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.
Weekly News Round Up
Military
U.S. Defense modernization and innovation
Pentagon’s effort to create unified network for command and control hits minimum viable capability (DN)
The Pentagon wants industry to transform again to meet demand (DN)
Army’s short range air defense requirement progresses to Joint Capabilities Board (DN)
Navy is building out non-kinetic effects teams (DS)
Defense Tech Opportunities
Industry feedback to drive cruise missile interceptor competition timeline, Army says (BD)
NASA released their Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitation for 2024, an annual open research opportunity (SAM)
AFRL Rome has released an open two-step BAA seeking innovative research proposals for secure information sharing across multiple domains and networks (SAM)
NRL is hosting an innovation day for industry on May 16 in Washington, DC (SAM)
SSC is seeking concept papers on space and cyber capabilities to counter emerging space threats (SAM)
DARPA is seeking proposals for its DODGEball program focused on securing ground bases using electromagnetic warfare (SAM)
Europe, Russia, the Arctic, NATO, and the war in Ukraine
Russian arms makers face labor, tech shortages (DN)
Pentagon estimates Russia has spent $211Bn on Ukraine war (DN)
Russia threatens French aircraft over Black Sea (AP)
White House considers giving long range missiles to Ukraine (NBC)
US issues more than 500 new Russia sanctions after Navalny’s killing (WP)
Armenia has frozen its membership in CSTO, over disputes with Russia (Pol)
Biden paves way for outgoing Dutch PM to lead NATO (Pol)
Iran sends hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia (RT)
Turkey, Greece to join European missile shield (DN)
China, Korea, and Asia
US Congress members visit Taiwan, praise the country (AP)
Nvidia identifies China’s Huawei as a top competitor (RT)
Taiwan chip firms flock to Japan as decoupling accelerates (RT)
China’s Wang Yi tells Blinken US should lift sanctions on Chinese firms (CNBC)
Middle East and Africa
White House promises new sanctions on Iran for support of Russia’s Ukraine war, potential missile sale (AP)
US vetoes UN Security Council resolution calling for Israeli ceasefire (TH)
Congress and the executive disagree on authorities to fight Yemen’s Houthis (NYT)
Red Sea ship attacks not driving inflation (RT)
Houthis begun using autonomous underwater vehicles to attack shipping (MT)
Sudanese militias carry out wave of abductions, seeking slaves and ransoms (WP)
Somalia signs deal with Turkey to beef up navy (DN)
U.S. Defense Industry News
Aerospace giants form cartel to control unauthorized parts from entering supply chain (RT)
General Atomics expands its reach into Japanese defense (DN)
Pentagon considers cuts to F-35 orders in 2025, Lockheed warns it could drive up per unit cost (ASF)
Northrop’s ‘combat edge’ software connects troops without cloud (DN)
Scale AI wins right to build large language models for the Pentagon (C4)
Marine Corps expresses interest in ST Engineering’s water-based aircraft (BD)
Rocket company Ursa Major benefits from surging defense demand (RT)
The State Department has approved the following:
A $75M sale of advanced data link upgrades to Taiwan (RT)
Foreign Defense Industry News
China unveils export version of attack helicopter (DN)
India to buy 15 C295 maritime patrol planes from Airbus (DN)
Israeli defense firms make air show return, tight-lipped on Gaza war (RT)
Seeking local production, Israel orders new assault rifles (DN)
Italy’s Fincantieri and UAE’s Edge team up to sell to non-NATO countries (DN)
Korea Aerospace signs deal with Diehl Defense for missile integration (DN)
Malaysia is growing wary of its Russian weapons (DN)
Philippines hints at fresh fighter fleet amid negotiations with Sweden (DN)
Foreign firms vie for South Korea’s airborne early warning contract (DN)
Turkey’s 5th Gen fighter takes off on maiden flight (RT)
UK launches military drone strategy backed by $5.7Bn funding (BD)
Space
First U.S. moon landing since 1972, and first ever commercial landing touches down (CBS)
Blue Origins’ New Glenn rocket finally reaches launch pad (AT)
Varda's in-space manufacturing capsule successfully reentered the atmosphere, landing safely back on Earth (TC)
Nuclear Power & Weapons
The war over burying nuclear waste in America’s busiest oil field (WSJ)
AI, Robotics, & other Frontier Tech
Navy introduces more robotics warfare ratings (NT)
Cyberattacks hit military pharmacies (MT)
Pentagon explores military use of large language models (WP)
AI mania resumes, with Nvidia outlook saving broader market (BBG)
Elon Musk says Neuralink is working (CNBC)
A&D-Focused Finance
New Navy council seeks to tackle foreign investment risks (MT)
As war rages in Ukraine and Gaza, venture capitalists see a boon in defense startups (Inc)
BAE Systems has completed its $5.6Bn acquisition of Ball Aerospace (MAE)
Industrial automation startup Hadrian raised a $117M Series B from a variety of investors (TC)
Uhnder, a provider of commercial digital radar chips and software, raised a $50M Series D led by ACME Capital (FN)
Northwood Space, a satellite data startup founded by ex-Disney star Bridgit Mendler, raised $6M from Founders Fund, a16z, and Also Capital (CNBC)
Reaction Engines clinched £40M ($47.7M) in funding from the Strategic Development Fund to continue developing its thermal management tech used in propulsion systems (SWA)
Chinese launch startup Orienspace secures $83.5 million for its liquid propellant engines (SN)
Space Circling, a Chinese rocket engine startup, nabbed a 100M yuan ($13.9M) Series A (SN)
Important Reads
Army Lt. Col. Robert Solano argues that the Army should have a drone branch.
Keith Krach and Brendan Carr outline the risks of China dominating 5G and 6G technology.
In light of ex-Disney star Bridgit Mendler raising $6M from Founders Fund and a16z, CNBC explained how a college application error led her to tech ventures.
Lighter Side
Keep building!
Andrew