Blog•Feb 20, 2026
Embraer and Northrop Grumman Join Forces for KC-390 Tanker with Boom Refueling System
Embraer and Northrop Grumman announced a joint effort to equip the KC‑390 Millennium with a centerline aerial refueling boom, complementing its existing hose‑and‑drogue pods. The partnership creates a “KC‑390 Multi‑Mission Tanker” featuring upgraded communications, survivability and adaptable mission systems. The move targets the United States Air Force and allied nations seeking to close a growing tanker capability gap as legacy KC‑135 and KC‑46 fleets age. It also aligns with Northrop’s broader three‑pronged strategy for next‑generation refuelers.
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 20, 2026
U.S. Navy Seeking Anti-Radiation Missile Which Can Also Kill Airborne Radars
NAVAIR has issued a Sources Sought notice for an Advanced Emission Suppression Missile (AESM) that would exceed the range of the current AGM‑88G and add the ability to engage both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground targets. The missile must integrate with the...
By The Aviationist
Blog•Feb 20, 2026
16 Air Assault Demos AI-Enabled Air Manoeuvre Strike
The British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team showcased AI‑enabled reconnaissance‑strike capabilities during a visit by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker. The demonstration linked new hardware, software and procedures to accelerate target acquisition and air‑delivered...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 20, 2026
Navy Declares IOC for SDB II on Super Hornet
The U.S. Navy has declared initial operational capability for the GBU‑53/B Small Diameter Bomb II on its F/A‑18E/F Super Hornet, completing a transition that began with limited use in 2025. The StormBreaker’s tri‑mode seeker—infrared, millimeter‑wave radar and semi‑active laser—enables all‑weather,...
By The Aviation Geek Club
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
U.S. Allies and Adversaries’ Reactions to Operation Absolute Resolve to Capture Maduro
On Jan. 3 the United States launched Operation Absolute Resolve, a raid that bombed Venezuela’s air defenses, engaged in a gun battle and captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, resulting in at least 100 deaths. The UN Security Council...
By Just Security
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
From Commitment to Action: The Next Steps in Holding Russia’s Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine
The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA) was formalised on 25 June 2025 by Ukraine and the Council of Europe, creating a dedicated venue to prosecute Russian leaders for the war of aggression. The ICC lacks jurisdiction because...
By Just Security
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
The F-117 Test Pilot Who Successfully Landed His Nighthawk After Its Nose Wheel Fell Off upon Take Off
In January 1982, Lockheed test pilot Tom Morgenfeld experienced a nose‑wheel loss moments after taking off the third YF‑117A prototype from Area 51. Rather than eject, he continued the flight, burned off fuel, and used the aircraft’s drag chute to execute...
By The Aviation Geek Club
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
UK Firm to Begin Work on US Air Force Wedgetail Aircraft
A UK‑based aviation firm, STS Aviation, has been awarded a contract by Boeing to perform the initial conversion of the first two US Air Force E‑7 Wedgetail aircraft, marking the first UK‑built military aircraft for the United States in more...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
Polling Shows Britons Feel Less Safe than Five Years Ago
A new Adam Smith Insights poll of 2,052 British adults shows 52% feel less safe than in 2021, with over 60% reporting heightened anxiety about global security. The war in Ukraine and Middle‑East tensions appear to drive this shift, especially among...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
BAE Systems Reports Record Sales and GBP 83.6bn Order Backlog
BAE Systems posted record full‑year 2025 sales of £30.7 billion, a 10% rise on a constant‑currency basis, and lifted its order backlog to a historic £83.6 billion. Underlying EBIT grew 12% to £3.32 billion, while free cash flow dipped to £2.16 billion as the...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
MOD Confirms Palantir Contract Was Direct Award
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that its Palantir Technologies contract for defence data analytics was awarded through a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023. The decision relied on Paragraph 6, citing a lack of viable alternatives, and Paragraph 7, highlighting...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 18, 2026
UK Awards Contract for Nyan One-Way Effector
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £4.996 million contract (≈£5 million including VAT) to Callen‑Lenz Associates for the Callen‑Lenz Nyan One‑Way Effector (OWE). The direct award under the Defence and Security regime aims to strengthen deep‑fires capability for forces deployed...
By UK Defence Journal – Air
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Coffee Break: Armed Madhouse – Requiem for Nuclear Arms Control
With the New START treaty lapsing on Feb. 5, 2026, the United States and Russia lost the last binding caps on their strategic nuclear forces. The article warns that the primary instability stems not from overt arsenal growth but from three...
By Naked Capitalism
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
Building the Royal Navy’s General Purpose Frigates: Type 31 Programme Update
Britain’s Type 31 frigate programme has entered serial production, with multiple hulls now being built in parallel at Rosyth. The first ship, HMS Venturer, serves as a prototype, while HMS Active and HMS Formidable represent pre‑production and reference models, incorporating process improvements such as...
By Navy Lookout
Blog•Feb 17, 2026
BAE Systems Agrees Deal to Acquire Swedish Supplier
BAE Systems announced a share purchase agreement to acquire Aston Harald Mekaniska Verkstad, a Swedish precision‑machining specialist with about 100 employees. The acquisition is intended to broaden BAE’s industrial capacity in Europe and reinforce supply‑chain resilience for its Bofors portfolio....
By UK Defence Journal – Air