Rocket Lab launches first mission from U.S. soil
After more than a month’s delay, Rocket Lab USA’s first launch from U.S. soil at NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County blasted off Tuesday evening. The mission, “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” lifted off around 6 p.m. EST from the company’s Launch Complex 2 at Virginia Space’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport within the NASA facility, […]
U.Va. leads Pentagon hypersonic project
Like a “Top Gun” fighter pilot, Christopher Goyne feels the need for speed. Goyne directs the University of Virginia’s Aerospace Research Laboratory and leads a new team developing hypersonic engines that will enable more maneuverable missiles, jets and — eventually — spacecraft via a $4.5 million Department of Defense award announced in October. Under the […]
Rocket Lab announces December Va. launch window
Rocket Lab USA Inc. will launch the first U.S. mission for its Electron rocket from a launch pad on NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility in Accomack County during a 13-day window that opens Dec. 7. The company announced the Wallops launch Thursday. The mission, called “Virginia is for Launch Lovers,” will deploy satellites for Herndon-based HawkEye […]
New NASA tunnel could boost Va. space industry
As NASA pushes the reaches of space exploration, a new wind tunnel at the agency’s Hampton-based Langley Research Center will serve an important role in journeys beyond Mars and could also boost Virginia’s space industry. In August, NASA broke ground on its new 25,000-square-foot Flight Dynamics Research Facility (FDRF), which will house the 130-foot-tall vertical […]
Northrop Grumman names new defense systems president
Falls Church-based Northrop Grumman Corp.’s board of directors has appointed Roshan Roeder as corporate vice president and president of the Fortune 500 company’s defense systems sector. Roeder currently serves as vice president and general manager of the airborne multifunction sensors division within the federal contractor’s missions systems sector. Roeder’s new role is eff[...]
Leidos buys Aussie special missions biz
Reston-based Fortune 500 federal contractor Leidos Holdings Inc. has entered into an agreement with British technology aerospace manufacturer Cobham Ltd. to purchase the special missions business from its Australia-based Cobham Aviation Services subsidiary, according to a news release. Financial details of the deal, which will add airborne surveillance and search and rescue missions to Leidos̵[...]
PAE aviation division receives $136.5M Air Force contract
Arlington-based PAE Aviation and Technical Services LLC has received a $136.5 million contract to provide aerial target operations and maintenance for the Air Force, the Pentagon announced Thursday. Under the contract, PAE will conduct lethality testing of major weapons systems and munitions programs at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and Holloman Air Force Base […]
Northrop Grumman lands $338M helicopter avionics contract
Northrop Grumman has received a $338 million contract from the Navy for continued integration and development of the Marine Corps’ H-1 helicopter fleet’s avionics systems and weapons. Under the contract, the Falls Church-based Fortune 500 aerospace, defense and technology contractor will research alternatives to and investigate and document new capabilities and anomalies of H-1 avionic[...]
Raytheon moving global HQ to Arlington
Raytheon Technologies Corp. announced June 7 that it will relocate its global headquarters from Massachusetts to Arlington in the third quarter of this year, a move that will make four of the top five U.S.-based aerospace and defense contractors headquartered in Virginia. Raytheon is the second-largest defense company in the world, just below Bethesda, Maryland-based […]
Two govcons to merge, move HQ to NoVa
Colorado-based government contractor Vectrus Inc. and Mississippi-based The Vertex Co. will merge to form a company that will be based in Northern Virginia. Vectrus shareholders approved the all-stock merger, expected to close in the third quarter of 2022, on Wednesday. The combined company will be named V2X Inc. and will trade on the NYSE under […]
Raytheon moving global HQ to Arlington
Raytheon Technologies Corp. announced Tuesday that it will relocate its global headquarters from Massachusetts to Arlington in the third quarter of this year, a move that will see four of the top five U.S.-based aerospace and defense contractors headquartered in Virginia. Raytheon is the second-largest defense company in the world, just below Lockheed Martin, and […]
Northrop Grumman taps chief diversity officer
Falls Church-based Fortune 500 defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. has promoted Kenny Robinson to vice president and chief diversity officer, effective May 31. Robinson will be responsible for advancing Northrop Grumman’s diversity, equity and inclusion strategy and programs, the company’s corporate citizenship, DEI and ethics programs, as well as serve as president of the Northrop [&hel[...]