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SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Rocket Lab lands $90M Space Force contract for first GEO satellite production; two Heimdall satellites for Space Domain Awarenes

Rocket Lab has won a $90 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to design, manufacture and operate two geostationary satellites—Heimdall—for space object monitoring and tracking. The award marks Rocket Lab’s first satellite production program in GEO and continues its work delivering two prototype Heimdall payloads on orbit.

2026-05-22T02:54:42.006132-07:00

FlightGlobal

GA-ASI restarts YFQ-42A flight testing for USAF CCA after April crash; software fix targets autopilot weight miscalculation

2026-05-21T21:10:33.287494-07:00

FlightGlobal

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

Reuters

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00

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SpaceNews.com

Rocket Lab lands $90M Space Force contract for first GEO satellite production; two Heimdall satellites for Space Domain Awarenes Rocket Lab has won a $90 million contract from the U.S. Space Force to design, manufacture and operate two geostationary satellites—Heimdall—for space object monitoring and tracking. The award marks Rocket Lab’s first satellite production program in GEO and continues its work delivering two prototype Heimdall payloads on orbit.

2026-05-22T02:54:42.006132-07:00

Rocket Lab lands $90M Space Force contract for first GEO satellite production; two Heimdall satellites for Space Domain Awarenes

FlightGlobal

GA-ASI restarts YFQ-42A flight testing for USAF CCA after April crash; software fix targets autopilot weight miscalculation General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has resumed flight testing of its YFQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype after a 7 April crash destroyed one aircraft. The company says safety reviews and a software update addressing an autopilot weight miscalculation enabled the program to return to test flights following nearly a month-long grounding.

2026-05-21T21:10:33.287494-07:00

GA-ASI restarts YFQ-42A flight testing for USAF CCA after April crash; software fix targets autopilot weight miscalculation

Reuters

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama Lockheed Martin broke ground on an 87,000-square-foot Munitions Production Center in Troy, Alabama, aimed at accelerating THAAD interceptor production for the U.S. and allied customers. The company said the site is part of a broader $9B-plus investment through 2030 across more than 20 U.S. facilities, with plans to double capacity and add jobs.

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama

The War Zone

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role The U.S. Special Operations “Night Stalkers” are considering assigning an aerial-refueling role to their MH-47 Chinooks, giving the unit an organic tanker capability to refuel other aircraft midair. The concept would expand rotary-wing refueling options beyond externally sourced tanker aircraft.

2026-05-21T13:10:44.578712-07:00

Night Stalkers’ MH-47 Chinooks eyed for an organic midair refueling tanker role

FlightGlobal

Option under review: Special Operations Command could convert in-production C-130Js to MC-130J standard after Iran losses With MC-130Js reportedly destroyed in Iran, Special Operations Command is considering a path to replace the capability by completing modifications on in-production Lockheed Martin C-130Js to the MC-130J standard. The approach would preserve aircraft availability by leveraging already-building airframes rather than restarting from scratch.

2026-05-21T11:40:00.607079-07:00

Option under review: Special Operations Command could convert in-production C-130Js to MC-130J standard after Iran losses

DefenseNews.com

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper the “MVP” in Epic Fury as lawmakers weigh manned-unmanned priorities Air Force leaders told Congress the remotely piloted MQ-9 Reaper was a “workhorse” in the U.S. air campaign against Iran, even as the fiscal 2027 budget request continues to concentrate aircraft funding in crewed fighters. The testimony comes alongside new industry work on expendable autonomous drone engines, including GE426 proposals.

2026-05-21T11:10:25.711914-07:00

USAF calls MQ-9 Reaper the “MVP” in Epic Fury as lawmakers weigh manned-unmanned priorities

FlightGlobal

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GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) and Saab have completed the first flight of an MQ-9B configured with Saab-designed LoyalEye airborne early warning (AEW) pods. The companies say it is the first unmanned AEW platform of its kind, advancing persistent AEW surveillance for missions where manned aircraft are unavailable.

2026-05-21T09:38:36.247976-07:00

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

Aviation Today

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally Redwire says it has received a multi-year, multi-million dollar contract from a NATO ally to deliver the company’s Penguin Mk3 unmanned aircraft system. The award adds to the firm’s growing defense-drone workload and reinforces its bid position with European government customers.

2026-05-21T09:25:20.963092-07:00

Redwire lands multi-year, multi-million contract to deliver Penguin Mk3 UAS to NATO ally

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Rocket Lab lands $90M Space Force contract for first GEO satellite production; two Heimdall satellites for Space Domain Awarenes

GA-ASI restarts YFQ-42A flight testing for USAF CCA after April crash; software fix targets autopilot weight miscalculation

GA-ASI and Saab complete first flight of MQ-9B SkyGuardian with Saab LoyalEye airborne early warning radar

Lockheed breaks ground on THAAD munitions production center in Troy, Alabama

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