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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Sweden signs FMV–SSC Space deal to enable orbital launches from Esrange in the late 2020s

The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and SSC Space have signed an agreement to develop satellite launch capability at Esrange Space Center, clearing regulatory and operational groundwork for commercial orbital launch services from the Swedish site in the late 2020s and expanding Europe’s launch footprint.

2026-03-16T05:04:25.704442-07:00

AeroTime

FCAS dispute deepens as Airbus warns there is 'no plan B' and Germany seeks alternatives

2026-03-16T05:12:25.541351-07:00

AeroTime

Dassault readies 'plan B' as FCAS cooperation with Airbus stalls

2026-03-16T05:12:25.653067-07:00

AeroTime

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem in Iranian drone strike

2026-03-16T02:08:51.886406-07:00

News Timeline

AeroTime

Dassault readies 'plan B' as FCAS cooperation with Airbus stalls Dassault says it is prepared to pursue a 'plan B' for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) — the France‑Germany‑Spain programme built around the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) — if Airbus refuses to cooperate, underscoring long‑running doubts about the tri‑national effort's feasibility.

2026-03-16T05:12:25.653067-07:00

Dassault readies 'plan B' as FCAS cooperation with Airbus stalls

AeroTime

FCAS dispute deepens as Airbus warns there is 'no plan B' and Germany seeks alternatives A governance and leadership clash between Airbus and Dassault has intensified doubts over the tri‑national Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Airbus warned March 17 that 'there is no plan B' while Germany explores alternatives and Airbus Defence's CEO has endorsed twin‑fighter options, putting the programme's future in question.

2026-03-16T05:12:25.541351-07:00

FCAS dispute deepens as Airbus warns there is 'no plan B' and Germany seeks alternatives

FlightGlobal

Sweden signs FMV–SSC Space deal to enable orbital launches from Esrange in the late 2020s The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and SSC Space have signed an agreement to develop satellite launch capability at Esrange Space Center, clearing regulatory and operational groundwork for commercial orbital launch services from the Swedish site in the late 2020s and expanding Europe’s launch footprint.

2026-03-16T05:04:25.704442-07:00

Sweden signs FMV–SSC Space deal to enable orbital launches from Esrange in the late 2020s

Bloomberg

US industrials' earnings surprise driven by defence, commercial aerospace and AI capex US industrials produced the largest S&P 500 earnings surprise last quarter, with profits topping estimates as sustained defence demand, a recovering commercial aerospace sector and elevated AI-related capital spending powered results. The beat spanned primes, suppliers and aerospace aftermarket firms.

2026-03-16T03:34:28.791605-07:00

US industrials' earnings surprise driven by defence, commercial aerospace and AI capex

AeroTime

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem in Iranian drone strike An Italian MQ-9A Reaper was destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem air base in an Iranian drone strike that struck coalition assets; Italian personnel were unharmed. Rome says it "will not be intimidated" as the attack forms part of Iran's reprisals amid the US‑led Operation Epic Fury.

2026-03-16T02:08:51.886406-07:00

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem in Iranian drone strike

FlightGlobal

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability Japan took delivery of its first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles at a ceremony in Norway, a milestone that enhances the strike capability of its Lockheed Martin F-35A fleet. The shipment marks the start of Japan's fielding of JSMs on its stealth fighters.

2026-03-15T22:18:57.611304-07:00

Japan receives first Kongsberg Joint Strike Missiles in Norway, boosting F-35A strike capability

FlightGlobal

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost The Pentagon disclosed specifications for LUCAS, a reverse-engineered Shahed-136 derivative loitering munition with a reported 434 nm range and unit costs between $10,000 and $55,000. The US military has begun operational deployments of the low-cost, long-range one-way attack drone in the Middle East theatre.

2026-03-15T08:59:43.411374-07:00

Pentagon discloses LUCAS loitering munition: 434 nm range, $10k–$55k unit cost

SpaceNews.com

Pentagon increases Raytheon protected satcom terminals contract by $2 billion The U.S. Department of Defense has increased Raytheon’s contract for protected satellite communications terminals by $2 billion, the Pentagon said. The modification expands program funding for delivery and sustainment of military-grade satcom terminals to support secure, resilient satellite links.

2026-03-15T06:17:45.046914-07:00

Pentagon increases Raytheon protected satcom terminals contract by $2 billion

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Sweden signs FMV–SSC Space deal to enable orbital launches from Esrange in the late 2020s

FCAS dispute deepens as Airbus warns there is 'no plan B' and Germany seeks alternatives

Dassault readies 'plan B' as FCAS cooperation with Airbus stalls

Italian MQ-9A Reaper destroyed at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem in Iranian drone strike

News Timeline