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FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

UK awards £1bn New Medium Helicopter contract to Leonardo for 23 AW149s

The UK has awarded Leonardo a £1 billion contract for 23 AW149 helicopters under the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, with airframes to be built at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility. The deal secures roughly 3,300 jobs and confirms the AW149 as the MoD’s NMH selection.

2026-03-01T05:34:42.656693-08:00

Air Data News

IDF fields RAMPAGE stand‑off missiles on F‑16I Sufas ahead of strikes on Iran

2026-03-01T04:46:18.153891-08:00

The War Zone

High operational demand and small nuclear‑qualified B‑52 pool squeeze engine and AESA retrofit schedules

2026-02-27T09:56:47.367424-08:00

The War Zone

Israeli F-15 ‘Baz’ fighters escorted a B-52 while carrying older-era air-to-air missiles

2026-02-28T03:12:23.980960-08:00

News Timeline

The Guardian

Rolls‑Royce says Germany could still join Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) Rolls‑Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç said he would welcome Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), but stressed the decision rests with the German government. He indicated German participation remains a real possibility, keeping the door open for shifts in European fighter partnerships.

2026-03-01T21:35:29.709156-08:00

Rolls‑Royce says Germany could still join Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)

FlightGlobal

UK awards £1bn New Medium Helicopter contract to Leonardo for 23 AW149s The UK has awarded Leonardo a £1 billion contract for 23 AW149 helicopters under the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) programme, with airframes to be built at Leonardo’s Yeovil facility. The deal secures roughly 3,300 jobs and confirms the AW149 as the MoD’s NMH selection.

2026-03-01T05:34:42.656693-08:00

UK awards £1bn New Medium Helicopter contract to Leonardo for 23 AW149s

Air Data News

IDF fields RAMPAGE stand‑off missiles on F‑16I Sufas ahead of strikes on Iran The Israel Defense Forces released images of Israeli Air Force F‑16I Sufa fighters fitted with RAMPAGE stand‑off missiles ahead of large‑scale strikes on Iran. The photos confirm operational carriage of the new stand‑off munition on frontline combat jets and underscore changes to Israel's strike posture.

2026-03-01T04:46:18.153891-08:00

IDF fields RAMPAGE stand‑off missiles on F‑16I Sufas ahead of strikes on Iran

The War Zone

Israeli F-15 ‘Baz’ fighters escorted a B-52 while carrying older-era air-to-air missiles Photos show Israel's modified F-15 'Baz' fighters escorting a US B-52 while carrying an eclectic mix of air-to-air missiles, including older-era rounds. The images underscore the Baz fleet's bespoke loadouts and its role patrolling Israeli airspace during allied bomber transits.

2026-02-28T03:12:23.980960-08:00

Israeli F-15 ‘Baz’ fighters escorted a B-52 while carrying older-era air-to-air missiles

Space.com

US Air Force officially designates missile-shaped experimental aircraft as X-68A The U.S. Air Force has formally designated its missile‑shaped experimental X‑plane as the X‑68A, giving the developmental aircraft an official X‑series identity. The designation documents the program within USAF experimental test channels and establishes a formal reference for forthcoming flight test and reporting.

2026-02-27T12:13:23.211373-08:00

US Air Force officially designates missile-shaped experimental aircraft as X-68A

The War Zone

High operational demand and small nuclear‑qualified B‑52 pool squeeze engine and AESA retrofit schedules The USAF’s effort to re‑engine B‑52s and install AESA radar upgrades is facing a scheduling crunch: only a small subset are nuclear‑qualified and the whole fleet is heavily tasked globally, leaving few airframes available for the lengthy depot work the programs require.

2026-02-27T09:56:47.367424-08:00

High operational demand and small nuclear‑qualified B‑52 pool squeeze engine and AESA retrofit schedules

FlightGlobal

Singapore buys three G550-based maritime surveillance aircraft to bolster early warning and complement P-8A fleet Singapore will acquire three Gulfstream G550-based maritime surveillance aircraft fitted with Oron-style radars, the Ministry of Defence announced. The G550-MSAs will replace veteran Fokker 50s and provide an interim early-warning and maritime-domain awareness layer ahead of RSAF P-8A Poseidon arrivals.

2026-02-27T06:45:41.214872-08:00

Singapore buys three G550-based maritime surveillance aircraft to bolster early warning and complement P-8A fleet

FlightGlobal

Elbit to equip Israeli Air Force UH-60 Black Hawks with Helmet Display and Tracking Systems Elbit Systems will supply its Helmet Display and Tracking System (HDTS) for the Israeli Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk fleet, giving aircrews helmet‑mounted symbology and tracking to improve situational awareness in degraded‑visual environments, including brownouts, and support safer low‑level operations.

2026-02-26T21:10:45.559107-08:00

Elbit to equip Israeli Air Force UH-60 Black Hawks with Helmet Display and Tracking Systems

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UK awards £1bn New Medium Helicopter contract to Leonardo for 23 AW149s

IDF fields RAMPAGE stand‑off missiles on F‑16I Sufas ahead of strikes on Iran

High operational demand and small nuclear‑qualified B‑52 pool squeeze engine and AESA retrofit schedules

Israeli F-15 ‘Baz’ fighters escorted a B-52 while carrying older-era air-to-air missiles

News Timeline