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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Extra Mirage 2000-5 fighters to boost Ukrainian air force’s defences

Ukraine expects delivery of additional Dassault Mirage 2000‑5 fighters from France after the first donated examples arrived early last year. The reinforcements will expand Kyiv’s multirole combat aviation capacity and provide greater air‑defence flexibility amid ongoing missile and drone threats on the frontline.

2026-03-06T04:20:22.452476-08:00

AeroTime

Zelenskyy says Kyiv preparing advance payments for Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale fighters

2026-03-06T02:09:05.267911-08:00

Aviation Today

Rolls‑Royce F130 Clears Altitude and Operability Tests for B‑52 CERP

2026-03-05T12:52:26.505988-08:00

aerospaceglobalnews.com

India opens $11bn competition for 60 medium transport aircraft; Embraer, Lockheed and Airbus to compete

2026-03-05T04:42:18.948547-08:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Extra Mirage 2000-5 fighters to boost Ukrainian air force’s defences Ukraine expects delivery of additional Dassault Mirage 2000‑5 fighters from France after the first donated examples arrived early last year. The reinforcements will expand Kyiv’s multirole combat aviation capacity and provide greater air‑defence flexibility amid ongoing missile and drone threats on the frontline.

2026-03-06T04:20:22.452476-08:00

Extra Mirage 2000-5 fighters to boost Ukrainian air force’s defences

AeroTime

Zelenskyy says Kyiv preparing advance payments for Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale fighters President Zelenskyy told Ukrainian media Kyiv is preparing advance payments for future Saab JAS 39 Gripen and Dassault Rafale fighters, Ukrainian outlets report. The statement is Kyiv's first public confirmation of financial preparations for those Western combat aircraft; no delivery timelines or quantities were provided.

2026-03-06T02:09:05.267911-08:00

Zelenskyy says Kyiv preparing advance payments for Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale fighters

FlightGlobal

US Army test pilots complete MV‑22 course as service prepares for MV‑75 prototype by end‑2025 Six US Army test pilots completed a three-month familiarisation course with the US Marine Corps on the Bell‑Boeing MV‑22B Osprey, acquiring tiltrotor experience as the Army prepares to receive its first MV‑75 prototype as soon as end‑2025. The course aims to accelerate test and operational readiness for the new tiltrotor.

2026-03-05T14:01:29.917616-08:00

US Army test pilots complete MV‑22 course as service prepares for MV‑75 prototype by end‑2025

Aviation Today

Rolls‑Royce F130 Clears Altitude and Operability Tests for B‑52 CERP Rolls‑Royce said on Feb. 24 it has completed altitude and operability testing for its F130 engine under the U.S. Air Force's Commercial Engine Replacement Program, marking a key technical milestone in the effort to re‑engine the B‑52 fleet and advance qualification toward service entry.

2026-03-05T12:52:26.505988-08:00

Rolls‑Royce F130 Clears Altitude and Operability Tests for B‑52 CERP

Aviation Today

AN/APG‑85 brings ~2× radar power to F‑35 but fielding and integration challenges loom Lockheed Martin is developing a dual‑mount nose bulkhead for the F‑35 to accept either the baseline AN/APG‑81 or the more powerful AN/APG‑85 AESA, which offers roughly twice the capability. Officials say retrofitting and software/mission‑system integration create significant technical and schedule risks, with a two‑year fielding estimate.

2026-03-05T12:34:45.747359-08:00

AN/APG‑85 brings ~2× radar power to F‑35 but fielding and integration challenges loom

Via Satellite

NGA awards BlackSky seven-figure renewal under Luno A facility monitoring order BlackSky has won a seven-figure renewal from the National Geospatial‑Intelligence Agency under the NGA Luno A Facility Monitoring delivery order. The award extends BlackSky’s role supplying commercial imagery-based monitoring services and continues the agency’s use of commercial satellite providers for facility monitoring.

2026-03-05T11:55:29.951244-08:00

NGA awards BlackSky seven-figure renewal under Luno A facility monitoring order

FlightGlobal

Aurora completes X-65 fuselage for active-flow-control demonstrator Boeing subsidiary Aurora Flight Sciences has finished fuselage fabrication for the X-65, an experimental demonstrator that replaces conventional control surfaces with embedded air-jet effectors using active flow control. The program aims to validate the technology in flight, with first flight targeted in 2027.

2026-03-05T11:16:08.474865-08:00

Aurora completes X-65 fuselage for active-flow-control demonstrator

Vertical Mag

Leonardo's 8.3‑tonne AW249 Fenice on track for qualification and first deliveries in 2027 Leonardo Helicopters says its clean‑sheet AW249 Fenice — an 8.3‑tonne attack helicopter developed for the Italian Army — is on track for qualification and initial deliveries in 2027. The schedule milestone preserves the programme's near‑term production and export timetable.

2026-03-05T09:31:29.999554-08:00

Leonardo's 8.3‑tonne AW249 Fenice on track for qualification and first deliveries in 2027

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Extra Mirage 2000-5 fighters to boost Ukrainian air force’s defences

Zelenskyy says Kyiv preparing advance payments for Saab Gripen and Dassault Rafale fighters

Rolls‑Royce F130 Clears Altitude and Operability Tests for B‑52 CERP

India opens $11bn competition for 60 medium transport aircraft; Embraer, Lockheed and Airbus to compete

News Timeline