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FlightGlobal • Murdo Morrison

Neptune Aviation takes delivery of first Airbus A319 for +50% next-gen wildfire airtanker conversions (service targeted for 2027

Neptune Aviation Services has taken delivery of its first Airbus A319, launching a next-generation airtanker programme. The company plans to convert A319 aircraft for aerial firefighting, targeting a +50% capacity increase and operational readiness for the 2027 conversion window and the 2028 wildfire season. Modifications will be performed at Neptune’s Dothan, Alabama facility.

2026-06-24T07:55:07.820126-07:00

Flying Magazine

Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet crashes in Washington national forest; pilot ejected safely, wildfire sparked by wreckage

2026-06-15T10:48:39.317467-07:00

Runway Girl

University of Glasgow develops simulation software that accurately models real-time aircraft–wildfire interaction for aerial fir

2026-06-10T06:42:34.062260-07:00

The Air Current

Eurosatory 2026 spotlights helicopters as scalable counter-UAS platforms, from Airbus H160M “agnostic” drone integration to H145

2026-06-16T13:24:11.122201-07:00

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FlightGlobal

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Neptune Aviation takes delivery of first Airbus A319 for +50% next-gen wildfire airtanker conversions (service targeted for 2027 Neptune Aviation Services has taken delivery of its first Airbus A319, launching a next-generation airtanker programme. The company plans to convert A319 aircraft for aerial firefighting, targeting a +50% capacity increase and operational readiness for the 2027 conversion window and the 2028 wildfire season. Modifications will be performed at Neptune’s Dothan, Alabama facility.

2026-06-24T07:55:07.820126-07:00

Neptune Aviation takes delivery of first Airbus A319 for +50% next-gen wildfire airtanker conversions (service targeted for 2027

FlightGlobal

RAF receives first Airbus H145 Jupiter HC2 rotorcraft for Cyprus emergency and utility mission The Royal Air Force has taken delivery of the first Airbus Helicopters H145 Jupiter HC2 rotorcraft at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. The utility helicopters will be staged in the eastern Mediterranean to support emergency response, firefighting, troop transport, medical evacuation and aerial reconnaissance tasks.

2026-06-22T14:26:49.639276-07:00

RAF receives first Airbus H145 Jupiter HC2 rotorcraft for Cyprus emergency and utility mission

DefenseNews.com

Rheinmetall and General Atomics explore transatlantic co-production of Vektrex 155mm precision-guided long-range fires Rheinmetall and General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems signed an MoU at Eurosatory 2026 to explore cooperative production of Vektrex, a manoeuvring 155 mm precision-guided munition, aimed at allied long-range artillery modernisation. GA also unveiled Vektrex, Bullseye cruise missile and railgun projectile concepts at the show, positioning them for future co-production deals.

2026-06-18T09:01:01.342649-07:00

Rheinmetall and General Atomics explore transatlantic co-production of Vektrex 155mm precision-guided long-range fires

The Air Current

Eurosatory 2026 spotlights helicopters as scalable counter-UAS platforms, from Airbus H160M “agnostic” drone integration to H145 Global conflict lessons are driving fresh counter-drone concepts built around lower-cost platforms, with the Pentagon increasingly looking to helicopters as aerial shooters and sensing nodes. At Eurosatory 2026, Airbus Helicopters highlights a “agnostic” H160M Guépard approach targeting first delivery in late 2028, plus plans to broaden the H145M into anti-drone roles and to team rotorcraft with drones for missions including life-saving operations and wildfire response.

2026-06-16T13:24:11.122201-07:00

Eurosatory 2026 spotlights helicopters as scalable counter-UAS platforms, from Airbus H160M “agnostic” drone integration to H145

Flying Magazine

Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet crashes in Washington national forest; pilot ejected safely, wildfire sparked by wreckage A U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet crashed during a routine training flight in Washington state, about 55 miles southeast of Seattle, in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The pilot ejected safely before impact; wreckage reportedly sparked a wildfire, prompting response from local fire crews and the U.S. Forest Service.

2026-06-15T10:48:39.317467-07:00

Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet crashes in Washington national forest; pilot ejected safely, wildfire sparked by wreckage

Runway Girl

University of Glasgow develops simulation software that accurately models real-time aircraft–wildfire interaction for aerial fir Researchers at the University of Glasgow’s James Watt School of Engineering have developed simulation software designed to accurately model the real-time interaction between an aircraft and the wildfire it is fighting. The advance aims to reshape how aircrew train for waterbombing and other aircraft-led suppression missions.

2026-06-10T06:42:34.062260-07:00

University of Glasgow develops simulation software that accurately models real-time aircraft–wildfire interaction for aerial fir

AINonline

Helicopter Express chooses TracPlus mission platform to coordinate aerial firefighting data flows Helicopter Express will use TracPlus’s mission platform for firefighting operations, leveraging a system that tracks missions and shares information with all appropriate parties. The platform is positioned to improve operational coordination across the firefighting task chain, from airborne activity to downstream stakeholders.

2026-06-04T14:11:06.697045-07:00

Helicopter Express chooses TracPlus mission platform to coordinate aerial firefighting data flows

latribune.fr

Kepplair secures first ATR72 prototype for firefighting conversion, targeting first drop tests late 2026 and certification in sp French startup Kepplair says it has secured its first ATR72 (ATR72-600-based) prototype for aerial firefighting conversion testing. It plans initial water-dropping trials by year-end and aims for certification in spring 2027, positioning the program as a faster pathway to replace aging Canadair fleets for wildfire seasons.

2026-06-02T02:12:31.267190-07:00

Kepplair secures first ATR72 prototype for firefighting conversion, targeting first drop tests late 2026 and certification in sp

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Aerial Firefighting News

Neptune Aviation takes delivery of first Airbus A319 for +50% next-gen wildfire airtanker conversions (service targeted for 2027

Marine Corps F/A-18D Hornet crashes in Washington national forest; pilot ejected safely, wildfire sparked by wreckage

University of Glasgow develops simulation software that accurately models real-time aircraft–wildfire interaction for aerial fir

Eurosatory 2026 spotlights helicopters as scalable counter-UAS platforms, from Airbus H160M “agnostic” drone integration to H145

News Timeline