The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has awarded $39 million in grants to develop new, safe and cost-effective nuclear decommissioning techniques. Seven consortiums who received the funding are studying three areas: supporting the academic research community to improve skills in the nuclear decommissioning sector, promoting research in radioactive waste management and decommissioning techniques, and igniting...
Category: General News
BAE Systems Opens Shipbuilding Academy to Boost Glasgow Shipyards’ Capabilities
BAE Systems is upgrading the capabilities of its two shipyards in Glasgow, Scotland, with the recent opening of a training academy in Scotstoun and the construction of a new shipbuilding facility in Govan. The Scotstoun shipyard’s 5,500-square-meter Applied Shipbuilding Academy was built for $15.6 million. BAE Systems has allocated $390 million for upgrades on its...
SpaceX Launches Space Norway’s Northrop-Built Arctic Broadband Satellites
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched two Northrop Grumman-manufactured satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base on Aug. 11 for Space Norway’s Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission. The ASBM-1 and ASBM-2 spacecraft, built on Northrop’s GEOStar-3 bus platform, were deployed to a highly elliptical orbit to deliver commercial broadband and protected military satellite communications to aircraft, ships...
US Approves Canada’s $264M Request to Purchase RTX-Built AIM-9X Sidewinder Missiles
The Department of State has approved a potential $264.6 million foreign military sale of over 200 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II+ and Block II missiles and guidance units, along with other products and support services, to Canada. RTX manufactures the AIM-9X Sidewinder short-range missiles, which are designed to be compatible with modern aircraft, including the F-15C...
UK Launches First Satellite Under MoD’s Space-Based ISR Program
The United Kingdom Space Command launched Tyche, its first-ever dedicated Earth-imaging satellite, on Friday to gather intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data. The satellite, which will provide daytime images and videos of the Earth’s surface, forms part of the Ministry of Defence’s 10-year multibillion-dollar ISTARI program to improve the country’s space-based ISR capabilities. Tyche, manufactured by Surrey...
US, Indonesia Build Naval Interoperability to Address Indo-Pacific Security Challenges
The Indonesian Navy and a U.S. Naval Special Warfare unit participated in a combined training exercise to improve bilateral relations, strengthen defense capabilities and promote interoperability in the Indo-Pacific region. The activity, which took place from July 1 to 26, included maritime tactics, close-quarters combat, sniper shooting, tactical combat casualty care, evacuation procedures and mission...
Scout Joins NATO Commercial Space Platform to Strengthen Alliance’s Satellite Monitoring Capabilities
NATO has added Scout Space to its Spacenet program, expanding the initiative’s space domain awareness and in-orbit observation expertise to advance the alliance’s space defense objectives. Scout Space CEO Philip Hover-Smoot said the company’s inclusion in the NATO program is part of a commitment to joining efforts to strengthen global space security. “Our advanced technologies,...
GA-ASI Receives Japan Order for Two SeaGuardian Aircraft
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. will deliver two SeaGuardian remotely piloted aircraft to the Japan Coast Guard in 2025 under a newly awarded contract. SeaGuardian, a variant of GA-ASI’s MQ-9B, is a medium-altitude, long-endurance system that can fly over the horizon via satellite for 24 hours or more, depending on configuration, and uses maritime-specific sensors...
Italy to Buy New Reaper Drones From General Atomics Under $738M FMS Deal
The Italian government has received approval from the U.S. Department of State to acquire six MQ-9 Block 5 unmanned aerial system from General Atomics. The MQ-9A remotely piloted aircraft can operate over 27 hours at speeds of 240 KTAS with 3,850 pounds of payload capacity. According to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency notification released on...
Canada, Spain Sign Deal for 7 De Havilland Firefighter Aircraft
The Canadian Commercial Corporation has finalized a government-to-government contract with the Spanish Air and Space Force to supply seven DHC-515 Firefighter aircraft. De Havilland Aircraft of Canada will deliver the amphibious firefighting aircraft alongside spare parts, training and maintenance support. According to CCC, the DHC-515 model can deliver nearly 700,000 liters daily and refill from...