FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron
Hindustan Aeronautics and Safran Helicopter Engines have finalized development and production plans for the Aravalli powerplant, intended for India’s 13-ton IMRH and naval DBMRH helicopters. Separately, Indian eVTOL developer Sarla signed an MoU with Hexcel for aerospace-grade composite materials, highlighting expanding domestic aerospace partnerships.
Defense Industry & Major Contractors
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Hindustan Aeronautics and Safran Helicopter Engines have finalized development and production plans for the Aravalli powerplant, intended for India’s 13-ton IMRH and naval DBMRH helicopters. Separately, Indian eVTOL developer Sarla signed an MoU with Hexcel for aerospace-grade composite materials, highlighting expanding domestic aerospace partnerships.
Space-based communications and intelligence provider CesiumAstro has acquired Virginia-based 1Aardvark, a mission software and defense systems engineering company. The transaction marks CesiumAstro’s third defense systems acquisition this year, expanding its capabilities across mission software and integrated defense engineering.
Kratos Defense and Security Solutions said its space business delivered 22% organic revenue growth in the second quarter, supported by its Orbit and Nomad acquisitions. The company said demand is expanding at the expected high rate, though classified contracts make its growth difficult to assess externally.
Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden said the Trump administration’s Golden Dome space defense system is becoming tangible for defense contractors and that Northrop expects a “decent share” of the work. The program could ultimately cost more than $1 trillion, according to Warden.
Northrop Grumman satellites are preparing to launch into the Pentagon’s first operational military data network in low Earth orbit, helping complete the Space Development Agency’s Tranche 1 constellation. The program is moving toward deployment while confronting challenges that could affect delivery and operational execution.
Colorado-based Ursa Major plans to merge with a blank-check company and enter public markets in early 2027 at a valuation of about $2.3 billion. The transaction is intended to fund the shift from development and low-rate production to full-rate output of rocket engines, hypersonic systems and solid rocket motors.
Exercise Baltic Trust 2026 in Latvia demonstrated how NATO forces can connect incompatible counter-UAS systems into a shared operational picture and conduct a live intercept. Separately, the Royal Netherlands Navy launched a concept-development program with Destinus to integrate Hornet B2 interceptor drones with warships.
High activity
The sole-source, 11-year IDIQ contract covers virtually every element of Boeing’s F-15 Eagle Crest program, including new production, upgrades and sustainment. Its Foreign Military Sales scope names Japan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia and Poland as potential customers.
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