US Approves Potential $292m AIM-120C-8 Missiles Sale to South Korea
Washington has approved a potential $292 million foreign military sale of 70 AIM‑120C‑8 AMRAAM missiles and two guidance sections to South Korea. The package, led by RTX, includes missiles, containers, spare parts and extensive logistics and technical support. The advanced C‑8 variant, designed for internal carriage on aircraft such as the F‑22, bolsters Seoul’s beyond‑visual‑range air‑defence capability. U.S. officials say the sale supports regional stability and enhances interoperability with American forces.
SAIC Wins Role in $192m US Air Force Digital Infrastructure Programme
Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) secured a $192 million contract from the U.S. Department of the Air Force to act as a Digital Infrastructure Network Developer for the Advanced Battle Management System. The award tasks SAIC with designing, developing and deploying...
Snapshot: Fewer than 30% of UK F-35B Fleet Configured for Block 4
The UK now operates 47 F‑35B stealth fighters, but only 13 have been upgraded to the Technology Refresh 3 (TR‑3) configuration that unlocks Block 4 capabilities. Roughly 30 aircraft remain in the UK, with an estimated 30 % availability translating to about ten...
Fidelity vs Scale: Global Defence Technology 158
The newest Global Defence Technology issue examines how synthetic training environments are reshaping military preparation, offering significant cost reductions while sparking debate over the optimal mix of virtual and physical realism. It also spotlights Europe’s renewed focus on armored vehicle...
Royal Air Force Introduces Low-Cost Precision Weapon to Counter Drones
The Royal Air Force has fielded the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), a laser‑guided upgrade for Hydra‑70 rockets that provides a low‑cost, precision option against drones and lightly armoured targets. Developed with BAE Systems and QinetiQ, the kit attaches...
US Clears $842m JASSM-ER Missile Deal for Denmark
The U.S. State Department approved a Foreign Military Sale of 200 AGM-158JASSM‑ER cruise missiles to Denmark, valued at roughly $842 million. The package also includes test equipment, spare parts, GPS hardware, software, and extensive logistical support. The missiles will augment the...
Leidos Develops Real-Time SATCOM Dashboard for US Department of War
Leidos, together with DISA and US Space Command, launched the Joint Management Tool (JMT), a cloud‑based dashboard that gives operators real‑time visibility into global satellite communications (SATCOM). The platform replaces a 2004 DISA legacy system and leverages commercial‑off‑the‑shelf telecom modules...
The Microgravity ‘Goldrush’: How Sounding Rockets Are Accelerating R&D in the Sky
SSC Space’s SubOrbital Express‑5 sounding‑rocket reached a 260 km apogee, providing six minutes of microgravity for twelve scientific projects from nine countries, most funded by ESA. The mission marks the 17th flight in Europe’s longest‑running microgravity programme and showcases a ride‑share...
Australia Signs $86m Deal for Domestic Production of Guided Missile Parts
The Australian government has signed a A$120 million (US$86 million) contract with Lockheed Martin Australia to begin domestic production of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missile components. Moog Australia will design and build the missile’s control actuation system, while Melbourne‑based AW Bell will...
Airbus Downplays Total FCAS Failure, Shifts Focus to Network and Drones
Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn said the FCAS programme will not collapse despite ongoing disputes with Dassault Aviation. He emphasized that work on the Combat Cloud networking suite and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft drone component will continue. The...
Japan’s IHI Begin to Benefit From ICEYE SAR Imagery
Japan’s IHI corporation will start using ICEYE’s synthetic‑aperture‑radar (SAR) imagery as the first two of a four‑satellite constellation become operational. The procurement, signed in October 2025, covers four Japan‑built SAR satellites with an option for 20 more. The high‑resolution radar data...
UK Inquiry Thrusts Tungsten Mining Into Defence Minerals Spotlight
British MPs have opened a parliamentary inquiry into the role of critical minerals, especially tungsten and rare earths, in the nation’s defence strategy. The probe highlights the UK’s heavy reliance on imported tungsten—over 90% sourced from China—and examines how supply‑chain...
Silent Vanguard: Inside Combat Air Autonomy
Anduril displayed its Fury Collaborative Combat Aircraft at the Paris Air Show 2025, marking a high‑profile debut of an AI‑driven autonomous combat platform. The system pairs advanced machine‑learning algorithms with existing fighter airframes to enable collaborative, pilot‑less missions. Analysts see...
Australia Receives Final P-8A Poseidon Aircraft
The Royal Australian Air Force took delivery of its 14th and final Boeing P‑8A Poseidon, completing a program launched in 2014. The $3.6 bn fleet of 14 aircraft will operate from RAAF Base Edinburgh, providing intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, anti‑submarine warfare and...
Hermeus’ Quarterhorse Mk 2.1 Completes First Supersonic Flight
Hermeus successfully completed the first supersonic flight of its Quarterhorse Mk 2.1, reaching Mach 1.21. The flight, the aircraft's third test, took place at Spaceport America over White Sands Missile Range. The milestone follows less than three months after the Mk 2.1’s inaugural...