Optical Terminals Still a Bottleneck in Pentagon’s Proliferated Constellation
On Oct. 15, Lockheed Martin launched 21 Space Development Agency Tracking Layer Tranche 1 satellites, each carrying three laser communication terminals (OCTs) instead of the planned four due to a supply shortfall. Tesat‑Spacecom delivered 42 terminals while CACI supplied only 21, creating a bottleneck that reduces cross‑link capacity and routing flexibility. The shortage has forced a slower launch cadence, with the next launch pushed to a May‑June window after extended on‑orbit checkouts and testing. SDA aims to resolve the bottleneck before Tranche 2 and 3 deployments.
Sovereignty in Orbit: Can National Laws Govern Global Space Markets?
National space laws provide the licensing backbone for launches, spectrum, and remote‑sensing, but they cannot alone resolve cross‑border disputes that arise from global satellite constellations, orbital debris, and lunar‑resource activities. The Outer Space Treaty remains the legal floor, tying private...
Astroscale and Exotrail to Co-Develop Servicing Mission
Japanese satellite‑life‑extension specialist Astroscale and French launch‑service firm Exotrail have signed a contract to co‑develop a low‑Earth‑orbit de‑orbiting mission, aiming for operational capability by 2030. The partnership combines Exotrail’s SpaceVan vehicle with Astroscale’s capture system and proximity‑operations expertise. The agreement...
In-Orbit Logistics Companies Call for Clearer Demand Signals From Gov
Industry leaders at a SATShow Week panel warned that demand for in‑orbit inspection, repair, refueling and de‑orbit services will surge over the next five to ten years as Low‑Earth Orbit becomes increasingly congested. The Space Development Agency (SDA) highlighted a...
ArkEdge Space to Work With ABIT For IoT Service Rollout
ArkEdge Space and Japan’s ABIT Corporation have signed an MOU to co‑develop wide‑area IoT solutions and satellite communication equipment. The collaboration merges ArkEdge’s low‑power, long‑range satellite network—validated on 18 in‑orbit satellites—with ABIT’s ground‑side device design, mass‑production and protocol expertise. ArkEdge...
‘Drone Hunters of Kherson’ Takes Viewers Into a War that Blends ‘Trench Warfare and the Terminator’
The 17‑minute documentary “Drone Hunters of Kherson” reveals how cheap, off‑the‑shelf drones have supplanted artillery in Ukraine, with Russian FPV units targeting civilians and Ukrainian foot‑patrols countering them. It highlights the rapid, hour‑scale innovation cycle that produces $1,000 interceptor drones...
France Left to Fund Rafale F5 Alone After UAE Withdrawal
France must now fund the Rafale F5 fighter programme alone after the United Arab Emirates pulled out, citing refusal to share optronics technology. The UAE had pledged up to €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) toward a €5 billion ($5.5 billion) development effort, leaving France to shoulder...
FAA Releases Part 141 Modernization Proposal
The FAA released a proposal to overhaul Part 141 flight‑school regulations, moving oversight from local district offices to a centralized management office. The plan gives chief instructors greater authority to make routine changes and replaces periodic recertification with continuous performance...
UK and France Sign MoU to Develop Meteor Missile Successor
The United Kingdom and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a 12‑month joint study on a successor to the Meteor air‑to‑air missile. The current Meteor, fielded on RAF Typhoons and French Rafales, was developed by an MBDA‑led...
After F-35 Cuts, Switzerland Mulls Scrapping U.S. Patriot Deal Amid Delivery Delays & Cost Hikes
Switzerland is weighing the cancellation of its $2 billion Patriot missile‑defence contract after the United States signaled further delivery delays and a potential 50% price increase, pushing the total to roughly $3.3 billion. The delays stem from U.S. reprioritisation of Patriot shipments...
L3Harris Taps Mercury Systems for High-Capacity Data Storage on SDA Tranche 3 Satellites
On April 2, 2026, Mercury Systems won a contract from L3Harris Technologies to provide advanced solid‑state data recorders for the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 3 Tracking Layer. The SSDRs are the highest‑capacity, radiation‑tolerant units in a 3U VPX form factor, delivering...
Civil Aviation Ministry Puts on Hold Free 60% Seat Rule for Airlines
The Indian civil aviation ministry has suspended its earlier directive requiring airlines to offer 60 percent of seats free of charge. The pause follows airline objections over operational and commercial impacts, particularly on fare structures. The ministry cited the need to...
Amazon Weighs a Deal to Boost Its Satellite Internet Ambitions. Why It's Worthy Pursuit
Amazon is in talks to acquire satellite operator Globalstar, a move that would expand its fledgling Leo internet‑from‑space service. Leo currently runs about 200 low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, far fewer than SpaceX’s Starlink network of over 10,000 satellites and 10 million users. The...
Editorial. Up in the Air
India’s regional connectivity initiative received a fresh $3.5 billion boost as the cabinet approved a ten‑year outlay for the Udan scheme. Since its 2016 launch, Udan has helped 16.3 million passengers fly on subsidised routes and doubled the country’s operational airports to...
21 Air Eyes Larger Boeing 777s to Access Long-Haul Cargo Market
21 Air, the mid‑size cargo carrier that serves DHL Express and Amazon, is preparing to add Boeing 777 freighters to its fleet to tap the long‑haul international market. Owner Jim Crane has installed former Crane Worldwide Logistics chief Keith Winters...
Guard, Reserve Leaders Flag Concern over Recapitalizing Fighter Fleet
Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve leaders warned that more than 80% of their fighter inventory consists of aging legacy jets with limited service life, and over half of Guard squadrons lack a clear modernization roadmap. They argue that...
AT&T, FirstNet Support Comms for NASA's Artemis II Mission Around the Moon
AT&T is supplying connectivity and on‑site support for NASA’s Artemis II mission, enabling near‑Earth and deep‑space communications as the Orion crew circles the Moon. The carrier has upgraded its network and positioned teams at key NASA facilities, while its FirstNet public‑safety...
Private Control of Space Infrastructure: Should One Company Have This Much Influence?
SpaceX now controls launch services, Starlink broadband, crew transport to the ISS, and key defense contracts, making it a de‑facto infrastructure provider across multiple space layers. The company earned this dominance through rapid iteration, vertical integration and aggressive pricing, not...
EASA Proposes Lower Safety Criteria for eVTOL Test Flights
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a draft Certification Memorandum (CM‑21.A-P-002) that lowers safety criteria for eVTOL development flights. The proposal sets flight conditions for aircraft up to 250 knots and a maximum take‑off mass of 5,700 kg, allowing limited...
Chinese Satellite with Robotic 'Octopus Arm' Passes Key Refueling Test in Orbit — Making Longer-Lived Space Assets More Likely
China’s experimental Hukeda‑2 satellite demonstrated a major in‑orbit refueling capability by using its octopus‑like robotic arm to dock with a target port on the same spacecraft. The test, conducted on 24 March, marks the first self‑docking refuel maneuver since the Shijian‑25...
Moog Technology Successfully Steers Artemis II Launch
Moog Inc. supplied the critical actuation and motion‑control systems that steered NASA’s Artemis II launch, including thrust‑vector control, launch‑abort actuators, fluid‑control hardware, and mobile launch‑pad mechanisms. The SLS rocket lifted four astronauts from Kennedy Space Center, marking a record‑setting step toward...
SAME and IndiGo Launch Cadet AME Programme to Train India’s Next Aviation Engineers
IndiGo has selected the School for Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (SAME) as its official partner to launch a cadet Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) programme. The initiative will train 30 high‑potential students in the B1.1 turbine stream during the 2026‑27 intake, combining...
Does Artemis II Prove Space Tourism Might Soon Take Off?
Artemis II’s April 1 launch delivered the first crewed lunar flyby since Apollo, underscoring NASA’s push for a 2028 Moon landing. SpaceX has filed confidentially for an IPO that could value the company above $1 trillion, the largest market debut ever. Virgin Galactic...
SpaceX Secures SDA-4 Launch Task Order From U.S. Space Force
SpaceX has secured a task order worth more than $178 million from the U.S. Space Force Systems Command to conduct two National Security Space Launch Phase 3, Lane 1 missions in fiscal 2027. The launches will occur from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station...
FDH Electronics Launches New Mil-Aero Ecommerce Website
FDH Aero has launched FDHElectronics.com, a dedicated e‑commerce site for its FDH Electronics division serving the mil‑aero market. The platform aggregates the company’s interconnect, wire, cable and electromechanical product lines into a single, searchable catalog. Designed with direct customer input,...
Jet2 Achieves Fuel and Emissions Savings with Lightweight Paint
Jet2.com has begun applying AkzoNobel’s lightweight aircraft paint to more than 80 of its planes, delivering a weight reduction of over 20 kg per aircraft. The paint saves roughly a quarter‑million litres of fuel each year, cutting carbon emissions by more...
US Approves Potential $83.14m GMLRS-AW Sale to Singapore
The U.S. State Department has cleared a potential Foreign Military Sale to Singapore worth $83.14 million for 45 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System‑Alternative Warhead (GMLRS‑AW) pods and related support equipment. Lockheed Martin would act as the prime contractor, delivering rockets compatible with...
Boeing, US Department of War Agree to Triple PAC-3 Seeker Output
The U.S. Department of War signed a seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple production of Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 (PAC‑3) MSE seekers, raising annual output from roughly 600 to 2,000 units. Boeing has already invested over $200 million in a new 35,000 ft²...
National Geographic: Tour NASA’s New Ride to the Moon
NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight of the Orion spacecraft, is teaming with National Geographic to document the journey. The four astronauts will serve as photographers, videographers, and filmmakers, creating content for the magazine, social media, and a documentary....
March Land Forces Roundup: A New War Confronts the Old Drone Problem
The United States and Israel launched a series of strikes against Iranian nuclear and missile facilities in late February. Iran responded with a wave of missile and uncrewed aerial system attacks aimed at Israeli and U.S. interests throughout the Gulf,...
Phantom Space Acquires Thermal Management Technologies
Phantom Space announced the acquisition of Thermal Management Technologies (TMT), a specialist in satellite thermal components, to strengthen its in‑orbit data‑center project called Phantom Cloud. TMT will operate as a Phantom subsidiary with founder Scott Schick remaining as general manager,...
Relativity, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Executives Join Fortastra C-Suite
Fortastra, a Los Angeles‑based space startup, has bolstered its leadership team by hiring senior executives from Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Technologies. Josh Jetter joins as chief technology officer, Sahil Desai as vice president of product, and Arnold Nowinski...
India Moves to Strengthen Aviation Workforce with Revamped AME Training
India’s aviation sector is launching a three‑year BSc programme in Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) through a partnership between Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The curriculum will fuse academic theory, regulatory standards and hands‑on...
Malaysia Aviation Group Delivers Fourth Year of Operating Profit
Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) posted a net profit after tax of RM137 million (≈ $30 million) for 2025, doubling its 2024 earnings and marking a fourth straight year of profitability. EBITDA surged to RM1.6 billion (≈ $356 million), up from RM788 million the prior year, helped by...
Air New Zealand Announces Flights From Western Sydney International Airport
Air New Zealand has opened ticket sales for a new trans‑Tasman service linking Auckland International Airport with Western Sydney International Airport (WSI). The three‑times‑weekly flights – Monday, Wednesday and Friday – will launch on 26 October 2026, marking the first international operations from...
Poland’s Refusal to Send ‘Patriots’ to Middle East Shows Europe’s Air-Defence Anxiety
The United States asked Poland to send one of its two Patriot batteries to the Middle East, but Warsaw refused, insisting the systems protect Polish and NATO eastern‑flank skies. The request highlights a severe shortage of Patriot interceptors, as Israel...
Loganair and BETA Technologies Plan Expanded Electric Flight Trials in Scotland
Loganair, Royal Mail and BETA Technologies completed a ten‑day electric flight trial across Scotland, operating BETA’s ALIA CTOL aircraft on 23 legs that covered 1,006 nautical miles. The flights demonstrated an energy consumption of 1.37 kWh per nautical mile and speeds...
FAA Publishes Special Conditions for ZeroAvia’s 600kW Electric Engine
The Federal Aviation Administration has published special conditions for ZeroAvia’s 600 kW electric engine, issuing a Final Rule in the Federal Register. The move marks a major step toward type certification of the company’s hydrogen‑electric powertrain intended for 10‑20‑seat commercial aircraft....
Will Gulf Airlines Make A Full Recovery From Iran Attacks? If So, When?
Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran provoked Iranian drone attacks that hit key Gulf infrastructure, including Dubai International Airport and the Burj Al Arab. Gulf carriers such as Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways have curtailed schedules and grounded flights,...
How Many Aircraft Has the US Lost in Iran War?
Since late February 2026 the United States has been conducting over 12,000 combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Reported losses include three F‑15 fighters, one E‑3D AWACS (with another damaged), and an estimated sixteen MQ‑9 Reaper...
Norway Revitalises Effort to Acquire a Tactical-Class UAV with $103 Million Competition
Norway’s Defence Material Agency has relaunched a procurement for a tactical‑class unmanned aerial vehicle, issuing a pre‑qualification notice on 31 March 2026. The framework agreement is valued at up to NOK 1 billion (approximately US $103 million) for a four‑year term, with options to extend...
Why U.S. Gatling Guns Are Not Stopping Iran’s Shahed Drones
The U.S. Army’s land‑based Centurion C‑RAM, a $4 million, 24‑ton Gatling‑type point‑defence system, fires 20 mm M940 rounds at up to 4,500 rpm to intercept incoming threats. While videos show successful downing of Iranian Shahed drones, the system’s 1,500‑round magazine, $168 per round...
LCA Tejas Fleet Likely to Resume Flying by Next Week, Says HAL Chairman
HAL Chairman Dr. DK Sunil announced that the Indian Air Force’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas fleet is slated to resume flying by Wednesday, following a temporary grounding after a crash linked to braking system problems. The clearance process, including...
Quantum Frontline Industries Sends First Batch of Drones to Ukraine
Quantum Frontline Industries (QFI) has completed its first production run of Linza tactical drones and begun deliveries to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The drones are manufactured in Munich under a German‑Ukrainian “Build with Ukraine” co‑production model, marking the shift from...
Deutsche Aircraft Appoints Wolfgang Kuhl as Vice President Programs & Innovation
Deutsche Aircraft announced Wolfgang Kuhl as Vice President Programs & Innovation, bolstering leadership as the D328eco enters a critical development stage. Kuhl, who has directed the D328eco program since 2023, previously drove key design, industrialisation and re‑industrialisation milestones for the...
Ibrahim Canliel Steps up as CEO of Air Astana Group
Ibrahim Canliel has been appointed chief executive officer of Air Astana Group, moving up from his role as chief financial officer where he served since 2017. He brings more than 14 years of experience within the airline, having helped shape its strategic...
Amazon in Talks to Buy Satellite Operator Globalstar
Amazon is in advanced talks to acquire satellite‑telecom firm Globalstar as it accelerates its low‑Earth‑orbit (LEO) broadband project, Kuiper. Globalstar, valued at about $8.8 billion, saw its shares jump 24% to $85 after the news. The deal would give Amazon access...
Xer Technologies Validates 2.5-Hour Flight Endurance & 7 Kg Payload Capacity
Xer Technologies AG has validated its X8 multicopter platform, achieving 2.5 hours of continuous flight while carrying a 7 kg payload. This marks a more than two‑fold increase over the previous 3 kg capability, enabling heavier sensor suites on a single mission. The...
Vectoflow Showcases UAV Flow Measurement Solutions During Holetschek Visit
Vectoflow hosted CSU parliamentary leader Klaus Holetschek at its Gilching headquarters to showcase the iProbe Wing, a compact, lightweight flow‑measurement probe for UAVs and aerospace platforms. The company highlighted how additive manufacturing enables rapid prototyping and seamless transition to serial...
NASA’s Artemis 2 Has a Space Toilet Issue – And It’s More Important Than You Think
NASA’s Artemis 2 mission, the first crewed lunar flight in over five decades, reported a malfunction in Orion’s Universal Waste Management System within hours of launch. A jammed fan has limited urine collection, though solid waste disposal remains operational. Engineers are...