Defense and Space

EUROCONSULT predicts four-fold increase in satellites launched worldwide by 2028, reaching yearly average of 990. Market will reach $292b over next

Selected U.S. military contracts from the past week.

Leonardo has won another key program in the U.S. Defense Department helicopter inventory.

First flight of Sierra Technical Services' Fifth Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) is scheduled for early 2020.

Thales and Leonardo, plans to study potential military uses of the Stratobus as part of a contract issued by the French defense materiel agency, DGA, and announced on Jan. 8.

The U.S. military is looking for an affordable, ground-based radar system to monitor deep-space activity.

"These astronauts could one day in fact walk on the Moon as part of the Artemis program," NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine said.

LOCKHEED MARTIN has $3.4b US DOD contract to build 50 C-130Js for USAF (24), USMC (20) and USCG (6) for 2021-2025.

Britain’s Royal Air Force is gearing up to establish a squadron that will fly the air arm’s first swarming drone unit.

Woodward andHexcel have proposed a stock merger to create one of the largest independent aerospace and defense supplier.

Iran has admitted accidentally shooting down a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) Boeing 737, flight PS752, backtracking on previous denials that it was responsible for the Jan. 8 crash, which killed all 176 people on board.

The Swiss government has issued a second request for quotations for new combat aircraft and ground-based air defense systems.

U.S. Air Force will integrate the baseline version of the Northrop Grumman AARGM-ER on the Lockheed Martin F-35A, but as a testbed.

Singapore has opted to purchase the short takeoff and vertical landing version of the Lockheed Martin F-35.

European countries want a counter to the hypersonic weapons being fielded by Russia and China.

Readers discuss small module reactors, the U.S.-NATO relationship, an unusual plan for a new midmarket airplane, and Latin letters in China.

This year’s winners will be recognized March 12 at a black-tie gala in Washington, when the Grand Laureates and Lifetime Achievement awards also will be presented.

NASA, Boeing investigating why spacecraft’s timer was off by 11 hr.

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

Rolls-Royce says it is eyeing additional phases of its research into Embedded Electrical Starter Generator tech to look at advanced thermal management systems.

The U.S. Army is grappling with a $34 million reduction to its Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Competitive Prototype effort.

Low Earth orbit satellites that provide high-bandwidth internet service around the world are on the cusp of becoming reality.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says initial intelligence points to an Iranian surface-to-air missile bringing down PS752.

A special mission Pilatus PC-12 turboprop operated by the Colorado Department of Public Safety detected no suspicious aircraft while supporting the investigation into a rash of unexplained drone sightings.

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has said the company is committed to its operations in the UK despite Brexit.