Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
The NASA Johnson Space Center’s (JSC) Rocket Park was named Dec.10 in honor of George W.S. Abbey, an early space agency stalwart who served as the center’s director from 1996 to 2001.
Space

By Chen Chuanren
After years of reliability issues, Australia has finally decided that it will prematurely retire its entire fleet of 47 NHIndustries/Airbus NH90 helicopters, designated locally as the MRH-90 Taipan, almost a decade earlier than planned. Instead, it has contacted the U.S. government for advice on the potential sale of 40 Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Brian Everstine
The two main entrants for the U.S. Air Force’s “bridge tanker” are not the only ones anxiously awaiting requirements for the program, with Congress in the final version of the fiscal 2022 defense policy bill calling for details on what the service wants, its acquisition strategy, and plans for the future KC-Z tanker before moving forward.
Aircraft & Propulsion

FINLAND selected Lockheed Martin's F-35A for its HX Fighter Program, which calls for 64 aircraft over next 20+ years.
Defense and Space

LUFTHANSA TECHNIK received first of two A321neoLRs from German Air Force for cabin conversion for various mission types, including troop transport
MRO

By Brian Everstine
Congress in the compromise fiscal 2022 defense policy bill is ordering a new, comprehensive look at problems with pilot breathing systems starting with the F-35.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
With efforts to troubleshoot an issue with a Space Launch System main engine controller ongoing, NASA is now targeting the rocket’s rollout to Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39B for mid-January—about two weeks later than previously planned—for a key prelaunch fueling test.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The airspace of NATO’s newest member, North Macedonia, has been formally added to NATO’s Air Policing system.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
National evaluations put the F-35’s military capability well ahead of its competitors, Helsinki says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Molly McMillin
Textron Aviation and Spirit AeroSystems are suspending the deadline for employees to comply with a federal vaccination mandate for federal contractors following the Dec. 7 decision by the U.S. District Court in Georgia to temporarily halt President Joe Biden’s order.
Safety, Ops & Regulation

By Brian Everstine
U.S. Defense Department strikes a balance between raising tensions with Beijing and its case for urgent modernization.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Michael Bruno
Tomorrow.io—the former ClimaCell weather services company that rebranded and announced a plan to launch and operate a constellation of relatively small satellites by 2022—will go public via a reverse merger with a special purpose acquisition company.
Commercial Space

By Brian Everstine
Two new, classified unmanned aerial system (UAS) programs in the U.S. Air Force portfolio aim to build on momentum from existing efforts such as Skyborg and Loyal Wingman, and the service’s top civilian wants both fighters and the service’s next-generation bombers to direct them in a fight against a modern enemy.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Mark Carreau, Irene Klotz
A new tool for astrophysicists to probe polarized X-ray light radiating from some of the highest energy objects in the universe is in orbit following an early morning launch by SpaceX from Kennedy Space Center.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The U.S. Air Force has donated C-130 Hercules airlifters to Jordan and Niger to help boost their airlift capabilities.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Tony Osborne
Aero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce says it is seeing large engine flying hour increases as airlines restore long-haul flights, but the pace of recovery is uneven.
Airlines & Lessors

SHERPA 6 acquired ex-Piedmont Dash 8-300 (221) from Elix Aviation for C5ISR operations out of Georgetown, SC.
Defense and Space

POLICIA FEDERAL, Brazil took delivery of first (336; ex-Flybe) of two E175s for deploying agents, transferring detainees, and moving equipment and
Defense and Space

By Thierry Dubois
The order for 80 Rafales announced Dec. 3 benefitted from an acceleration in discussions that had begun more than a decade ago.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Chen Chuanren
The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) has taken delivery of its first pair of Bell 505 light helicopters, which were quietly acquired earlier in 2021.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The plan to begin production in the UK would likely mean the closure of OneWeb’s Florida-based facility which used automation to produce its first generation of satellites.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble
A highly modified variant of the MQ-1C Gray Eagle-Extended Range (GE-ER) has demonstrated the ability to take-off in less than 500 ft., offering a new option for operators seeking a long-endurance unmanned aircraft system (UAS) that does not require a traditional runway.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Orbex has commissioned Motive Offshore to fabricate the launchpad at the company’s test site, a former Royal Air Force airfield at Kinloss, Scotland.
Commercial Space

By Irene Klotz
The launch from New Zealand marked BlackSky's third launch in 21 days to double the size of its constellation from six spacecraft to 12.
Commercial Space

By Graham Warwick
Forecasts, snapshots and aircraft to watch.
Aircraft & Propulsion