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Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter assembly, MRO and long-term defense industrial cooperation

Bell Textron Inc. has formed Bell Textron Ukraine and is preparing to open a dedicated office to serve as the hub for its future in-country activities. The company says the setup is intended to underpin longer-term cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry, including helicopter assembly and maintenance and repair support.

2026-04-17T10:45:15.785400-07:00

FlightGlobal

RAAF to retire 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartans; Canberra to replace them with “commercial” aircraft for Pacific personnel and logisti

2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00

Breaking Defense

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00

FlightGlobal

EDF backs SHARP, a €25m next-gen helicopter engine R&T consortium led by Avio Aero, MTU and Safran

2026-04-17T08:36:59.788141-07:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions Pentagon officials are asking lawmakers for authorization to buy weapons systems through multi-year deals that cover not only munitions, but also the production of aircraft and spacecraft, per Air Force Secretary Troy Meink. The proposal targets a broader, more stable funding and industrial approach for space- and air-delivered capability.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions

Aviation Week

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter assembly, MRO and long-term defense industrial cooperation Bell Textron Inc. has formed Bell Textron Ukraine and is preparing to open a dedicated office to serve as the hub for its future in-country activities. The company says the setup is intended to underpin longer-term cooperation with Ukraine’s defense industry, including helicopter assembly and maintenance and repair support.

2026-04-17T10:45:15.785400-07:00

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter assembly, MRO and long-term defense industrial cooperation

FlightGlobal

EDF backs SHARP, a €25m next-gen helicopter engine R&T consortium led by Avio Aero, MTU and Safran The European Defence Fund (EDF) has awarded €25 million ($29 million) under its 2025 work programme to SHARP, a next-generation military helicopter engine technology project led by the EURA consortium—Avio Aero (GE Aerospace-owned), MTU Aero Engines and Safran Helicopter Engines—with 25 partners.

2026-04-17T08:36:59.788141-07:00

EDF backs SHARP, a €25m next-gen helicopter engine R&T consortium led by Avio Aero, MTU and Safran

FlightGlobal

RAAF to retire 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartans; Canberra to replace them with “commercial” aircraft for Pacific personnel and logisti Australia’s 2026 National Defence Strategy confirms the withdrawal of the Royal Australian Air Force’s 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transports, with no defined retirement date. The capability will be maintained for Pacific logistics, but the aircraft will be replaced by a “commercial aircraft fleet” focused on personnel and logistics transport.

2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00

RAAF to retire 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartans; Canberra to replace them with “commercial” aircraft for Pacific personnel and logisti

SpaceNews.com

PlanetiQ wins $15M U.S. Air Force STRATFI contract for space-enabled defense mission support PlanetiQ has secured a $15 million Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI) contract from the U.S. Air Force. The award positions the company to accelerate delivery of its space-enabled capabilities under a rapid innovation funding mechanism designed to mature defense-relevant technology.

2026-04-16T03:41:05.966277-07:00

PlanetiQ wins $15M U.S. Air Force STRATFI contract for space-enabled defense mission support

Breaking Defense

Congress presses Golden Dome missile-defense program manager for scope and cost details House lawmakers are seeking additional information—especially cost estimates and program details—from the Golden Dome missile-defense effort’s program manager. The push comes as the White House has proposed $1.5 trillion in cumulative defense spending for FY2027, the largest figure in history, increasing scrutiny of major space-based defense initiatives.

2026-04-15T17:43:14.102374-07:00

Congress presses Golden Dome missile-defense program manager for scope and cost details

Breaking Defense

Space Force’s 2040 vision: growth to ~30,000 satellites amid rising China/Russia orbital threats U.S. Space Force officials’ planning projections for 2040 point to a force size of about 30,000 satellites—more than double today—while the service confirms it is pursuing new capabilities for orbital warfare, including classified “Objective Force” needs for on-orbit/electronic warfare.

2026-04-15T17:43:13.938759-07:00

Space Force’s 2040 vision: growth to ~30,000 satellites amid rising China/Russia orbital threats

Via Satellite

COMSO looks to broaden working-capital tools and clarify CASR budgeting The Space Systems Command’s Commercial Space Office (COMSO) is assessing how to expand its Working Capital Fund to cover additional commercial capabilities, and is working through the approach it will use to budget the Commercial Space Augmentation Reserve (CASR). The effort builds on existing funding mechanisms to scale commercial enablement.

2026-04-15T17:14:46.795047-07:00

COMSO looks to broaden working-capital tools and clarify CASR budgeting

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Defense Budgets & Spending News

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support helicopter assembly, MRO and long-term defense industrial cooperation

RAAF to retire 10 Leonardo C-27J Spartans; Canberra to replace them with “commercial” aircraft for Pacific personnel and logisti

US Air Force seeks multi-year procurement authority spanning satellites, aircraft and munitions

EDF backs SHARP, a €25m next-gen helicopter engine R&T consortium led by Avio Aero, MTU and Safran

News Timeline