SpaceWatch Global
• Joshua Faleti
The UK Space Agency has opened a public competition to name its planned 2029 active debris-removal mission. The spacecraft is intended to capture two defunct satellites in orbit, making the mission a practical demonstration of efforts to remove debris from Earth orbit.
Europe
Latest source-backed stories
High activity
The UK Space Agency has opened a public competition to name its planned 2029 active debris-removal mission. The spacecraft is intended to capture two defunct satellites in orbit, making the mission a practical demonstration of efforts to remove debris from Earth orbit.
High activity
Italy’s air navigation service provider restricted airspace capacity after overnight problems disrupted the data-transmission network used for air traffic control. The cut slowed flights nationwide and prompted delays and cancellations; authorities said the fault was not caused by a cyberattack.
Lufthansa has told crews to carry extra fuel into Frankfurt as jet-fuel supply tightens at the German hub. Switzerland is releasing fuel reserves to avert a shortage at Zurich Airport, highlighting supply pressure at two major European airports and the operational measures being taken to keep flights fueled.
The aircraft, based on Bombardier’s Global business jet, will undergo testing and verification before its maiden flight and delivery. The rollout advances Sweden’s replacement of its Saab 340 AEW-300 fleet as Saab expands GlobalEye production amid growing international demand.
Portugal has revoked OMNI Aviação’s AOC after the airline became insolvent. The move removes its authorization to operate and marks a regulatory consequence of the company’s financial failure; the available report provides no further detail on the timing or effects on its fleet and services.
Draken used its Sting and Phantom Sky training combination for the first time during a NATO exercise described as the largest test of the UK’s homeland defence. The deployment puts the combination in an operational training setting, though the available report provides no further details on its role or performance.
Croatia Airlines has postponed the complete phase-out of its A319-100 fleet to late November 2026, retaining the type for six return rotations. The carrier had previously planned to withdraw its remaining A319s next week, according to schedule analysis by AeroRoutes.
High activity
With the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS project stalled, France is pursuing a domestically developed successor to the Rafale targeted for 2040 and advancing the Rafale F5 as an interim step. At the same time, the French Air and Space Force says it is flying its combat fleet above planned levels and wants fighter numbers reviewed in the next military programming law.
Create a free account to see more recent Europe stories and keep bookmarks in one place.
