Weekly News Update: Jan 12, 2024
6 - 12 Jan 2024
Good morning,
One of the major headlines this week involves Boeing, as it comes to light that 737 Max 9s were shipped with improperly tightened bolts, resulting in a harrowing in-flight incident. Meanwhile, the geopolitical landscape witnesses a shift as the United States and the United Kingdom launch air strikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, signaling a robust response to threats against commercial shipping. Or, as the kids say “FAFO” (F*** Around and Find Out). On the strategic front, the Pentagon unveils its inaugural National Defense Industrial Strategy, aiming to fortify capabilities for economic mobilization against potential adversaries. In the realm of defense tech, innovation takes center stage, with the U.S. military seeking advancements in long-range sniper rifles and exploring cutting-edge mine-spotting drones. As we delve into regional dynamics and global defense industry updates, from the escalating conflict in Ukraine to developments in the Asia-Pacific region, the intricate web of international relations continues to shape the aerospace and defense landscape. Additionally, key happenings in space exploration, nuclear power, and frontier technologies, including AI and robotics, underscore the multifaceted nature of this week's news. Stay tuned for a comprehensive overview of the critical events shaping the aerospace and defense sectors worldwide.
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 release first ever National Defense Industrial Strategy (DN)
Next step for Replicator is ‘acceleration pathways’ (BD)
Seeking 75 ships ready for combat, Navy turns to new readiness orgs (DN)
Army explores mine-spotting drones and tracked robots for minefield breaching (DO)
Army program executive office considers commercial software to control firepower (C4)
Defense Tech Opportunities
US military searching for new long-range sniper rifle in bid to keep edge over China, Russia (SAM)
The National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA) is soliciting for its Luno A program that will transform its approach for geospatial information and knowledge, expand access to data and services, accelerate Analysis Workflow Modernization objectives and integrate data and services into enterprise capabilities (SAM)
The Air Force Research Lab is conducting market research and seeking potential sources for its Space Systems and Hardware Integration for Novel Experiments
(SSHINE) program (SAM)
USSOCOM is conducting market research and seeking potential sources for its Electromagnetic Warfare Family of Systems (EWFOS) to provide SO-p Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities for ground, maritime, air/space, and directed energy domains (SAM)
AFRL is interested in receiving white papers regarding nuclear-related research and development, including, but not limited to modeling and simulation of re-entry environments, materials characterization, nuclear explosion monitoring, and design, fabrication and experimentation of nuclear delivery (SAM)
DARPA amended its Microsystems Tech Office BAA to allow accelerated awards of up to $2M for research across more than 30 topics (SAM)
DARPA is hosting a proposer’s day for those interested in the Autonomy Standards and Ideals with Military Operational Values (ASIMOV) program (SAM)
Europe, Russia, the Arctic, NATO, and the war in Ukraine
The UK will increase aid to Ukraine to $3.2Bn, will spend $255M on drones (BBC)
Ukraine war pressure is reshaping Germany’s high-tech defense industry (C4)
Danish F-16 jets to Ukraine will be delayed by several months: report (Pol)
White House throws its support behind seizing frozen Russian assets (BBG)
China, Korea, and Asia
US-China defense talks resume as two sides meet in Washington (DN)
US urges China to not interfere in Taiwan elections (RT)
Xi’s solution for China’s economy risks triggering new trade war (BBG)
Investors form alliance to bolster AUKUS military partnership (C4)
Papua New Guinea deploys military to capital amid violent protests (NYT)
Myanmar military claims immediate ceasefire agreement with rebels (AP)
Middle East and Africa
US, UK launch air attacks against Houthis in Yemen in response to attacks on commercial shipping in Red Sea (AP)
Navy ships, fighter jets fight off latest Houthi attack in the Red Sea (NT)
Iraqi officials privately signal they want US forces to stay (Pol)
US intel officials warn of risk of Hezbollah attacking US (Pol)
UN Security Council demands Houthi rebels stop Red Sea attacks, implicitly condemns Iran (AP)
Iranian tech empowers Houthi drone, missile attacks (C4)
Al-Shabab militant group captures downed UN helicopter in Somalia (WP)
Indian navy retakes merchant ship from armed hijackers in Arabian Sea (USNI)
French navy defends use of expensive missiles to down cheap Houthi drones (DN)
U.S. Defense Industry News
China sanctions AeroVironment, Viasat, and others in response to US sanctions and arms sales to Taiwan (AP)
Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt is allegedly working on a secret drone project (Frb)
Artis debuts vehicle active protection that tackles threats from above (DN)
Boeing won and then lost a $7Bn US Air Force program, here’s how (DN)
Fincantieri turns to welding robots to build navy frigates faster (DN)
GD Electric Boat receives stern for Navy’s first Columbia-class submarine (SS)
HII warns of potential carrier, amphib issues in FY25 budget request (DN)
L3Harris wins $479M next-gen tactical radio contract (TDP)
L3Harris to fit sensors to Canada’s SkyGuardian drones (TDP)
Lockheed delivers first pair of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to Slovakia (BD)
Raytheon to support Chile, Japan, US Sea Sparrow Missile Systems (TDP)
US Army delivers Bell 429 GlobalRanger helicopter to Guatemalan Air Force (TDP)
Foreign Defense Industry News
First joint Estonian, Polish procurement sees Estonia gain MANPADS (BD)
Estonia’s Milrem robotic manufacturer considers production in Ukraine (DN)
German leaders abandon blockade of Eurofighter sale to Saudi Arabia (RT)
Rafael intercepts drone with newly combined Spyder air defense systems (DN)
Indonesia completes order for 42 Rafale fighter jets with France (TDP)
Turkey’s defense, aerospace exports rose by 25% last year (DN)
Space
NASA delays crewed lunar landing missions until 2026 (FdT)
Army lays out its vision for space in future operations (AT)
Fuel leak foils first American attempt at moon landing in half a century (RT)
ULA’s Vulcan rocket successfully flies on debut mission (C4)
NASA, UAE partner on space station that orbit the moon (BBG)
Optical communications, i.e. lasers, are the network pipes for the Internet of Space (BD)
SpaceX charged of unlawfully firing employees critical of Musk (AT)
Elon Musk has used illegal drugs, worrying leaders at Tesla and SpaceX (WSJ)
Nuclear Power & Weapons
Lawmakers push for more nuclear microreactors in INDOPACOM (ASF)
Soldiers build nuke detecting backpack (AT)
Medvedev threatens nuclear response if Ukraine strikes Russian missile sites (RT)
AI, Robotics, & other Frontier Tech
DoD hoping to build international cooperation on responsible AI, autonomy (BD)
Experts give 2024 NDAA positive marks on quantum provisions (DS)
Microsoft's $13B investment into OpenAI is facing a potential full-blown EU competition probe (BBG)
A&D-Focused Finance
Breton aims for ‘huge’ €100B EU defense fund (Pol)
Autonomous maritime surveillance startup ThayerMahan raised a $20M Series C led by Hanwha Asset Management (FN)
Advanced composite manufacturing company Atomic-6 raised $9.2M in funding to expand manufacturing for dual-use cases including hypersonics and space (FnSME)
Important Reads
Army strategist Cole Livieratos cautions against recent plans cutting Army special operations forces.
Mike Daniels of UiPath explores how GenAI will boost delivery of public services.
Clayton Swope of CSIS explains how the US replaced Russia’s RD-180 rocket engine and increased competition for space launch.
Lighter Side
Keep building!
Andrew