Sudden engine failure brought a MiG-29K down into the Mediterranean Sea last week, according to Russian media. The fighter crashed near the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier during a sortie inside Syria on Nov. 13. The Russian-language Gazeta.ru reported, citing the head of aviation security of the Russian Northern Fleet, that both engines of the fighter failed while the fighter was in a holding pattern near the carrier. An arresting cable on the carrier broke while another fighter landed, forcing the MiG to wait while the deck was cleared, the news agency reported. The pilot, who was experienced and had flown more than 200 carrier landings, ejected and was rescued.
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.

