Defence Fires First Home-Built GMLRS as Sovereign Missile Push Gathers Pace
Australia successfully test‑fired its first domestically produced Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles at the Woomera Test Range. The rockets are intended for the newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System and mark a milestone in the country’s sovereign munitions drive. The test is part of a $21 billion (about US$13.9 billion) program to build an independent weapons supply chain. It was announced alongside a reshuffle of senior defence leadership, including new chiefs of the defence force, navy and army.
Aether Aerospace – Software Engineer
Aether Aerospace, a South Wales‑based developer of defence‑focused drones, is recruiting software engineers. The roles offer £30,000‑£50,000 (≈ $38,000‑$64,000) annually, a profit‑share incentive and flexible remote work with occasional field travel. Engineers will tackle the full technology stack—from user‑facing applications to...
How the Army Is Preparing to Bring Its First Tiltrotor Aircraft Online
The U.S. Army is set to field its first tiltrotor, the Bell MV‑75, later this year, marking the service’s long‑awaited entry into tiltrotor operations. The MV‑75 features fixed engines to reduce maintenance and engine‑fire risks while delivering twice the speed...
Bring Back Wonder: Why Artemis II Still Matters
Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed flight beyond low‑Earth orbit, is more than a technical rehearsal. While it will validate Orion’s life‑support and propulsion systems for a future lunar landing, the mission also seeks to rekindle the public’s sense of awe that...
GoPro Tests Defense and Aerospace Market Opportunities
GoPro announced a strategic push into the defense and aerospace sectors, hiring consulting firm Oliver Wyman to evaluate market potential. The engagement will chart addressable segments, product synergies and go‑to‑market strategies while liaising with government and aerospace stakeholders. GoPro highlighted existing...
Government Announces Billions in Spending on Military Drones
The Australian government unveiled a decade‑long investment of at least $12 bn AUD (about $7.9 bn USD) in military drones and counter‑drone systems. The package includes $2 bn AUD (~$1.3 bn USD) in the new Integrated Investment Program and $2.2 bn AUD (~$1.45 bn USD) for...
Pentagon's Flagship Golden Dome Program Spinning Its Wheels
The Pentagon’s Golden Dome program, touted as a flagship modernization effort, has stalled more than a year after its public launch. Internal disagreements over the system’s architecture have created a coordination bottleneck, preventing meaningful progress. The initiative, intended to integrate...
Air India Receives First Upgraded Boeing 787-8 in Delhi From California as $400 Million Refurbishment Plan Progresses
Air India’s first refurbished Boeing 787‑8, registration VT‑ANT, touched down in Delhi after a nonstop ferry from San Bernardino, California, marking the rollout of a $400 million cabin‑upgrade programme. The overhaul, delayed by supply‑chain and geopolitical issues, will refresh 26 Dreamliners and 13...
Royal Navy Tests CAPSTONE Drone in Anti-Submarine Warfare Demonstration
The Royal Navy evaluated Certo Aerospace’s CAPSTONE VTOL drone in a February anti‑submarine warfare trial, demonstrating more than two hours of flight while deploying sonobuoys and feeding acoustic data to a ground station. The drone transmitted sensor information via Starlink...
Ukraine Develops New Surface-to-Air Missile
Ukraine’s president unveiled a previously unseen surface‑to‑air missile, likely the domestically developed “Koral” system. The interceptor appears to use proven propulsion, guidance and fuze components, accelerating its path from prototype to fielding. Earlier exhibition models suggested a 30‑50 km engagement envelope,...
April 13, 2026 Quick Space Links
Space industry observers noted several key developments on April 13. NASA engineers examined the Artemis‑2 Orion capsule, while ISRO completed landing‑engine tests for its Chandrayaan‑5 lunar mission slated for 2028, and China’s Chang’e‑7 mini‑hopper prepared for a 2024 launch to...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink wrapped up a week‑long immersion at Wright‑Patterson Air Force Base on April 3, emphasizing the Air Force Materiel Command’s push for technological excellence and faster acquisition cycles. He toured AFMC’s six centers, the Air...
Meink Emphasizes Technological Excellence, Acquisition Transformation During Ohio Immersion
During an Ohio immersion event, Space Force acquisition leader Lt. Gen. Meink highlighted the service’s push for technological excellence and a sweeping acquisition transformation. He outlined new rapid‑prototype initiatives, tighter integration with commercial partners, and a data‑driven decision framework. Meink...
Kongsberg Develops New Drone Hunter Vehicle for Ukraine
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace has unveiled a donor‑funded Inguar‑3 counter‑drone vehicle tailored for Ukraine, pairing a Ukrainian‑made armored chassis with the firm’s CROWS C‑UAS kit. The system integrates electro‑optical and infrared sensors on a raised mast and can fire 70 mm...
Airbus Delivers 500th A220 as March Output Signals Production Ramp-Up
Airbus announced the delivery of its 500th A220 jet on April 10, 2026, marking a milestone for the narrow‑body program. The company reported 60 commercial aircraft deliveries in March, up from a combined 54 in January and February, signaling a...
Hughes Readies Satellite Antenna Combo for Airlines
Hughes Network Systems announced a new electronically steerable antenna (ESA) that merges Ka‑band and Ku‑band capabilities, aiming to free airlines from reliance on a single satellite network. The solution pairs the existing HL1520 Ku‑band ESA with a newly developed Ka‑band...
Watch: SpaceX Launches Cygnus XL Cargo Ship to Resupply ISS Crew
SpaceX's Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral at 7:41 a.m. EDT on Saturday, carrying Northrop Grumman's Cygnus XL cargo spacecraft. The Cygnus XL is bound for the International Space Station to deliver scientific experiments, food, and equipment for the crew....
United Airlines' Massive 364-Seat Boeing 777s: Every Route Listed
United Airlines' fleet includes 19 Boeing 777‑200s, seven of which are stored due to Pratt & Whitney engine issues. All 777‑200s have been reconfigured to 364 seats, making them the highest‑capacity aircraft in United’s domestic lineup and surpassing rivals’ largest planes....
SmallSat Europe Speaker Focus: Chris Quilty, Quilty Space
Chris Quilty, co‑CEO of Quilty Space, has become a pivotal voice in satellite market intelligence, most notably after his September 2025 projection that Starlink would generate $15.9 billion in revenue and $11 billion in EBITDA for 2026. His forecasts have been baked into...
Airhart Takes Off
Airhart Aeronautics, founded by former SpaceX avionics engineer Nikita Ermoshkin, unveiled a four‑seat prototype that consumes just 7.4 gallons of fuel per hour and features a dual‑touch “electronized” cockpit that automates routine tasks. The company raised $4.56 million in venture capital...
US Clears Counter-Drone Laser System for Southern Border Use
The FAA and Department of Defense have cleared a high‑energy laser system for counter‑drone use along the southern border after a detailed safety review. Live demonstrations showed the laser can engage rogue UAVs without affecting aircraft, navigation systems or broader...
Qantas Nonstop London-Sydney Flights Move One Step Closer
Qantas has placed an order for 12 Airbus A350‑900ULR aircraft equipped with Rolls‑Royce engines to power its Project Sunrise nonstop service between London and Sydney. The first jet, now in Toulouse, includes a 20,000‑litre rear fuel tank that will support...
Indian Spacetech Startups Shift Gears From R&D to Scalable Manufacturing
Indian spacetech startups are moving from pure research to large‑scale manufacturing as demand for low‑Earth‑orbit constellations accelerates. Bellatrix Aerospace, Agnikul Cosmos and Red Balloon Aerospace have each built regulated, additive‑manufacturing and assembly‑line processes to shrink build cycles from months to...
Mission Control Taps Magellan Aerospace for Lunar Utility Rover Systems
Mission Control announced that Magellan Aerospace will develop core subsystems for Canada’s Lunar Utility Rover, a semi‑autonomous, minibus‑sized vehicle. The Canadian Space Agency has earmarked about $985 million USD in total, with $876 million USD allocated over 13 years for design and...
NASA and Contractors Accelerate Mobile Launcher Refurbishment, Artemis III Hardware to Meet New Schedule
NASA is accelerating the Artemis program to enable a mid‑2027 Artemis III launch, moving solid‑rocket booster deliveries forward and fast‑tracking mobile‑launcher refurbishment. The 112‑meter‑tall mobile launcher will be inspected, power‑washed, and welded to remove corrosive booster residue and repair heat‑warped structure...
HAPS Specialist Claims Record for Stratospheric Flight
US aerospace firm Sceye completed a 12‑day, 6,400‑mile stratospheric flight from New Mexico to Brazil, setting a record with 88 hours over the target area. The SE2 HAPS platform maintained power, position and pressure loops using solar energy and batteries,...
MDA Announces Orbital Servicing Platform
MDA Space unveiled MDA Midnight, an on‑orbit servicing platform, at the Space Symposium. The satellite is built for rendezvous and proximity operations to detect, identify, counter and deter threats to space assets. Its inaugural mission will showcase inspection, electronic‑countermeasure mitigation,...
Delta Air Lines to Operate Edinburgh-New York Service Year-Round
Delta Air Lines announced it will operate a year‑round service between Edinburgh and New York, converting the previously seasonal route into a permanent offering. The airline will deploy Airbus A330‑300 aircraft equipped with Delta One and Main Cabin seats, providing...
Air Charter Association Joins Climbing Fast Advocacy Campaign
The Air Charter Association (ACA) became the 17th member of the Climbing Fast advocacy coalition, announced at its European Regional Forum in Friedrichshafen. Climbing Fast, launched by the NBAA in 2023, promotes the economic and societal benefits of business aviation to policymakers...
MOD Admits £6.1bn AWE Accounting Error ‘Shouldn’t Have Happened’
The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has admitted a £6.1 billion (≈$7.6 billion) accounting error tied to the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), the body that builds and dismantles the nation’s nuclear warheads. The National Audit Office flagged the mis‑classification of historic AWE...
Canada Awards $1.1 Billion Contracts to L3Harris for CC-330 Husky Tanker Fleet Sustainment
Canada has awarded L3Harris roughly C$1.1 billion (about $810 million USD) in two multi‑year contracts to sustain its nine‑aircraft CC‑330 Husky aerial‑refueling fleet. The deals include a 10‑year depot‑maintenance contract worth C$735 million ($543 million) and a 7‑year materiel‑support contract of C$366 million ($270 million). Airbus...
With Renewed Interest in Going to the Moon, How Will Future Trash Be Dealt With?
Renewed lunar activity has revived concerns over the 400,000 lb (181 t) of Apollo-era trash now classified as human heritage under the 2020 One Small Step Act. While the Artemis Accords and UN bodies stress debris mitigation, concrete plans for surface waste...
Artemis 2: Our Favorite Photos From NASA's Historic Moon Mission
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission concluded on April 10 with a splashdown in the Pacific after a 10‑day flight around the Moon’s far side. The crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen—set several historic milestones, including the first woman and the...
Airports Report Delays and Disruption as Europe’s Entry Exit System Begins Full Operation
The EU’s Entry‑Exit System (EES) entered full operation on 10 April, triggering extensive delays at Schengen airports as every third‑country national must be registered. Peak‑hour border checks stretched to two‑three hours, forcing airlines to cancel or depart with empty cabins. Airport...
Here's How Much A Boeing 787 Costs Compared To An Airbus A350
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner family generally carries a lower list price than Airbus’s A350, with the 787‑8 at $248 million versus the A350‑900 at $317 million. However, operating costs per seat favor the A350, which averages $22.81 per seat‑hour compared with $25.86...
Citra Space Raises $15 Million Series A to Expand Platform for Identifying Objects in Orbit
Citra Space announced a $15 million Series A round led by Washington Harbour Partners to scale its space‑domain‑awareness platform. The Colorado startup, founded by former U.S. Space Force officers, aggregates data from ground and space sensors to create persistent fingerprints of orbital...
New U.S. Autonomous Squire Seaglider Conducts Test Flight
REGENT Defense confirmed that its autonomous Squire Seaglider completed a successful ground‑effect flight test in the United States on April 13, 2026. The wing‑in‑ground‑effect craft can travel up to 70 knots (about 81 mph), cover more than 100 nautical miles, and...
Global Airfreight Tonnage Drops 4% in March
WorldACD data show global air‑freight tonnage slipped 4% year‑on‑year in March, reversing the double‑digit gains recorded in January and February. The Middle East and South Asia (MESA) region bore the brunt, with a 21% volume drop, while Africa, Europe and...
International Manufacturing Services (IMS) Exhibits at the CMSE Conference and Exhibiton
International Manufacturing Services (IMS) is exhibiting its latest RF and thermal‑management solutions at the 29th Annual Components for Military & Space Electronics (CMSE) Conference. At booth B22, IMS will showcase high‑power AlN resistors, RF‑optimized attenuators, splitters, and its ThermaBridge™/ThermaPlane™ ceramic...
Emerson Launches Innovative Software-Driven Method for High-Fidelity Aerospace RF Testing
Emerson unveiled the NI Channel Emulator System Software (CHESS) at the 2026 Space Symposium, offering a software‑defined RF channel emulation platform that works with NI PXI VST hardware. The solution recreates real‑time, high‑fidelity aerospace RF environments—Doppler, multipath, path loss—allowing engineers...
New Cabin & Quieter Operations: Why KLM's New Airbus A350-900 Is A Regulatory Survival Tool
KLM is introducing Airbus A350‑900 aircraft as part of a €7 billion (~$7.6 billion) fleet renewal to replace aging A330s and Boeing 777s. The new jets feature advanced sound‑insulating fuselage and quieter engines, helping the airline meet Dutch government limits on night‑time...
Delta Air Lines Unveils First New Delta One Suite in Premium Cabin Arms Race
Delta Air Lines introduced its first updated Delta One suite in a decade, slated for Airbus A350‑1000 long‑haul aircraft in 2027. The new suite adds three inches of length, a pillow‑top cushion, and more leg and knee room, targeting side‑sleeping...
Atomic-6 Launches Orbital Data Center Marketplace
Atomic-6 unveiled ODC.Space, a marketplace that lets customers order orbital data center hardware as easily as an online purchase. The platform aggregates space‑industry suppliers, offering configurations from 1U shared units to sovereign 42U racks, with the latter priced at roughly...
Sophia Space and Kepler Sign Agreement to Demo ODC Tech
Orbital data‑center startup Sophia Space has signed an agreement with satellite operator Kepler Communications to demo its operating system, SOOS, on Kepler’s distributed in‑orbit compute network. The partnership will see Sophia upload SOOS to the network by year‑end for an...
Atomic-6 Unveils Online Marketplace for Orbital Data Centers
Atomic-6 announced ODC.space, an online marketplace that lets customers procure complete satellites for on‑orbit data‑center capacity. The platform offers both dedicated satellites and shared compute rentals, handling everything from component sourcing to launch and mission operations. Target customers include AI...
Orbit Is Filling up Fast. Now Comes the Awkward Bit: Pre-Empting and Handling a Crisis.
Earth’s orbital environment is nearing a tipping point as tens of thousands of new satellites are slated for launch, pushing low‑Earth orbit toward congestion. In 2023 Starlink alone performed roughly 300,000 collision‑avoidance maneuvers, and analysts warn that as many as...
Jet2 Launches First Flights and Holidays to Island of La Palma
Jet2 has launched its first scheduled flights and holiday packages to La Palma, adding the island as its fifth Canary Islands destination. The carrier will operate two year‑round weekly services from Manchester on Mondays and Fridays, with a second weekly...
Star Air Launches 70 Weekly Flights, Introduces First‑Ever Direct Mundra-Delhi NCR Route
Star Air has launched India’s first direct air link between Hindon (Delhi NCR) and the port city of Mundra, adding 38 direct weekly flights as part of a 70‑flight summer schedule. The new service makes Mundra its 32nd destination and...
Etihad Massively Expands Mainland China Flights, Goes From One Route To Six
Etihad Airways is expanding its mainland China network from a single destination to six, increasing weekly frequencies from seven to 35 flights. The airline will launch five new routes—Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Shenzhen—between October 2026 and March 2027, all...
Artemis 2, Apollo 8, and the Problem with History
Artemis 2’s lunar flyby mirrors Apollo 8’s historic 1968 mission, but its justification is largely technical rather than geopolitical. Recent declassified CIA memos reveal that intelligence on Soviet circumlunar plans was shared with NASA, yet historians argue the primary driver for Apollo 8...