Tag: SpaceX

SIPRI: Wars Push Global Arms Sales to All-Time High

European companies, Leonardo (No. 10 on the SIPRI 2024 list) and KNDS ( No. 42 on the SIPRI 2024 list), have joined hands to offer the CAESAR Self-Propelled Howitzer, to the military of the top arms selling country in the world, the United States | Photo: Leonardo DRS/KNDS

Global defence revenues surged to a record $679 billion in 2024, driven by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and rising geopolitical tensions, according to new SIPRI data. The world’s 100 biggest arms makers saw sales grow 5.9 percent, with strong increases in Europe and steady dominance by U.S. firms. SpaceX entered the Top 100 for the first time, while China posted a rare decline due to procurement disruptions.

‘Successful’ launch for Europe’s new Ariane 6 rocket

Ariane 6 launches to the sky on July 09, 2024 | Photo: European Space Agency/S. Corvaja

The European Space Agency (ESA) described the operation as a success, as Europe seeks to recover from a crisis in its launch sector, although an auxiliary drive in the upper stage, which was supposed to burn up on the way back to Earth, stopped shortly after ignition, with the two re-entry capsules not being released and the upper stage now remaining in space with the two capsules.