Global Scans · Flight · Weekly Summary

• [New] Ukraine's air defence capabilities are showing vulnerabilities, as more Russian missiles and drones are hitting targets such as critical infrastructure facilities. Insider
• [New] After the launch of True Anomaly's Jackal, the Space Force will give Rocket Lab a 24-hour call - up to launch its satellite, similar in size to True Anomaly's spacecraft, on an Electron rocket from New Zealand or from Virginia. Wired
• [New] Rocket Lab will have a satellite on standby to go up and inspect True Anomaly's spacecraft and will launch it when the Space Force gives the launch order. Wired
• [New] The US Space Force announced Thursday it is partnering with two companies, Rocket Lab and True Anomaly, for a first-of-its-kind mission to demonstrate how the military might counter on-orbit aggression. Wired
• [New] Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said it launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel on Saturday, in an attack that could lead to a major escalation between the regional archenemies. ArabNews
• [New] US forces in Iraq and Syria could potentially intercept drones and rockets targeting northern Israel, depending on the location from which they are launched. CNN
• [New] Rocket Lab was awarded a $32 million contract and True Anomaly got a $30 million contract for Victus Haze, a demonstration mission intended to test and refine the military's capabilities for rapidly deploying satellites in response to threats in space. SpaceNews
• [New] The US and its allies believe that Iran or its proxies might soon undertake a major missile or drone attack against military and government targets in Israel. Statecraft
• [New] The German airline Lufthansa, one of only two Western carriers flying to Tehran, extended a suspension of its flights to the Iranian capital and Russia warned against travel to the Middle East. DAWN.COM
• [New] Japan will provide and maintain a pressurized rover to support astronauts living and working on the Moon, while the United States will allocate two astronaut flight opportunities to the lunar surface for Japan on future Artemis missions. The White House
• [New] Spirit Airlines is deferring all aircraft on order from Airbus that were scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026. Yahoo News
• [New] US intelligence assesses that Iran has urged several of its proxy militia groups to simultaneously launch a large-scale attack against Israel, using drones and missiles, and that they could attack as soon as this week. CNN
• [New] $307 million over 20 years for airborne early warning aircraft that will vastly improve Canada's ability to detect, track, and prioritize airborne threats sooner, ensuring a faster, better coordinated response with the United States when required. Prime Minister of Canada
• [New] The federal government will establish a network of northern operational support hubs, buy a fleet of airborne early warning aircraft, deploy underwater sensors on all three coasts, build a satellite ground station in the High Arctic and enhance Canada's foreign intelligence capabilities. Eye on the Arctic
• [New] A drone attack has hit a nuclear reactor at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine, raising the risk of a 'major accident'. LBC
• [New] Drone strikes hit Europe's largest nuclear power station, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in occupied Ukraine, on Sunday, significantly increasing the risk of a major nuclear accident. Washington Post
• [New] Spirit Airlines has struck a deal with Airbus to postpone the delivery of all aircraft slated for the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026 to the period between 2030 and 2031. AviTrader Publications Corp.
• [New] As Russia also extensively uses drones, including for attacks against Ukrainian infrastructure, enhancing Ukraine's drone capabilities is crucial for both offensive actions and bolstering their defences against similar threats. Army Recognition
• [New] Ukrainian drones destroy invaders, protect the lives of Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, and help Ukraine degrade Russia's war potential. Ukrinform
• [New] Zelensky cautioned that the arrival of all promised F-16 fighter jets from Ukraine's Western partners in 2024 will provide Ukraine with only 10% of the fighter aircraft Ukraine would need to completely defeat Russian aviation and restore Ukraine's ability to operate effectively in the air domain. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] If Russian forces sustain the tempo of their current missile and drone strikes then Ukraine will likely lack the air defence missile stocks needed to protect Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure. Institute for the Study of War
• [New] After another attack by Ukrainian drones on at least four Russian airbases, the Russians could lose more than a dozen planes and fighter jets. Ukrinform
• Riyadh Air, Saudi Arabia's new national carrier, Riyadh Air, has taken another significant step on its road to its first flight in 2025. AviationSource News

Last updated: 15 April 2024