ROME - Avio has signed two Launch Service Agreements with two different customers (one European and one non-European) to launch multiple satellites aboard a Vega C launcher.

The name of the customers and of the satellites remains undisclosed and will be announced in due course by the customers.

The satellites to be launched will be used for Earth observation, environmental monitoring and resource management purposes for civil and scientific applications, providing high-resolution imagery as well as best-in-class geolocation accuracy. The passengers will feature a mass ranging from more than 400 to more than 1,000 kilograms and will be deployed into a ~500 km Sun-synchronous orbit.

These contracts totally secure over EUR 100 million for launch services to be scheduled between 2028 and 2031.

Source: Avio
Associated URL: https://www.avio.com/press-release/avio-announces-two-vega-c-launch-service-agreements-over-100meu

MAHIA, New Zealand - Rocket Lab Corporation successfully launched its 21st Electron rocket of the year to deploy the latest satellite to space for multi-launch customer Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space, Inc. (iQPS), a Japan-based Earth imaging company.

‘The Wisdom God Guides’ mission launched from Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand on December 21 at 7:36 p.m. (06:36 UTC) to deploy the QPS-SAR-15 to space for iQPS. The spacecraft will join the company’s synthetic aperture radar (SAR) constellation providing near-real time imagery across twelve different orbits for iQPS’ global customers. Rocket Lab first launched for iQPS in 2023 and has gone on to deploy seven satellites to the iQPS constellation, making Electron the primary launcher for iQPS. A further five launches on Electron for iQPS are planned from 2026.

The mission has set a new annual launch record for Electron: 21 launches in one year with 100% mission success.

‘The Wisdom God Guides’ mission was Rocket Lab’s 79th overall Electron mission and final scheduled launch for 2025. The next Electron launch is slated to take place in early Q1 2026.

Source: Rocket Lab
Associated URL: https://rocketlabcorp.com/updates/rocket-lab-successfully-launches-for-iqps-ends-2025-with-21-launches-and-100-mission-succes/

PITTSBURGH -- Howmet Aerospace is making a big bet on the nuts and bolts of aerospace manufacturing. The company has agreed to acquire Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, or CAM, in an all-cash deal valued at roughly $1.8 billion, buying the business from Stanley Black & Decker.

CAM is not a household name, but its hardware is everywhere across modern aircraft and defense platforms. The company designs and manufactures precision fasteners, fluid fittings, latches, and other highly engineered components that are essential to keeping aircraft structures, engines, and systems together under extreme conditions. Its portfolio includes well-known aerospace brands such as Bristol Industries, 3V Fasteners, Moeller, Aerofit, Voss Industries, QRP, E.A. Patten, and Prikos & Becker.

In commercial aviation, CAM supplies high-strength fasteners, specialized latches, and ducting components used on major Boeing programs, including the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. It is also a key supplier to Airbus, providing mission-critical latches and fluid fittings for the A320neo family, as well as widebody platforms such as the A350 and A330. Beyond large commercial jets, CAM hardware appears on aircraft produced by regional and business jet manufacturers, including Bombardier and Embraer.

The defense side of the business is equally broad. CAM components are integrated into frontline fighter aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, the F-15 Eagle, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet, where reliability under heat, vibration, and combat stress is non-negotiable. The company also supplies airframe hardware for heavy transport and tanker aircraft, including the C-17 Globemaster III and the KC-46, and produces components for military helicopters built by Bell and Sikorsky.

CAM’s reach extends into propulsion as well. The company provides tubular assemblies and fittings used in major engine programs, including GE Aerospace’s GEnx and LEAP engines, Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan, and Rolls-Royce’s Trent family. It also supports space and strategic systems markets, supplying fluid distribution systems and high-pressure fittings for commercial launch vehicles and missile defense applications.

Financially, Howmet expects CAM to generate between $485 million and $495 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026, with adjusted EBITDA margins exceeding 20% before synergies. Factoring in cost synergies and tax benefits, Howmet estimates the transaction values CAM at roughly 13 times adjusted EBITDA.

Expected to close in the first half of 2026, the deal underscores accelerating consolidation in the aerospace supply chain, particularly in the high-margin world of precision fasteners and fluid systems. For Howmet, absorbing CAM strengthens its position as a Tier 1 supplier to both commercial and defense primes. By bringing these specialized brands in-house, Howmet Aerospace increases its content per aircraft on nearly every major commercial and military platform in production. As aircraft production rates climb and defense spending remains elevated, owning these specialized, difficult-to-replace components could translate into greater pricing power, improved resilience, and increased strategic leverage with the industry’s largest customers.

Source: Forecast International
Associated URL: https://flightplan.forecastinternational.com/2025/12/23/howmets-1-8b-cam-deal-targets-the-aerospace-supply-chains-pressure-points/