Defense and Space

Cost is becoming an increasing challenge to missile defense systems, even as Israel’s success against Iran shows the value of the capability.

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

Aalto HAPS has purchased Ampirus Technologies’ 450 Wh/kg SiMaxx lithium-ion cells for its stratospheric Zephyr UAV.

The potential Foreign Military Sale to the “major non-NATO ally” has entered the Congressional notification process, the State Department added.

The second of two Blue Origin BE-4 engines has arrived at United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) Decatur, Alabama, factory for installation on a Vulcan rocket.

Born in Ukraine in April 1952, Kvochur joined the Soviet armed forces in the early 1970s.

Argentine Defense Minister Luis Petri met NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana on April 18 in Brussels to open talks on partnership status.

The UK defense ministry has finalized a deal to buy six new Airbus H145 twin-engine light helicopters to support military training in Brunei and Cyprus.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is seeking Poland’s admission into German-led ESSI, to bolster the region’s ground-based air defenses.

Ingenuity received a software update that will prompt it to activate daily, awaken flight computers, test its solar panel, batteries and electronics, and more.

Both the UK RAF and the Royal Australian Air Force have formed new squadrons to run their joint F-35 mission data center at Eglin AFB, Florida.

U.S. startup Electra.aero has received a $1.9 million U.S. Army contract that funds powered wind tunnel testing of its planned hybrid-electric STOL aircraft.

Early analysis of test results for the Indigenous Technology Cruise Missile (ITCM) shows that "all subsystems performed as per expectation."

South Korea is working to establish its own F-35 MRO depot at Cheongju AB by 2027.

Targeting a wider role in low Earth orbit and beyond, the company has rolled out a novel, deployable decelerator system, among other fast-tracked projects.

What began as an operational ballistic missile evolved into one of the most successful and storied space launch vehicles.

As the U.S. Air Force continues the planned retirement of its A-10 attack jet fleet, the service secretary says one country has reached out with some interest to obtain the aircraft.

The U.S. Marine Corps is again adjusting its F-35 force structure.

Naval Air Systems Command announced March 8 that it had issued a flight clearance for the fleet after all operators grounded their V-22s following a November 2023 crash.

The agency seeks cheaper options for retrieving samples collected by the Perseverance rover.

Startup Inversion plans to launch Ray, its reentry capsule technology demonstrator, on SpaceX’s Falcon 9 Transporter-12 rideshare mission.

Taiwan has conducted the first live firing of the ground-launched variant of the Tien Chien II (TC-2) missile.

French defense contractor Turgis Gaillard has begun initial ground tests of its Aarok medium-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft system.

Surprise Chinese attack helicopter appearance highlights worldwide trend despite increase in low-altitude threats.

Spanish startup reveals capsule for near-space tourism ahead of commercial flights in 2026.