Elbit Systems Wins $1.4bn Military Modernisation Deal in Europe
Israeli defence contractor Elbit Systems announced a roughly $1.4 bn contract with an undisclosed European customer to modernise military capabilities over five years. The deal includes uncrewed autonomous systems, networked electronic‑warfare gear, precision‑guided munitions and electro‑optical reconnaissance linked by software‑defined radios. The contract lifts Elbit’s order backlog to a record $30.2 bn, with 71% of orders outside Israel, and follows a Q1 2026 where revenues rose 15.5% to $2.19 bn. CEO Bezhalel Machlis highlighted double‑digit profit growth and operating margins above 10%.
Poland Enters Fifth-Generation Era as First F-35A Jets Arrive at Łask
Poland received its first three F‑35A Lightning II fighters on 22 May 2026, marking the start of a 32‑jet procurement that began under a 2020 US‑Poland agreement. The aircraft, nicknamed “Husarz” after the famed winged hussars, touched down at the 32nd Tactical Air...
Experts Warn of European Vulnerability to Drone Threat
European defense analysts warn that the continent is increasingly exposed to low‑cost, expendable drones, often dubbed kamikaze UAVs, after their prolific use in the 2024 Ukraine conflict. The surge in cheap, off‑the‑shelf unmanned systems is driving rapid growth in the...
Redwire Names Voyager Subcontractor for DARPA Otter VLEO Mission
Redwire has named Voyager Technologies as a subcontractor for DARPA’s Otter very low Earth orbit (VLEO) mission, tasking Voyager with delivering its Acceleration Measurement System (AMS). The $44 million Phase‑2 contract aims to demonstrate the world’s first air‑breathing spacecraft, which must...
RAF Introduces Sting System for Enhanced Combat Pilot Training Realism
The Royal Air Force has deployed a new training system called Sting, which simulates sophisticated surface‑to‑air missile threats for fourth‑ and fifth‑generation aircraft. Developed by Draken and linked to its Phantom Sky range‑control platform, Sting delivers real‑time, dynamic threat environments...
Kizilelma UCAV Deal to Advance Indonesia’s Air Power, Says GlobalData
Indonesia signed a deal on May 6, 2026 at the SAHA 2026 exhibition to acquire 12 Bayraktar Kızıl Elma unmanned combat aerial vehicles, with an option for up to 48 more. GlobalData estimates the country will spend roughly $2.7 billion on UAVs over the next...
US Approves $236m AGM-184 JSM Sale to Belgium
The U.S. State Department has cleared a potential foreign military sale to Belgium valued at up to $236 million for AGM‑184 Joint Strike Missiles and related support equipment. The package, which includes missiles, spare parts, training, logistics and software, is aimed...
BAE Systems Upgrades Link 16 Testing for US Air Force F-16s
BAE Systems has completed an upgraded Link 16 test capability for the MIDS JTRS terminals installed on U.S. Air Force F‑16 fighters. The new automated equipment operates on both the VXIIAIS and R‑IAIS platforms, allowing technicians to run high‑fidelity diagnostics directly at...
USAF Contracts AEVEX for Group 3 Autonomous Aircraft Delivery
The U.S. Air Force awarded AEVEX an $18.5 million contract to deliver Group 3 autonomous aircraft for One Way Attack missions. The agreement includes engineering and field‑service support and relies on additive‑manufacturing and 3D‑printing to speed production. AEVEX will use its 100,000‑sq‑ft...
Ukraine and Germany Sign LoI for Joint Defence Tech Development
Ukraine and Germany have signed a letter of intent to launch the "Brave Germany" defence‑technology initiative, aimed at funding joint defence‑tech projects and start‑ups in both countries. The programme will target uncrewed systems, AI, lasers, missiles, communications and other priority...
Stratom, AFRL Demonstrate New C-130 Cargo Handling System
Stratom demonstrated its Expeditionary Cargo Loader (XCL) on a C‑130 in partnership with the Air Force Research Laboratory. The remote‑controlled, tracked system can move up to 10,000 lb within a single 463L pallet slot, freeing space for two to five additional...
L3Harris to Advance ABMS Digital Infrastructure for US Air Force
L3Harris Technologies has secured a contract to develop key components of a secure, resilient digital infrastructure for the U.S. Air Force’s Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS). The work focuses on data integration, networking, and real‑time processing to enhance command and...
A New Race to the Moon Puts Earth-to-Moon Connectivity in the Spotlight
The renewed race to the Moon is spotlighting Earth‑to‑Moon communications as a critical enabler for upcoming Artemis missions and commercial lunar ventures. NASA’s Ignition Initiative will invest $20 billion over seven years to build sustainable habitats, rovers and nuclear power on...
Cubic Secures Follow-On Contract for F-35 P5 Internal Subsystems
Cubic Defense has secured a follow‑on contract from Lockheed Martin to supply 140 P5 Internal Subsystems for F‑35 Lot 21 production aircraft. The deal expands the P5 Combat Training System’s live‑environment capabilities, enabling joint training while safeguarding sensitive data. Leonardo DRS...
Taiwan Defence Budget to Near 10% Growth over Next Five Years
Taiwan announced a defence budget plan that will grow by roughly 10% each year for the next five years, pushing annual spending toward the low‑$20 billion range by 2030. The increase builds on a current budget of about $13.5 billion and is...
US Approves $2.5bn Integrated Battle Command System Sale to Kuwait
The U.S. State Department authorized a $2.5 bn foreign military sale to Kuwait for an Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) and related equipment. The package includes dismounted and hosted command centers, collaborative environments, fire‑unit kits, and extensive training and logistics support....
DZYNE Wins AFRL Contract for Additional ULTRA Turbo Aircraft
DZYNE Technologies has secured a multi‑million‑dollar contract from the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s Center for Rapid Innovation to deliver three ULTRA Turbo uncrewed long‑endurance tactical reconnaissance aircraft. The award follows the platform’s maiden flight, which demonstrated turbo‑charged engine performance,...
Ukraine Receives First Mobile F-16 Simulators for Pilot Training
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence confirmed receipt of its first mobile F‑16 flight simulators, adding to existing stationary systems. The portable units are built to Ukrainian operational specs and can be quickly relocated to mitigate security risks. Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov...
Hungary Takes Delivery of Two New Gripen C Fighter Jets
Hungary’s Defence Forces received two new Gripen C fighter jets at Kecskemét Air Base, the first delivery from a February 2024 order for four aircraft, with two more slated for summer. The addition raises the national fleet to 18 Gripen C/D fighters, all...
Ukraine, Norway Agree to Jointly Produce Mid-Strike Drones
Ukraine and Norway have signed an agreement to jointly produce several thousand mid‑strike unmanned aerial vehicles in Norway for the Ukrainian defence forces, with the first deliveries slated for summer 2026. The project is funded by additional Norwegian resources that...
Country Analysis: Qatar Defence Market
Qatar is rapidly expanding its defence capabilities, with the government earmarking a defence budget that is expected to surpass $12 billion by 2028. The spending surge reflects a strategic push to modernise forces across air, land, sea and cyber domains. Procurement...
Slovakia Receives BARAK MX Air-Defence System From IMOD
Slovakia’s Air Force has received Israel’s BARAK MX air‑defence system under a €560 million ($656 million) contract, delivered ahead of schedule. The system, featuring multi‑mission radars and three interceptor types with ranges up to 150 km, will be operational within weeks after training and...
L3Harris Closes $1bn DoW Investment in Missile Solutions Business
L3Harris Technologies has closed a $1 bn investment from the Department of War to fund its newly formed Missile Solutions unit. The capital will finance expansion and modernization of solid‑rocket‑motor plants in Arkansas, Alabama and Virginia, as well as R&D for...
US Approves $214m AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile Sale to Lithuania
The United States has cleared a $214 million foreign military sale to Lithuania for AIM‑9X Sidewinder Block II missiles and related support. The package adds 152 tactical missiles, eight guidance units and six training missiles to an earlier $19.5 million case, bringing the...
US Confirms Peru Selected F-16 Block 70 After Deal Uncertainty
The U.S. Embassy in Peru confirmed that the country has selected Lockheed Martin’s F‑16 Block 70 fighter jet, ending weeks of uncertainty. Peru made a $462 million first‑installment payment on 22 April 2026, signaling commitment to the deal. The Block 70, the most advanced fourth‑generation...
Textron Systems to Supply A2PATS EW Simulators for US Air Force
Textron Systems won a $9.5 million, 17‑month contract from IMPRES Technology Solutions to deliver Advanced Architecture Phase Amplitude and Time Simulators (A² PATS) for Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) testing on upgraded F‑15 aircraft. The simulators will be fielded to...
MAS and Lockheed Martin Set Framework for Canadian F-35 Depot
MAS, an L3Harris subsidiary, has signed a framework agreement with Lockheed Martin to establish an F‑35 Air Vehicle Depot in Canada. The partnership will create a joint executive steering committee to define depot capabilities, training, and sustainment solutions. Approximately 30...
Boeing Wins Contract Modification for C-17 Globemaster III Sustainment
Boeing secured a $166.8 million contract modification to provide landing‑gear spares for the C‑17 Globemaster III, pushing the overall sustainment contract to roughly $8.05 billion. The work spans several U.S. bases and overseas sites, with a completion deadline of 31 October 2027. Funding combines $134.7 million...
Northrop Grumman Conducts First Engine Start for YFQ-48A Talon Blue
Northrop Grumman’s YFQ‑48A Talon Blue Collaborative Combat Aircraft performed its inaugural engine start on April 17, 2026, marking a key milestone toward flight testing. The start was achieved with a Pratt & Whitney PW500 family engine delivering up to 4,500 lb of thrust,...
PlanetiQ Secures $15m US Air Force STRATFI Contract
PlanetiQ has secured a $15 million US Air Force STRATFI contract to develop and launch a new satellite fleet over the next 48 months. The program will equip the spacecraft with GNSS radio occultation, polarimetric occultation and reflectometry sensors, delivering higher‑resolution...
Ukraine, Diehl Defence Formalise Air Defence, F-16 Missile Cooperation
Ukraine and German defence contractor Diehl Defence signed a concrete agreement to boost Kyiv’s air‑defence capability, expanding deliveries of IRIS‑T SLM and SLS systems and launching joint development of missiles for F‑16 fighters. The pact, witnessed by Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov...
Northrop Grumman Receives $475m Contract to Accelerate GPI Programme
Northrop Grumman has secured an additional $475.3 million from the Missile Defense Agency to speed up its Glide Phase Interceptor (GPI) program, pushing total investment past $1.3 billion. The funding, awarded under a Prototype Project Other Transaction Agreement, targets a Preliminary Design...
Boeing BDS Q1 Deliveries Rise Year-on-Year, but Below Q4
Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security (BDS) division delivered 30 aircraft in Q1 FY26, up from 26 a year earlier but down from 37 in Q4 FY25. Deliveries included 17 AH‑64 Apache helicopters (2 new, 15 remanufactured), two CH‑47 Chinooks, two...
US and Indonesia Strengthen Defence Cooperation with MDCP
The United States and Indonesia have signed a Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) to deepen bilateral security ties. The agreement is built on three pillars—military modernisation, training and education, and joint exercises—while targeting asymmetric systems, maritime and autonomous technologies. It...
US, Chilean Air Forces Achieve First Bilateral F-35 Air Refuelling
The United States and Chilean Air Forces performed their inaugural air‑to‑air refueling of two US F‑35A Lightning II jets using a Chilean KC‑135 Stratotanker on 4 April 2026. The F‑35s, traveling from Eglin AFB to the FIDAE aerospace expo in Santiago, received four...
BAE Systems Tests APKWS Laser-Guidance Kit on RAF Typhoon Aircraft
BAE Systems confirmed a successful test firing of its APKWS laser‑guidance kit from a Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon at the Warton flight‑test centre. The kit guided a rocket to a ground target at over six kilometres, demonstrating low‑cost precision...
UES Wins USAF Contract to Advance Human Health and Performance Tools
AeroVironment’s Unmanned & Emerging Systems (UES) division has secured a three‑year, $25 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to transition human health and performance technologies from the lab to the field. The effort focuses on advancing sensors, wearable diagnostics, AI‑driven...
Textron Wins First Military Order for SkyCourier with Belgium
Textron Aviation has secured its first military contract for the Cessna SkyCourier, with Belgium ordering five aircraft for its Special Operations Forces. The planes will be delivered through 2027 and then undergo domestic modifications and certification by Sabena Engineering before...
The Space Economy Is Scaling – and Ground Segments Are Racing to Support
The commercial space economy is projected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, with operational satellites potentially climbing to 100,000 by 2030. Growth is fueled by high‑volume LEO constellations and a shift toward real‑time earth‑intelligence services. Ground‑segment‑as‑a‑service (GSaaS) providers such as SSC...
US Forces Rescue Crew After Iran Shoots Down F-15E Fighter
U.S. forces rescued both crew members of an F‑15E fighter shot down by Iran on April 2 during Operation Epic Fury. The first pilot was located and recovered seven hours after the incident, while the second service member was rescued on April 4. Iran...
BAE Systems Secures $180m Contract for TRIDON Mk2 From FMV
BAE Systems has secured a $180 million contract with Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration to supply its TRIDON Mk2 truck‑mounted 40 mm anti‑aircraft system. The modular platform, built on a Scania off‑road chassis, can engage drones, cruise missiles, aircraft and even ground targets....
UK and France Sign MoU to Develop Meteor Missile Successor
The United Kingdom and France have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch a 12‑month joint study on a successor to the Meteor air‑to‑air missile. The current Meteor, fielded on RAF Typhoons and French Rafales, was developed by an MBDA‑led...
Boeing, US Department of War Agree to Triple PAC-3 Seeker Output
The U.S. Department of War signed a seven‑year framework with Boeing to triple production of Patriot Advanced Capability‑3 (PAC‑3) MSE seekers, raising annual output from roughly 600 to 2,000 units. Boeing has already invested over $200 million in a new 35,000 ft²...
How Many Aircraft Has the US Lost in Iran War?
Since late February 2026 the United States has been conducting over 12,000 combat flights in support of Operation Epic Fury against Iran. Reported losses include three F‑15 fighters, one E‑3D AWACS (with another damaged), and an estimated sixteen MQ‑9 Reaper...
USAF Begin B-52 Bombing Missions over Iran for First Time
On March 31, the U.S. Air Force began B‑52 Stratofortress bombing runs over Iran, marking the first such missions in the current conflict. The move follows a joint U.S.-Israeli campaign that has reportedly knocked out about 80% of Iran's integrated...
Canada Awards $1bn CC-330 Husky Support Contracts for RCAF Fleet
The Canadian government has awarded three contracts worth roughly C$1.5 bn (about $1 bn USD) to sustain the Royal Canadian Air Force’s nine CC‑330 Husky aircraft. L3Harris MAS will handle a C$1.1 bn (≈$800 m USD) 10‑year maintenance and materiel support program, while Airbus...
New Honeywell-DoW Deal to Scale up Defence Technology Production
Honeywell Aerospace has entered a multi‑year supplier framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War, committing $500 million to expand production of navigation, Assure electronic‑control, and electronic‑warfare components for the U.S. munitions stockpile. The deal is part of the DoW’s Acquisition...
South Korea’s First C-390 Millennium Completes Maiden Flight
South Korea’s Republic of Korea Air Force successfully completed the maiden flight of its first Embraer C‑390 Millennium, marking the aircraft’s inaugural operational test. The flight follows a public tender that made South Korea the first Asian customer for the...
Lockheed Martin Signs All Industrial Projects for Czech F-35 Programme
Lockheed Martin has signed off on all eleven industrial cooperation projects tied to the Czech Republic’s F‑35 Lightning II programme, including a partnership with Ray Service to manufacture wire harnesses domestically. The Czech government plans to purchase 24 F‑35A fighters,...
Kongsberg Awarded F-35 Lots 20-22 Production Contract
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace signed a NOK 2 bn (~$209 m) contract with Lockheed Martin to supply components for F‑35 Lots 20‑22, extending production through 2030. The deal covers rudders, vertical leading edges and landing‑gear close‑out panels manufactured in Norway. It sustains Norway’s industrial...