Defense and Space

The U.S. Army is refreshing its aviator training to focus on honing warfighting skills.

Arconic will break up, its days-old new leadership announced Feb. 8.

Northrop Grumman’s 10th NASA-contracted Cygnus resupply mission spacecraft departed the International Station (ISS) Feb. 8.

Japan has grounded its Kawasaki Heavy Industries P-1 maritime patrollers following rudder damage to one of them, local media say.

The U.S. Army plans to purchase Israel’s Iron Dome system.

The U.S. Navy has confirmed a Foreign Military Sale with Bahrain for 12 Bell AH-1Z attack helicopters.

This year’s winners will be recognized March 14 at a black-tie gala in Washington, when the Grand Laureates and Lifetime Achievement awards also will be presented.

Though cut off from the Western supply chain, Iran has upgraded the Northrop fighters it purchased in 1979.

Army hopes to regain high ground with powerful new engine.

Triumph Group is rushing toward the potential climax of its three-year restructuring, the major aerostructures provider’s chief executive indicated Feb. 7.

Virgin Galactic pilots Mark Stucky and C.J. Sturckow received their commercial astronaut wings Feb. 7 at the headquarters of the U.S. Transportation Department.

A U.S. defense expert says the U.S. Navy should redesign the Lockheed Martin F-35C to perform a future role as a fleet defense fighter and long-range bomber escort.

Aerojet Rocketdyne (AJR) on Feb. 7 claimed it achieved the “top major milestones” of an “aggressive” four-year restructuring program.

Aireon announced Feb. 7 that it has formally received control from Iridium of the final six receiver payloads it has placed on new Iridium Next satellites, completing its space-based aircraft surveillance network.

The head of NHIndustries (NHI), the company behind the NH90 military utility helicopter, says another 50 aircraft could be sold in the next 3-4 years.

The Australian Defense Forces (ADF) have become the first NH90 operator to use the aircraft in the special forces mission.

Expect to see the U.S. Air Force continuing investment in the small satellite launch industry because it is more responsive than traditional providers.

The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine see new promise for scientific discovery as well as commercial lunar lander advances in NASA’s Lunar Science and Exploration Initiative.

India’s two new Boeing 777-300 ERs, being modified to carry heads of state, will soon be equipped with missile warning and countermeasure dispensing systems.

Airbus has signed a five-year memorandum of agreement (MoA) with Dassault Systemes to cooperate on the implementation of a full suite of software tools.

The in-development Ariane 6 launcher can only be seen as a transitional solution to compete with SpaceX’s rockets and must evolve rapidly, says the Cour des Comptes, the French equivalent of the U.S. GAO.

Being in the black is always a good thing in business, and being in black programs is a favorite place for many defense primes. But sometimes there is a price to pay, like now.

China’s growing seapower capabilities have fueled demand for modern maritime strike options.

Qatar receives first Rafale; S-300s soon to be operational in Syria; India’s new Chinook, and a home for the MQ-25.

The HASC seapower and projection forces subcommittee chairman discusses his vision for the aerial refueling tanker fleet, mobility airlift and the B-21.