able to get ahead of macroeconomic challenges, but larger suppliers are handling them relatively well.

Virgin Orbit looks set to be the pathfinder for the UK’s satellite launch ambitions when it lifts off from Cornwall this summer.

Launch aboard aa SpaceX Falcon Heavy had been targeted between Sept. 20 and Oct. 11.

The perceived lack of responsiveness from Boeing has delayed the Air Force’s ability to finalize production contracts for the first lots of F-15EX fighters, the service's acquisition chief says.

The Netherlands government has decided to accelerate the purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters and General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper UAS, citing concerns about a “strained” defense market.

Cyprus has joined the growing list of customers for the military version of Airbus’ H145 twin-engine light helicopters.

Major NASA projects are experiencing their greatest collective cost overruns and schedule delays since annual reviews of the trend began in 2009, according to the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) latest assessment to Congress.

German defense officials have reiterated that the country’s purchase of Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patroller is an interim effort, with the country still aiming to participate in the Franco-German Maritime Airborne Warfare System program.

NASA has issued five contracts with a combined maximum value of $103.4 million to four companies in support of mission-enabling spacecraft and aircraft management services overseen by the Flight Operations Directorate at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

The main topics at this year's Berlin Airshow—the first since 2018—were increased defense spending and new technologies.

A secret contract award to Israel Aerospace industries on June 13 starts a three-year program to field “Standoff In” capabilities.

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

The OEM produced the T-7A in only three years, but challenges remain before the process can green-light its next all-new airliner.

With private space stations on the horizon, NASA may soon have options for astronaut services.

Although many large-number fighter competitions have already been decided, some countries are still on the hunt for new aircraft.

Airbus Helicopters has established an industry team to offer the company’s H145M twin-engine light rotorcraft to meet a German requirement for a Light Utility Helicopter.

Missile manufacturer MBDA has unveiled a ground-launched cruise-missile solution to a growing European demand for ground-based deep fires.

Satellite communications equipment startup SatixFy, which is waiting to go public under a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal, said June 23 David Ripstein will be its new CEO.

The U.S. Army has tapped Aurora Flight Sciences to serve as an integrator for at least six Air Launched Effects systems onto Boeing AH-64 helicopters and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1C UAS.

The Pentagon is heading toward a substantial budget authorization increase after the House Armed Services Committee approved an additional $37 billion over the Defense Department’s request by a 57-1 vote early June 23.