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ch-aviation

US Air Force receives first Boeing 747-8

The U.S. Air Force has received its first Boeing 747-8, formally adding the long-range widebody to USAF inventory. The delivery marks a procurement milestone for the service and starts standard acceptance, inspection and integration activities ahead of operational assignment.

2026-01-19T11:13:18.244459-08:00

ga.com

GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger completes mission-autonomy flight, demonstrates autonomous aerial intercept

2026-01-18T18:16:05.054826-08:00

FlightGlobal

Qinetiq wins £205m, five-year follow-on MoD contract to sustain RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet

2026-01-19T07:27:33.012785-08:00

AeroTime

Ukraine, ICEYE sign expanded agreement to broaden high‑resolution SAR support for its Ministry of Defence

2026-01-19T04:07:39.813552-08:00

News Timeline

ch-aviation

US Air Force receives first Boeing 747-8 The U.S. Air Force has received its first Boeing 747-8, formally adding the long-range widebody to USAF inventory. The delivery marks a procurement milestone for the service and starts standard acceptance, inspection and integration activities ahead of operational assignment.

2026-01-19T11:13:18.244459-08:00

US Air Force receives first Boeing 747-8

FlightGlobal

Qinetiq wins £205m, five-year follow-on MoD contract to sustain RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet Qinetiq has secured a five-year, £205 million follow-on contract from the UK Ministry of Defence to continue delivering mission-critical engineering services in support of the Royal Air Force’s Eurofighter Typhoon fleet. The award extends Qinetiq’s sustainment role for the combat aircraft into the next operational cycle.

2026-01-19T07:27:33.012785-08:00

Qinetiq wins £205m, five-year follow-on MoD contract to sustain RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet

Reuters

Leonardo chairman floats potential merger with state-controlled Fincantieri, signaling possible Italian defence consolidation Leonardo's chairman on Monday publicly floated a potential future combination with state-controlled shipbuilder Fincantieri, raising the prospect of a major consolidation in Italy's defence and aerospace sector. The proposal would unite an electronics-to-aviation prime with the country's naval shipbuilder, prompting strategic and regulatory scrutiny.

2026-01-19T06:45:48.184449-08:00

Leonardo chairman floats potential merger with state-controlled Fincantieri, signaling possible Italian defence consolidation

AeroTime

Ukraine, ICEYE sign expanded agreement to broaden high‑resolution SAR support for its Ministry of Defence Ukraine and Finnish‑Polish SAR operator ICEYE have signed a new agreement expanding provision of ICEYE’s high‑resolution synthetic‑aperture radar imagery to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, widening access to day–night, all‑weather tactical intelligence and faster tasking options for front‑line units.

2026-01-19T04:07:39.813552-08:00

Ukraine, ICEYE sign expanded agreement to broaden high‑resolution SAR support for its Ministry of Defence

ga.com

GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger completes mission-autonomy flight, demonstrates autonomous aerial intercept On 18 January 2026 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems executed a mission-autonomy flight with its MQ-20 Avenger, culminating in a simulated air-to-air engagement and company-funded autonomous aerial intercept. The sortie used the latest government reference autonomy software and emphasized human–machine teaming and mission-profile loading.

2026-01-18T18:16:05.054826-08:00

GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger completes mission-autonomy flight, demonstrates autonomous aerial intercept

Financial Times

European defence stocks jump ~15% as Greenland tensions fuel bets on higher military spending European defence stocks have surged nearly 15% this month as mounting geopolitical tensions over Greenland prompt investors to expect sustained rises in national military spending. The rally signals growing market anticipation of accelerated procurement and orders for European defence contractors and suppliers.

2026-01-17T22:52:19.486826-08:00

European defence stocks jump ~15% as Greenland tensions fuel bets on higher military spending

European Spaceflight

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Hisdesat confirms SpainSat NG II sustained non-recoverable damage Hisdesat has confirmed that SpainSat NG II, a recently launched Spanish military communications satellite, sustained non-recoverable damage and is now a total loss in orbit. The operator said the spacecraft cannot be recovered and has declared the mission failed publicly.

2026-01-17T22:18:21.979446-08:00

Hisdesat confirms SpainSat NG II sustained non-recoverable damage

airpowerasia.com

India & Israel deepen aerospace and defense cooperation — focus on joint development and trade India and Israel are deepening aerospace and defense cooperation to pursue joint development, co‑production and expanded trade across military and civil aerospace sectors. The partnership focuses on technology sharing, industrial collaboration and export opportunities that could reshape regional supply chains and accelerate joint procurement and R&D programmes.

2026-01-17T19:44:17.279861-08:00

India & Israel deepen aerospace and defense cooperation — focus on joint development and trade

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

US Air Force receives first Boeing 747-8

GA-ASI's MQ-20 Avenger completes mission-autonomy flight, demonstrates autonomous aerial intercept

Qinetiq wins £205m, five-year follow-on MoD contract to sustain RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet

Ukraine, ICEYE sign expanded agreement to broaden high‑resolution SAR support for its Ministry of Defence

News Timeline