Defense and Space

By Tony Osborne
The first of 55 modernized Dassault Mirage 2000Ds has been delivered to the French Air Force.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Irene Klotz
Following its record-setting 26 launches in 2020, SpaceX kicked off the new year with delivery of the Turksat 5A broadband satellite into orbit on Jan. 7.
Space

Aviation Week Staff
Lockheed will provide MHI with system integration support, defense ministry says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Thierry Dubois
Arianespace is willing to operate microlaunchers if the opportunity arises, either as a way to meet demand or as proof of concepts for heavier launchers, CEO Stephane Israel said.
Commercial Space

By Mark Carreau
A new bipartisan authorization bill is critical to NASA’s path forward under the Joe Biden administration, according to former U.S. Rep. Kendra Horn, the Oklahoma Democrat who chaired the U.S. House space and aeronautics subcommittee until her re-election defeat and the swearing in of a new Congress earlier this week.
Space

By Irene Klotz
NASA Associate Administrator Stephen Jurczyk, the agency’s highest-ranking civil servant, will take on the role of acting administrator following the departure of NASA chief Jim Bridenstine on Jan. 20.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The United Nations is calling on member states to reduce the potential risk of civilian aircraft being shot down while flying in conflict zones or regions of military tension.
Airports & Networks

By Steve Trimble
The decision announced on Jan. 7 allows the contractors to move forward with developing the satellites in Tranche 0 of the future Tracking Layer.
Space

By Lee Hudson
The Democrats will take the reins of power in Washington on Jan. 20 when President-Elect Joe Biden is sworn into office, as the party will control both the House and Senate as well. But does this mean a reduction to the defense budget is inevitable?
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Steve Trimble
The Counter-Small UAS Strategy published on Jan. 7 sets the stage for spending decisions on new programs in future budgets aimed at tackling the difficult problem of identifying hostile small UAS.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
The first-ever flight demonstration of the Golden Horde program’s autonomous payload for munitions was only partially successful, but marks a long-awaited first step for collaborative weapons technology.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Irene Klotz
Virgin Galactic has completed post-flight inspections and root cause analysis of last month’s thwarted suborbital flight test of SpaceShipTwo, the company said on Jan. 7.
Commercial Space

By Steve Trimble
The demonstration on Dec. 16 from Laguna Army Air Field, Arizona, may offer a low-cost alternative to controlling large UAS on long-range missions if satellite communications are unavailable or jammed.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
Landmark flight on one of Air Force’s oldest designs paves way for use of artificial intelligence in military aircraft and spacecraft.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Jen DiMascio
Stratcom may revamp nuclear airborne command post; Lockheed’s next OPIR tranche; GlobalEyes for UAE; and Romanian mission for MQ-9s.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Germany joins race for European vertical smallsat launch competing with Norway, Sweden, Portugal and the UK.
Commercial Space

By Tony Osborne
The UK, Italian and Swedish governments have signed a trilateral memorandum that paves the way for the three countries to jointly develop the next-generation Tempest combat air system to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Lee Hudson
France is buying three E-2D airborne early warning aircraft for a maximum of $2 billion from the U.S. Navy, making the country the second international customer of the carrier-capable aircraft.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Steve Trimble
GA-ASI will modify two company-owned Avengers with the Skyborg autonomous control system integrated by Leidos, the Skyborg Design Agent, for flight tests planned this year and in 2022.
Aircraft & Propulsion

BOEING is expected to close its Advanced Developmental Composites (ADC) facility in Everett by mid-2021.
Aerospace

Greg Beason to President and Chief Executive Officer of AllClear, El Segundo, CA.
Defense and Space

By Mark Carreau
Satisfied with the Space Launch System’s recent Wet Dress Rehearsal, NASA is looking to conduct the first simultaneous ground test firing of the heavy rocket’s four RS-25 engines as early as Jan. 17.
Space

By Thierry Dubois
French space agency CNES is beginning a €140 million ($168 million) refurbishment and modernization of Europe’s spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana.
Space

By Tony Osborne
The UK has contracted with MBDA for the production of its Spear 3 network enabled air-to-ground missile which will become the primary weapon of the UK’s F-35 fleet.
Missile Defense & Weapons