Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Know What's Happening in Aerospace
Artemis II crew prepares for historic lunar flyby
NASA’s four‑person Artemis II crew has passed the mission’s halfway point and is set for a five‑hour lunar flyby on April 6, skimming 4,000‑6,500 miles above the Moon’s far side to capture high‑resolution images of the Orientale basin and test Orion’s life‑support and navigation systems. The Space Launch System placed Orion into Earth orbit with 99.92% trajectory accuracy, and the crew will target a splashdown around April 10‑11.
Also developing:
Geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East has driven jet‑fuel prices to record highs, forcing airlines such as Wizz Air to project roughly $55 million in losses. The shock underscores aviation’s exposure to fossil‑fuel volatility and accelerates interest in sustainable alternatives. Emerging technologies like Ineratec’s modular eSAF plants promise domestically produced, drop‑in green jet fuel, while the EU’s SAF mandate targets a 6% share by 2030, including a 1.2% eSAF quota. The convergence of security concerns and climate goals could reshape the sector’s fuel supply chain.
The 34th FS at Hill was deployed 11 of 12 months last year They had the first air-to-air drone kills for the F-35A, flew defensive air cover for multiple carrier strike groups, were first into Iranian airspace for Midnight Hammer. Release:...
Delta Air Lines has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv until at least September 5, citing ongoing Middle East security concerns. The carrier also postponed the launch of its planned Boston‑Tel Aviv route, now delayed indefinitely. Service from New...
Sift, a Southern California startup founded by former SpaceX engineers, announced a $42 million Series B round led by StepStone Group with participation from Google Ventures and other investors. The capital will be used to grow its engineering team and enhance its...
Can Taiwan fulfil Asia-Pacific drone hub goal with ‘non-red’ supply chain push? Plan is to invest US$1.38 billion between 2025 and 2030 for uncrewed systems industry, but questions linger over scale, politics and timing https://t.co/jb0kr8jdVY via @scmpnews
The global drone market has accelerated from roughly $20 bn in 2020 to over $40 bn in 2025, driven by soaring defense budgets and rapid AI integration. Analysts project the sector could reach $250 bn by 2035, with patents up 45‑fold since 2012....
EFT has teamed with Bharat Skytech Pvt Ltd (BSPL) to launch the EFT BHARAT brand, localising production of its E610P agricultural drone in India. The partnership includes the transfer of production moulds for key components, enabling ‘Make in India’ manufacturing, distribution,...
The British‑made HotSat‑2 satellite is set to launch on March 29 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter‑16 rideshare from Vandenberg. Equipped with a world‑leading infrared camera, it can detect thermal signatures through structures, surpassing the capabilities of NASA’s Landsat thermal sensors. Backed by roughly...
Beond Airlines, the Dubai‑based premium leisure carrier, announced three new routes to London Heathrow, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Moscow Sheremetyevo, all launching in mid‑December 2026 with three weekly flights each. The services will route through Dubai World Central because...
The U.S. House approved H.R. 3410, the Supersonic Aviation Modernization Act, mandating the FAA to draft new rules within a year that would permit civil aircraft to exceed Mach 1 over U.S. airspace without generating ground‑level sonic booms. The legislation also...
United Airlines entered the final week of contract negotiations with the Association of Flight Attendants on March 24, aiming to reach a tentative agreement by March 27. The cabin crew, more than 30,000 strong, have been without a new contract...
Marlink’s March 25 technical bulletin reports a 50% jump in GNSS interference incidents across its maritime fleet, driven by jamming and spoofing in the Middle East and other high‑traffic corridors. The disruptions threaten vessel navigation, satellite antenna tracking, and broadband connectivity....
Air Arabia, the UAE‑based low‑cost carrier, has begun operating Panasonic Avionics' Ku‑band multi‑orbit inflight connectivity (IFC) solution across its Airbus A320 family fleet. The system uses Gilat’s Sidewinder electronically steerable antenna to switch between Panasonic’s geostationary satellite network and Eutelsat...
On March 22, a Port Authority fire truck collided with Air Canada Express Flight 8646 on LaGuardia’s runway 4, killing both pilots. The National Transportation Safety Board traced the accident to a 20‑second window of “task saturation” where a single controller...
Japan Airlines (JAL) and Luxembourg‑based Cargolux announced a new codeshare on the Narita‑Luxembourg route, deepening a partnership that dates back more than three decades. The agreement also grants JAL capacity on interline flights from Tokyo Narita to Chicago O’Hare, complementing...
Infinity Avionics announced the commercial launch of Aquila, a full‑high‑definition imaging system designed for small satellites. The camera streams 30 FPS video, offers interchangeable lenses, and comes in three price tiers to suit varied mission budgets. Integrated with the company’s BRAIN...
The Pentagon has signed multiyear agreements with BAE Systems and Lockheed Martin to quadruple production of infrared seekers for the THAAD missile‑defense interceptor. Annual output will rise from 96 to 400 units, while BAE’s seeker contracts run for seven years...
Benin’s Amazone Airlines has launched its first domestic scheduled service, marking the debut of a home‑grown carrier in the West African market. The airline began operations between Cotonou and Parakou using ATR 72‑600 turboprops, offering multiple daily flights. The launch...
Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to file its IPO prospectus this week, eyeing a June debut that could fetch more than $75 billion in new capital and a valuation between $1 trillion and $1.75 trillion. The deal would involve top Wall Street banks...
Delta Air Lines is adding a daily nonstop service between Los Angeles (LAX) and Palm Beach (PBI) beginning November 20, using Airbus A321neo aircraft. The carrier is also boosting its existing LAX‑Tampa flights from two to three daily departures on November 9 and raising LAX‑Orlando...
Russia unleashed nearly 1,000 drones in a coordinated daytime offensive, the biggest of its kind in the war, killing at least eight civilians and striking historic sites. Ukraine's air force and President Zelenskyy warned the assault exposes critical gaps in...
Japan's space agency JAXA called off the inaugural flight of its small reusable rocket RV‑X on March 25 after discovering a fault in a connector device. The abort pushes back Japan's timeline for a reusable launch system that could compete...
A Chinese startup reportedly demonstrated a flexible robotic arm prototype for on‑orbit fuel transfer, but the available sources contain no disclosed details, leaving the scope and impact of the test uncertain.
World Travel Catering & Onboard Services Expo (WTCE) announced the return of its Wellbeing Walk‑Through at the 2026 show, featuring 13 curated exhibitors that showcase health‑focused food, drink and amenity solutions for airlines. Highlights include POSHI vegetable snacks, Life is...
Elon Musk has announced a goal to establish a self‑growing city on the Moon by 2030, shifting focus from Mars to lunar settlement. The chief obstacle is not launch capability but the prohibitive cost of transporting construction materials from Earth....
Roskosmos published first image from the Elektro-L5 weather satellite which was launched in February. Full size version and context: https://t.co/XRGzszjsAK https://t.co/KYrEHQmwWr
Täby Air Maintenance (TAM) received Federal Aviation Administration approval for its Saab 2000 freighter conversion Supplemental Type Certificate, clearing the path to sell the modified aircraft in the United States. The conversion, which began in early 2022, offers a 55.4 m³ cargo...
China Eastern Airlines filed a follow‑on order for 101 Airbus A320neo family jets, valued at roughly $15.8 billion at list price. Deliveries are slated between 2028 and 2032, pending regulatory approval. The order builds on an existing fleet that already includes...
The United Kingdom and Turkey have signed a multi‑billion‑pound (≈$2.5 billion) training and support contract for British‑built Typhoon fighter jets. The agreement will train 10 Turkish pilots and about 100 ground‑crew technicians in the UK and secures long‑term maintenance, spares and...
Newly released images taken from the ISS of yesterday's docking with the Progress MS-33 cargo ship, with a stuck antenna clearly visible on the right of docking mechanism. More pics and context: https://t.co/GL29AvnJQ5 https://t.co/7idPQ8z9Ix
ah.. that "Sunrise over the starboard wing of an @AirBus #A380 as you're coming into #Sydney" moment.. pure bliss.. https://t.co/gZ6ZxTzQAT
Swiss startup Pave Space has secured $40 million in seed funding to build a 20‑metric‑ton orbital transfer vehicle capable of moving up to five metric tons from low‑Earth orbit to medium, geostationary or lunar trajectories in less than a day....
Swiss startup PAVE Space announced a $40 million seed round led by Visionaries Club and Creandum, accelerating its LYOBA heavy‑lift kick stage development. The company, a 2024 spin‑off from the Gruyère Space Programme, targets rapid satellite transport between orbits and plans...
Airbase announced its emergence from stealth with a $5 million Series A round led by Andreessen Horowitz, joined by Squadra Ventures and Founders You Should Know. The startup aims to automate the Federal Communications Commission’s outdated, manual spectrum‑allocation workflow that relies on...
Germany has joined a growing list of nations—including Canada, Japan, France, India, Poland and Singapore—in suspending all commercial flights to the United Arab Emirates due to heightened safety concerns and airspace restrictions tied to the Iran conflict. Major carriers such...
Russia unveiled the Lys‑2 (Fox‑2) counter‑drone interceptor, a fixed‑wing UAV launched by catapult and capable of autonomous target acquisition in the terminal phase. Open‑source footage shows the system engaging aerial threats without continuous operator input. Reported specifications suggest a 15 km...
Chapman Freeborn has completed the delivery of a second ATR 72‑600MPA to the Philippine Air Force after a complex multi‑stop ferry operation that spanned Egypt, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The aircraft, built by Leonardo in Italy, is configured for maritime...
Immfly, Wizz Air, and gateretail have launched a unified digital cabin ecosystem that combines in‑seat Bluetooth ordering, retail integration, and low‑bandwidth satellite connectivity across Wizz Air’s fleet of over 260 Airbus A320/A321 aircraft. The rollout enables passengers to shop via...
South Korea has rolled out the first KF‑21 Boramae fighter, officially beginning serial production after a 25‑year development effort. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) plans to scale capacity to over 50 jets annually, supporting both domestic needs and export orders. President...
Latvia’s air force intercepted a Russian UAV that crashed and detonated in the Krāslava district, while Estonia reported a similar drone striking a power‑plant chimney. Both incidents occurred on the night of March 25, raising NATO’s Baltic air‑defence alert level.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board disclosed that a fire truck without a transponder cleared LaGuardia’s runway just seconds before an Air Canada jet landed, exposing a failed ASDE‑X warning system and raising questions about overnight controller staffing. The findings...
Latvia’s air force detected a Russian‑origin drone that entered its airspace and detonated in the Krāslava region early on March 25, causing no injuries or infrastructure damage. Estonia reported a similar intrusion that struck a power‑plant chimney, also without casualties or...
At the World Cargo Symposium, IATA Director General Willie Walsh and LATAM Cargo CEO Andrés Bianchi warned that geopolitical tensions and shifting trade lanes are compressing air‑freight capacity, which has fallen more than 20% due to regional constraints. Despite this,...
Asian airlines are increasingly hoarding jet fuel as the Iran‑Russia war drives crude prices above $120 per barrel. South Korea’s transport ministry is debating redirecting export‑bound jet fuel to the domestic market, while Philippine Airlines warns of imminent fuel rationing....
U.S. Air Force B‑2 Spirit bombers participated in a maritime strike drill off California alongside Carrier Air Wing 11’s F/A‑18E/F Super Hornets. The exercise introduced the Navy’s new AIM‑174B “Gunslinger” missile, an air‑launched variant of the SM‑6, onto the carrier‑based fighters....
Vietnam Airlines announced a request for proposals to dry‑lease 12 widebody aircraft, targeting Airbus A350‑900XWB and Boeing 787‑9/10 models, with deliveries slated for 2028‑2030. The carrier plans an eight‑year lease term to reinforce its long‑haul capacity and expand its international...
Denvr, a Calgary AI‑infrastructure firm, signed two defence deals with Ottawa‑based Dominion Dynamics and Sapper Labs to embed its sovereign Canada AI Platform (CAIP) into drone simulation and AI‑enabled intelligence/cyber‑defence for the Canadian Armed Forces. Dominion will use CAIP to...
Amazon Leo announced a plan to double its launch cadence, targeting 20 missions in the second year after completing 11 launches in the first year. The company already operates more than 200 satellites and has hundreds of flight‑ready units stored...
Iran reportedly struck and destroyed the U.S. AN/TPY‑2 X‑band radar deployed at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. The AN/TPY‑2, a $500 million phased‑array system with a claimed 3,000 km range, is one of only 13 built worldwide. The loss highlights a...
ALTUS-LSA showcased its unmanned aerial platforms at the BATTLEFIELD ReDEFiNED 2026 forum in Nicosia, attracting more than 500 delegates and high‑level Cypriot officials. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cyprus‑based AmaDema Composites to produce composite components locally, bolstering...
