Weekly News Update: Feb 23, 2024

17 - 23 Feb 2024

Good morning,

The Pentagon is pushing forward with innovation, achieving minimum viable capability for the CJADC2 program. Russia killed jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny, triggering the imposition of additional, sweeping sanctions from the United States, United Kingdom, and others. Russia is also feeling the pinch on its economy of its now two years long war in Ukraine, which has cost it more than $200Bn. Unable to produce domestically, Russia has called up Iran for additional weapons.

The United States has beaten China in our attempt at returning to the moon, as Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus lunar landing executed a soft landing closer to the South Pole. This marks the US first return to the moon in more than 50 years and the first time a private company has succeeded in a soft landing.

Space is also dominating the fundraising this week, although both defense and space have seen successes.

Let’s dive in to these and other issues surrounding aerospace and defense technology.