Ars Technica
• Eric Berger
Europe has canceled planned upgrades for the Ariane 6 rocket, while Arianespace has not publicly disclosed the cost of an Ariane 6 launch. The decision removes a set of prospective enhancements from the program and leaves pricing transparency unresolved for customers and industry stakeholders.
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Europe has canceled planned upgrades for the Ariane 6 rocket, while Arianespace has not publicly disclosed the cost of an Ariane 6 launch. The decision removes a set of prospective enhancements from the program and leaves pricing transparency unresolved for customers and industry stakeholders.
Icelandair Group has completed its purchase of a 49% shareholding in Fly Play Europe Holdco, Play’s Malta-based airline entity, for $686,000. The deal gives Icelandair flexibility to streamline operations through the former rival’s European operating certificate and corporate structure.
Lockheed Martin has completed assembly of Germany’s first F-35A stealth fighter and moved the aircraft into final finishing ahead of delivery to the German air force. The milestone marks progress in Germany’s acquisition of the single-engine fighter for future service.
French start-up Hynaero is developing a new water-bombing aircraft intended as an alternative to the Canadair platform. Rising wildfire activity across Europe is strengthening the case for additional aerial firefighting capacity and could create an opportunity for a new regional aircraft program.
Turkish Aerospace is developing a naval version of its Hürjet advanced trainer while pursuing expanded exports, with CEO Mehmet Demiroğlu identifying Türkiye and Spain as initial markets and positioning the aircraft as a potential training platform for NATO.
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Alaska Airlines will add nonstop Boeing 787-9 service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Athens and Paris beginning in May 2027. The flights will expand the carrier’s intercontinental network from Washington state to seven destinations as its long-haul expansion continues.
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ESA has confirmed that the proposed Ariane 6 Block 3 evolution, including the lightweight ICARUS upper stage, has been shelved. The decision removes a planned pathway for upgrading Europe’s heavy-lift launcher, with implications for future Ariane 6 performance and development priorities.
Romania used an F-16 to destroy a drifting marine drone near the Neptun Deep gas project after a NATO-level command handover, while Latvia attributed a separate airspace incursion to Ukraine. The incidents highlight how Russia’s war is creating cross-border risks for critical infrastructure and airspace security.
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