Under the current Council Decision, FRS will publish a series of Research Papers on the various aspects of the Code, as well as short Issue Briefs to highlight specific thematic and regional issues, and a major technical study. To find out more, go to our Project Activities
On 3 October 2026, North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile. The authorities announced a range of 1,000 km, implying a skipping manoeuvres. Questions remain however on the design of this new system.
A Yemeni engineering cell, probably linked to the Houthis, used Claude to develop guided-weapons software. Anthropic identified three programmes: smartphone-based homing guidance for a guided rocket, a ballistic missile with a range of at least 2,000 km, and work on a hypersonic glide vehicle. This brief argues that AI’s main value lies in shortening the loop between design, testing and the next iteration.
On 5 September 2026, Isar Aerospace became the first commercial space company from Europe to successfully deliver satellites into orbit.
During the night from 1 to 2 September, the German Navy’s frigate Sachsen-Anhalt tested fired two short-range LORA ballistic missiles. Read more about what we know about this launch:
On 10 July 2026, China conducted the maiden flight of the Long March 10B from the Wenchang Space Launch Site, successfully demonstrating the controlled recovery of its first stage during an orbital mission for the first time.
On 6 July 2026, China carried out a full-range SLBM test from the South China Sea, although the missile system involved has not been officially disclosed.
Read news of the Code, updates on our recent activities and latest information about ballistic missile tests and space launches.
On 12 June 2026, Japan successfully resumed its H3 launch program with the successful maiden flight of the H3-30 rocket configuration.
India has stated its ambitions regarding hypersonic technologies, and is currently developing the LR-AShM system. These efforts are tied to various strategic and political expectations.
On 1 june 2026, China successfully launched the Long March 12B on its maiden flight from the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Pilot Zone.
Russia has successfully test-launched the RS-28 Sarmat ICBM, continuing its development program to replace the R-36M2 and maintain a heavy MIRV-capable deterrent, particularly against hardened targets in the United States.
India tested a MIRV-capable version of the Agni-V, reinforcing its strategic deterrence capabilities.
On 30 April 2026, Russia conducted the first launch of the Soyuz-5 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, a suborbital test flight intended to validate the performance of its new medium-lift launcher.
On 2 April 2026, at 00:24 UTC, NASA launched the Space Launch System (SLS) as part of its Artemis II mission, marking the first crewed flight to lunar orbit since the Apollo missions.
Two Iranian ballistic missiles targeted the US-UK base on Diego Garcia; one malfunctioned, and the other was intercepted before reaching the base.
The United States has announced the first use in combat of the PrSM missile. Available images do not allow confirmation of those strikes.
Firepoint tested the FP-7, a high-speed, low-cost tactical ballistic missile with a 300 km range.
On 3 February 2026, the Anglo-German startup Hypersonica conducted the first hypersonic test flight of its SCOOTER HS-1 demonstrator from Andøya Space.
On 12 February 2026, Arianespace successfully carried out the first heavy-configuration flight of the Ariane 64, marking an important step in the development of the European launcher.
China’s CERES-2 program faces a major setback as its first launch fails, highlighting the technological challenges in developing medium-class launchers.