The U.S. Space Forces–Indo-Pacific Command has named Chief Master Sgt. Jason Childers as senior enlisted leader of the command. The component command, established in 2022 to manage military space operations in the region, is headquartered at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. Childers replaces CMSgt. Leomel Abueg, who is taking on a new role at...
Category: National Security
Four Projects Get Funding to Advance Australia, New Zealand Space Capabilities; Andy Koronios Quoted
The SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, a consortium of Australian entities dedicated to developing advanced space technology, said four projects have won funding from the Australia-New Zealand Collaborative Space Program. The funded projects include studies to verify satellite data and space monitoring and management efforts. The four projects to receive funding are: The University of New...
Canadian Armed Forces Orders 90 Light Tactical Vehicles From GM Defense; Steve duMont Quoted
The Canadian Armed Forces has awarded GM Defense Canada a $25.96 million contract to procure 90 light tactical vehicles to support the NATO Enhanced Forward Presence Multinational Battlegroup in Latvia. The order could increase to up to 108 units if the CAF exercises an option to purchase more LTVs. Under the contract, the GM Defense...
Australia Wants to Speed Up Construction of Medium Landing Craft, Expects Austal Deliveries From 2026
Australia is accelerating its effort to build new littoral medium landing ships for its armed forces. The first of 18 vessels is expected to be delivered in 2026. The $2 billion project is part of Canberra’s effort to build a national naval shipbuilding and sustainment industry. The construction of the Australian Defence Force’s new littoral...
UK Space Agency Awards Funding to Orbit Fab to Develop In-Orbit Refueling Technology
Orbit Fab, an in-orbit spacecraft refueling services provider, has received a $1.67 million grant from the UK Space Agency to develop a high-pressure variant of the Rapidly Attachable Fuel Transfer Interface refueling port. RAFTI, which has a Technology Readiness Level 8 rating, replaces the existing fill and drain valve to minimize additional complexity and mass....
Hensoldt Creates Multi-Domain Solutions Unit Under New Operational Setup; Oliver Dorre Quoted
Germany-based defense contractor Hensoldt has announced an organizational streamlining, which calls for establishing a multi-domain solutions division integrating the capabilities of its newly acquired company, system integrator ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik. The company completed the ESG transaction in April. The new division will merge ESG with Hensoldt’s spectrum dominance and airborne solutions divisions to serve...
UK-Japan-Italy Partnership Unveils Concept Model of Next-Generation Combat Aircraft; Herman Claesen Quoted
BAE Systems has unveiled a new concept model of its next-generation combat aircraft under the Global Combat Air Program at the Farnborough International Airshow. The new aircraft, which the U.K. contractor developed with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Leonardo of Italy, features a larger wingspan than previous concepts for enhanced aerodynamics, a more intelligent weapons...
BAE Systems to Demo Airborne Combat Simulation on RAF Hawk Training Aircraft
BAE Systems will hold an in-flight demonstration of the Advanced Tactical Augmented Reality Systems on a Hawk TMk2 training aircraft of the U.K. Royal Air Force in 2024. ATARS offers synthetic training for fighter pilots to track and engage virtual foes programmed for combat and other hostile activities. The platform’s systems, developed by U.S. technology...
Australia Expands List of Primes for Global Supply Chain Initiative
Australia has tapped several companies to join the Global Supply Chain program, expanding its membership to 13 participants in line with the Defence Industry Development Strategy. The participating companies, known as primes, are: Babcock BAE Systems Boeing HII Kongsberg L3Harris Lockheed Martin Moog Northrop Grumman Raytheon Rheinmetall Saab, and Thales. Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy...
US Eyes Military Sustainment Centers in Five Indo-Pacific Allied Countries; Christopher Lowman Quoted
The U.S. Department of Defense is looking to start working with five Indo-Pacific allies on building military maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities under a regional framework that it plans to develop and launch across its overseas commands. Christopher Lowman, assistant secretary of defense for sustainment, said in a Pentagon briefing Thursday that the regional sustainment...