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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Pentagon report: China accelerating air and naval power — sixth‑gen fighters, AWACS gains and nine‑carrier build‑up

The Pentagon's annual assessment says China has tested two sixth‑generation fighter prototypes and made advances in airborne early‑warning capabilities, while the PLAN aims to field nine aircraft carriers by 2035. The report also warns an amphibious assault on Taiwan may be increasingly likely, changing regional force‑posture calculations.

2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00

Aviation Week

DAPA approves W3.4trn programme to develop 16,000/24,000 lb turbofan for KF‑21 Block 3 (2027–2040)

2025-12-23T11:57:17.125142-08:00

Flying Magazine

Skyryse's SkyOS completes automated pickup, hover and landing on Black Hawk after 91‑day integration

2025-12-24T06:09:16.731183-08:00

Wall Street Journal

U.S. employs AC-130J Ghostrider and MQ-9 Reaper in strikes on alleged drug boats off South America

2025-12-24T05:40:51.990850-08:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Pentagon report: China accelerating air and naval power — sixth‑gen fighters, AWACS gains and nine‑carrier build‑up The Pentagon's annual assessment says China has tested two sixth‑generation fighter prototypes and made advances in airborne early‑warning capabilities, while the PLAN aims to field nine aircraft carriers by 2035. The report also warns an amphibious assault on Taiwan may be increasingly likely, changing regional force‑posture calculations.

2025-12-24T09:52:50.024415-08:00

Pentagon report: China accelerating air and naval power — sixth‑gen fighters, AWACS gains and nine‑carrier build‑up

Flying Magazine

Skyryse's SkyOS completes automated pickup, hover and landing on Black Hawk after 91‑day integration Skyryse retrofitted a UH‑60 Black Hawk with its SkyOS automation suite in 91 days and completed the system's first flight, executing an automated pickup, hover and landing. The sortie is the company's first SkyOS‑equipped Black Hawk demonstration and validates rapid retrofit paths for rotorcraft automation.

2025-12-24T06:09:16.731183-08:00

Skyryse's SkyOS completes automated pickup, hover and landing on Black Hawk after 91‑day integration

Wall Street Journal

U.S. employs AC-130J Ghostrider and MQ-9 Reaper in strikes on alleged drug boats off South America The U.S. has deployed AC-130J Ghostrider gunships alongside MQ-9 Reaper drones in strikes against alleged drug‑running boats off South America, pairing the Ghostrider’s precision firepower with the Reaper’s persistent ISR and strike reach to detect, track and engage small maritime targets.

2025-12-24T05:40:51.990850-08:00

U.S. employs AC-130J Ghostrider and MQ-9 Reaper in strikes on alleged drug boats off South America

armadainternational.com

Dassault Rafale surpasses Eurofighter with 322 export orders from eight countries Dassault's Rafale has overtaken the Eurofighter in global export orders, recording 322 confirmed fighters sold to eight countries. That total places the Rafale ahead of the Eurofighter in export tallies, a clear measurable shift in international combat aircraft procurement standings.

2025-12-23T19:04:59.630796-08:00

Dassault Rafale surpasses Eurofighter with 322 export orders from eight countries

Air & Space Forces Mag

USAF to stand up unit next year to develop one-way attack drone operations The U.S. Air Force will create a new unit next year to shape how the service fights with one-way attack drones, developing operational concepts and organizational approaches for expendable unmanned strike systems. The move formalizes a push to integrate loitering munitions and similar UAS into Air Force operations.

2025-12-23T18:23:12.756006-08:00

USAF to stand up unit next year to develop one-way attack drone operations

Key.Aero

USAF Antarctic Airlift: How the Air Force Sustains the U.S. Antarctic Program Gordon Arthur explains how the U.S. Air Force executes airlift operations to support the U.S. Antarctic Program, detailing the movement of personnel, supplies and equipment to U.S. research stations and the operational practices used to sustain missions in the continent's remote environment.

2025-12-23T16:15:45.972746-08:00

USAF Antarctic Airlift: How the Air Force Sustains the U.S. Antarctic Program

The Space Review

Satellite imagery shows multiple Tu‑22M3 'Backfire' bombers destroyed in June 2025 Ukrainian drone strike Satellite imagery from Maxar and Planet shows at least four Tu‑22M3 'Backfire' bombers destroyed and two damaged in a June 2025 Ukrainian drone strike. The losses captured in the photos raise fresh questions about the remaining operational strength of Russia's long‑range bomber fleet.

2025-12-23T15:04:23.305398-08:00

Satellite imagery shows multiple Tu‑22M3 'Backfire' bombers destroyed in June 2025 Ukrainian drone strike

Aviation Week

DAPA approves W3.4trn programme to develop 16,000/24,000 lb turbofan for KF‑21 Block 3 (2027–2040) Seoul's DAPA has approved the Advanced Aviation Engine Development Project, committing W3.4 trillion (≈$3.4 billion) to develop, test and certify a turbofan delivering 16,000 lb thrust at military power and 24,000 lb with afterburner. The 2027–2040 programme targets integration on the KF‑21 Block 3.

2025-12-23T11:57:17.125142-08:00

DAPA approves W3.4trn programme to develop 16,000/24,000 lb turbofan for KF‑21 Block 3 (2027–2040)

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Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Pentagon report: China accelerating air and naval power — sixth‑gen fighters, AWACS gains and nine‑carrier build‑up

DAPA approves W3.4trn programme to develop 16,000/24,000 lb turbofan for KF‑21 Block 3 (2027–2040)

Skyryse's SkyOS completes automated pickup, hover and landing on Black Hawk after 91‑day integration

U.S. employs AC-130J Ghostrider and MQ-9 Reaper in strikes on alleged drug boats off South America

News Timeline