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: North America
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...
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...
GE Aerospace Completes Assessment of Powerplant Options for Future NATO Helicopter
GE Aerospace has completed an initial study supporting the development of NATO’s next generation of rotorcraft capability. The company said the effort, conducted with its Italian partner Avio Aero, analyzed powerplant solutions for the envisioned helicopter, such as advanced gas turbines, hybrid electric systems, hydrogen fuel cells, and hydrogen combustion engines. The partnership also explored...
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...
Canada Names First Woman Defense Staff Chief
The Canadian Armed Forces has named Gen. Jennie Carignan as chief of defense staff, succeeding Gen. Wayne Eyre. She took command of the post at a Thursday ceremony, with dignitaries including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Governor General and CAF Commander in Chief Mary Simon looking on. According to National Defence Minister Bill Blair, CAF...
US, UK Extend Air, Space Security Partnership; Gen. David Allvin Quoted
The United States and the United Kingdom have signed a joint statement declaring their continued commitment to protecting air and space security. Gen. Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations at the U.S. Space Force and Wash100 awardee, signed the “Shared Vision Statement on Combined and Space Power in the 21st Century” with Air Chief Marshal...
LeoLabs Joins UK’s Tyche Space-Based Reconnaissance Program; Tony Frazier Quoted
The United Kingdom Space Command will utilize LeoLabs’ space situational awareness services for its low Earth orbit research and development satellite, Tyche, scheduled for a summer launch. According to a LeoLabs announcement, the 150-kilogram demo spacecraft is part of the U.K.’s ISTARI program on a LEO constellation for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. LeoLabs CEO Tony...
Planet Brings AI Technology to Maritime Domain Awareness Under New Contract
Planet Labs has received a contract to supply an international customer with an advanced maritime domain awareness solution for vessel detection and monitoring. Under the agreement, the San Franciso-based company will work with partner SynMax to deliver its artificial intelligence-enhanced PlanetScope data to the client. According to Planet, the unnamed defense customer also expanded its SkySat...
Nikon Sees Growing Demand for Its Metal 3D Printing, Legacy Chipmaking Capabilities
Nikon, witnessing a surge in its businesses, is looking to market its metal 3D printers to the U.S. defense and aerospace market. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, Muneaki Tokunari, president and chief financial officer at Nikon, said the Japanese optics and imaging firm is “betting on many things,” one of which is...