🚀 Space and Defense #21

Happy Monday 👋

This week in the global defense and space sector, BAE Systems secured a $2.5B deal with Sweden and Denmark for CV90 combat vehicles. The U.S. approved a $807M sale of AIM-120D3 missiles to the Netherlands. Raytheon won a $590M U.S. Navy contract for the Next-Gen Jammer, developed with Australia. NASA delayed its crewed Moon landing to 2027 post-Artemis 1 findings. India launched the Proba 3 mission to study the Sun’s corona. SpaceX’s valuation soared to $350B after a tender offer. Sierra Space advanced debris tracking via NVIDIA collaboration. Israeli defense VC Protego raised $70M in two weeks, targeting $200M.

What's new?

HolonIQ’s new Green Skills Map and Workforce section reveal industry-wide sustainability skills and jobs, as well as workforce development initiatives, supporting upskilling for a sustainable economy.

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🛡️ National Defense

🚐 BAE Systems Secures $2.5B Deal for CV90 Combat Vehicles. BAE Systems finalized contracts worth approximately $2.5B with Sweden and Denmark for the delivery of new CV90 combat vehicles, as part of a three-party framework involving the Danish and Swedish defense ministries.

🚀 US approves $807M missile sale to Netherlands. The US State Department approved the sale of 226 AIM-120D3 air-to-air missiles and related equipment worth $807M to the Netherlands. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the proposed sale.

🤝 US and Japan Complete the QZS-6 Satellite With US Payload. The United States and Japan completed the QZS-6 satellite, the first Japanese host satellite integrated with a US space domain awareness payload.

🚁 Drones and Weapon Systems

📡 Raytheon Awarded $590M Contract for Next-Gen Navy Jammer. Raytheon, an RTX business secured a $590M contract by the US Navy for the Next Generation Jammer Mid-Band system, a joint effort with the Royal Australian Air Force to enhance offensive electronic attack capabilities.

🛩️ Boeing Wins Major Contract for Japan's F-15 Super Interceptor Program. Boeing secured a $450.5M contract to support Japan's F-15 Super Interceptor Program, involving radars, self-protection systems, and mission computer units.

⚓️ US Navy unveils New Nuclear Submarine USS Arkansas. The US Navy unveiled the Virginia-class nuclear submarine USS Arkansas at Newport News Shipbuilding and is expected to launch in 2025.

🧑‍🚀 Space Launches and Propulsion

🌕 NASA delays the first Moon landing since the Apollo era. NASA, pushed back the date for the first crewed Moon landing since the Apollo era to 2027, due to findings from the Artemis 1 test mission that forced the space agency to recalculate its plans for future flights.

☀️ India Launches Proba 3 Mission to Study the Sun's Corona. India launched the Proba 3 mission, which will use two spacecraft to create artificial solar eclipses from Earth's orbit to study the solar corona.

🛰️ China to Launch First Guowang Megaconstellation Satellites on Long March 5B. China is preparing to launch the first satellites for its national low Earth orbit mega constellation, known as Guowang, using a Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang spaceport.

🚀 Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Payload Ready for Launch. Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos announced that the Blue Ring Pathfinder payload for its new Glenn rocket is ready for launch this year.

🪐 Space Innovation & Emerging Technologies

🚀 SpaceX Valuation Soars to $350B Amid New Tender Offer. The company's valuation surged to $350B after announcing a tender offer that allows employees to sell their shares.

🌑 Italy Begins Development of Nuclear Reactor for Lunar Settlements. Italy started its Selene initiative which aims to create small nuclear reactors for use on the surface of the Moon.

🚀 SpinLaunch Achieves Record-Breaking Milestone in Satellite Launch Technology. SpinLaunch, a space startup, successfully spun a satellite at record-breaking speeds using its gigantic catapult system, bringing it closer to its goal of launching satellites into space.

☄️ Space Traffic and Debris Management

🪨 Sierra Space Enhances Orbital Debris Tracking with NVIDIA Collaboration. Sierra Space, a commercial space company announced an important advancement in space domain awareness through its collaboration with NVIDIA

🔭 Neuraspace Enhances Space Traffic Monitoring with Second Telescope. Neuraspace, a Portuguese space traffic management startup installed a second optical telescope to help track low Earth orbit objects across both hemispheres.

🛠️ Skills and Workforce

With reskilling and upskilling playing a key role in closing workforce gaps, HolonIQ is now tracking these impactful initiatives shaping the space industry. Read on for this week’s insights, and discover more in HolonIQ's latest Skills newsletter.

👨‍🚀 Florida 4-H introduced space-based careers through STEM programs like Go for Launch! in partnership with Higher Orbits. This initiative connects 60 teens with astronauts and space experts to design experiments, with winners launching their projects to the International Space Station. Building on past success, such as a spirulina growth experiment, the program emphasizes critical thinking and leadership skills. Florida 4-H aims to prepare youth for careers in the expanding aerospace industry and beyond.

✈️ Airbus is laying off 5% of its defense and space workforce by mid-2026 to reduce costs and remain competitive. The layoffs will mostly affect corporate roles across Germany, France, the UK, and Spain, with no compulsory redundancies. Airbus faces challenges from cheaper satellites like SpaceX's Starlink, leading to a 22% drop in profits despite higher sales. Alongside cuts, Airbus is investing in “Project Bromo,” a joint venture to regain market share in satellite production.

🌍 Orbite raised $4M in Series A funding to scale operations, enhance marketing, and develop its Spaceflight Gateway Campus. A partnership with hospitality giant Accor will support campus operations and international expansion. Orbite’s “Experience Train Fly Program” offers luxury space exploration experiences, tailored training for various space readiness levels, and customized flight missions. By combining astronaut-level training with wellness and luxury, Orbite aims to redefine space hospitality and make space exploration more accessible to enthusiasts.

HolonIQ has launched the Green Skills Map, an open-source framework initiated to catalog, evaluate, and contextualize the components of the rapidly expanding field of green jobs. This comprehensive taxonomy will serve as a resource for understanding the full spectrum and complexity of green skills required across various sectors, thereby enabling a cohesive approach toward achieving net zero and decarbonizing the global economy. Green Skills Map spans 11 areas, 54 sub-areas, and 243 green skills clusters. A snippet of the map covering four areas has been included above. Explore the full map on greenskills.org.

💰 Space Deals

🛩️ Archer and Anduril Raise $430M for Defense Aircraft Development. Archer partnered with Anduril and raised $430M to build defense aircraft. This funding round is driven by rising geopolitical tensions, advancements in AI, and investor interest in the defense technology sector.

⚔️ Israeli Defense Tech VC Protego Raises $70M in Two Weeks, Targets $200M Fund. Protego, an Israeli venture capital fund focused exclusively on defense technology, raised $70M in just two weeks and is aiming for a $200M fund, led by Lital Leshem and Lee Moser.

🚀 French propulsion startup Ion-X raises $13.67M in Series A funding. Ion-X, a French propulsion startup, raised $13.67M in a Series A funding round announced on Dec 10TH.

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