Aerospace Group:

Air Force

DoD Buys Ride On Virgin’s New Satellite Launcher

By Marc Selinger

Thursday, November 16th, 2017

SHARE:

DoD Buys Ride On Virgin’s New Satellite Launcher

A LauncherOne rocket leaves a Virgin Orbit factory. (Credit: Virgin Orbit)

The U.S. Department of Defense has purchased its first flight on LauncherOne, Virgin Orbit's new satellite-launching rocket, the company said Nov. 16.Under an other-transaction-agreement (OTA) award from the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center and the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental (DIUx), the launch will occur as early as January 2019, Virgin said. The Long Beach, Calif.-based firm recently created a subsidiary, VOX Space LLC, to serve such national security customers.The launch will involve “technology demonstration satellites” and will give…

Pentagon

Hegseth Acknowledges Potential $200 Billion Iran Supplemental Request, Final Figure ‘Could Move’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday acknowledged the Pentagon could potentially ask Congress for $200 billion in supplemental funding to support the ongoing operation against Iran and replenish munitions used […]

Congress

Counter-Drone Flyaway Kit Used In U.S. In Early Hours Of Iran Strikes, NORTHCOM Head Says

U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) used a counter small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) flyaway kit (FAK) in the early hours of the strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, according to Air […]

Army

Army Taking ‘More Refined’ Approach On Push For Right To Repair Reforms, Obadal Says

After lawmakers decided against including major “right to repair” reforms in the latest defense policy bill, a senior Army official has said the service is continuing its push for authorities […]

Unmanned Systems

Counter-Drone Needs Will Be Addressed In Next NDAA Based On Iran War Lessons, Banks Says

A Republican senator on Armed Services Committee on Thursday said that defending against Iranian drones has been challenge for U.S. warfighters and will be an area of focus in the […]