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Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

GE Aerospace wins US Air Force funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform

GE Aerospace has received a U.S. Air Force contract to complete the preliminary design review (PDR) for its GE426 medium-thrust engine under the Air Force’s Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) effort. The GE426 is positioned as a larger engine than GE’s separate 1,500-lb-thrust GEK1500 program being developed with Kratos for uncrewed fighters.

2026-05-19T05:11:14.081754-07:00

defence-blog.com

Russia begins flight testing Su-57D twin-seat stealth fighter prototype after first airborne sortie

2026-05-19T11:25:23.543577-07:00

FlightGlobal

AFSOC expands OA-1K “Skyraider II” with rapid disassembly, airlift loading, and reassembly

2026-05-19T09:54:37.145977-07:00

Breaking Defense

Italy signs for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to replace KC-767 fleet under €1.39–€1.6B procurement plan

2026-05-19T09:10:26.446797-07:00

News Timeline

Wall Street Journal

$50M rocket deal backs Trump-era hypersonics push as Pentagon/VC appetite turns to startups A reported $50 million rocket transaction is being framed as fuel for Trump’s hypersonic ambitions, reflecting a broader shift in aerospace industrial strategy. The cluster highlights growing Pentagon and venture-capital interest in startups and faster, deal-driven pathways from investment to test and production.

2026-05-19T11:39:52.256342-07:00

$50M rocket deal backs Trump-era hypersonics push as Pentagon/VC appetite turns to startups

defence-blog.com

Russia begins flight testing Su-57D twin-seat stealth fighter prototype after first airborne sortie Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation has flown a rebuilt Su-57 prototype for the first time in a two-seat configuration and then started flight-testing the Su-57D, a twin-seat variant of the S u-57. Footage released by TV Zvezda on May 19, 2026 marks the transition from reported taxi trials to airborne testing, with reported potential for drone-coordination missions.

2026-05-19T11:25:23.543577-07:00

Russia begins flight testing Su-57D twin-seat stealth fighter prototype after first airborne sortie

FlightGlobal

AFSOC expands OA-1K “Skyraider II” with rapid disassembly, airlift loading, and reassembly U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has broadened the OA-1K Skyraider II close air support concept by adding rapid disassembly, transport-aircraft loading, reassembly, and on-demand redeployment. The change is aimed at increasing responsiveness for isolated special operations teams with overwatch and onboard firepower.

2026-05-19T09:54:37.145977-07:00

AFSOC expands OA-1K “Skyraider II” with rapid disassembly, airlift loading, and reassembly

Vertical Mag

Applied Aeronautics unveils SkyBeam modular heavy-lift quadrotor platform for defense, public safety and commercial missions Applied Aeronautics introduced SkyBeam, a U.S.-made modular heavy-lift quadrotor aimed at defense, public safety and commercial operations where endurance, payload flexibility and rapid deployment are prioritized. The company also described dual-use, hybrid-electric VTOL concepts using a compound-rotor configuration.

2026-05-19T09:10:29.354298-07:00

Applied Aeronautics unveils SkyBeam modular heavy-lift quadrotor platform for defense, public safety and commercial missions

Breaking Defense

Italy signs for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to replace KC-767 fleet under €1.39–€1.6B procurement plan Italy has awarded Airbus Defence and Space a contract for six A330 MRTT tankers, with integrated logistical support, valued around €1.39B (reported $1.6B). The buy is set to replace Rome’s KC-767 fleet (four aircraft delivered in 2012) and follows earlier intent to pursue the Boeing KC-46.

2026-05-19T09:10:26.446797-07:00

Italy signs for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to replace KC-767 fleet under €1.39–€1.6B procurement plan

Aviation Week

GE Aerospace wins US Air Force funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform GE Aerospace has received a U.S. Air Force contract to complete the preliminary design review (PDR) for its GE426 medium-thrust engine under the Air Force’s Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) effort. The GE426 is positioned as a larger engine than GE’s separate 1,500-lb-thrust GEK1500 program being developed with Kratos for uncrewed fighters.

2026-05-19T05:11:14.081754-07:00

GE Aerospace wins US Air Force funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform

FlightGlobal

Indonesia inducts Rafale fighters, A400M MRTT airlifter and Falcon 8X in Jakarta On May 18, Indonesia’s Air Force (TNI-AU) formally accepted and inducted a new batch of aircraft at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, including six Dassault Rafale (four two-seat and two single-seat) plus an Airbus A400M MRTT and four Falcon 8X jets. The handover also showcased integration-ready combat capability with Meteor and AASM Hammer weapons.

2026-05-18T22:24:06.519735-07:00

Indonesia inducts Rafale fighters, A400M MRTT airlifter and Falcon 8X in Jakarta

Financial Times

Helsing and OHB launch KIRK joint venture for space-based tactical targeting and military surveillance Helsing and OHB have created the KIRK joint venture to build a European satellite-based tactical targeting system for military surveillance and reconnaissance. The initiative brings together a four-way consortium and is designed around an AI-equipped surveillance network concept, connecting sensing, processing, and targeting in space.

2026-05-18T22:03:53.472853-07:00

Helsing and OHB launch KIRK joint venture for space-based tactical targeting and military surveillance

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

GE Aerospace wins US Air Force funding to advance GE426 medium-thrust engine for Autonomous Collaborative Platform

Russia begins flight testing Su-57D twin-seat stealth fighter prototype after first airborne sortie

AFSOC expands OA-1K “Skyraider II” with rapid disassembly, airlift loading, and reassembly

Italy signs for six Airbus A330 MRTT tankers to replace KC-767 fleet under €1.39–€1.6B procurement plan

News Timeline