Defense Industry & Major Contractors News

Space Intel Report • Peter B de Selding

Airbus, Thales and Leonardo space-unit tie-up could weaken EU's Iris2 procurement case

A proposed merger of the space divisions of Airbus, Thales and Leonardo into a French‑headquartered joint venture valued at about €10bn could undermine the industrial‑competition argument for Europe’s Iris2 secure‑communications constellation, raising fresh questions over procurement, supplier plurality and political backing.

2025-09-19T06:48:20.673654-07:00

FlightGlobal

Pratt & Whitney and PBS Group to develop lighter, high‑altitude capable APU for small military and civil platforms

2025-09-19T01:52:02.189227-07:00

SpaceNews.com

Space Norway and SSTL to build radar satellite for maritime domain awareness

2025-09-18T23:01:35.513216-07:00

Aviation Today

PBS Aerospace opens U.S. headquarters and turbojet manufacturing plant in Georgia

2025-09-18T08:54:22.122356-07:00

Defense Industry & Major Contractors News Timeline

Aviation Week

U.S. Navy selects Parallel Flight Sciences to develop maritime Firefly hybrid‑electric heavy‑lift UAV The U.S. Navy has awarded California startup Parallel Flight Sciences a contract to develop a maritime variant of its Firefly hybrid‑electric heavy‑lift unmanned aerial vehicle. The programme will adapt the Firefly’s heavy‑lift, hybrid‑electric architecture for operations in maritime environments and naval operational requirements.

2025-09-19T18:31:39.016224-07:00

U.S. Navy selects Parallel Flight Sciences to develop maritime Firefly hybrid‑electric heavy‑lift UAV

Reuters

U.S. notifies Congress of roughly $6B arms package for Israel including 30 AH‑64 Apaches and 3,200 assault vehicles The Trump administration has notified Congress of a proposed roughly $6 billion arms package for Israel that would include 30 AH‑64 Apache attack helicopters ($3.8 billion) and about 3,200 infantry assault vehicles ($1.9 billion), plus associated support equipment, entering the required congressional review.

2025-09-19T14:16:18.239442-07:00

U.S. notifies Congress of roughly $6B arms package for Israel including 30 AH‑64 Apaches and 3,200 assault vehicles

The War Zone

Boeing 737 Photographed Releasing Infrared Countermeasure Flares in Rare Mid‑Air Sequence A Boeing 737 airliner was photographed releasing multiple infrared countermeasure flares in a dramatic mid‑air photo sequence that resembles pyrotechnic displays. The images show the 737 ejecting a series of heat‑seeking decoys while airborne — a rare visual record of countermeasure deployment on this type.

2025-09-19T11:08:58.071207-07:00

Boeing 737 Photographed Releasing Infrared Countermeasure Flares in Rare Mid‑Air Sequence

Reuters

IAM District 837 submits membership‑ratified four‑year contract to Boeing as St. Louis strike nears seven weeks IAM District 837 has formally submitted a membership‑ratified four‑year contract proposal to Boeing, urging an immediate end to a strike that has stretched nearly seven weeks at St. Louis‑area defense plants. Boeing has said it will not consider the membership‑approved terms, keeping the work stoppage in place.

2025-09-19T10:00:20.967722-07:00

IAM District 837 submits membership‑ratified four‑year contract to Boeing as St. Louis strike nears seven weeks

Air Data News

Embraer unveils KC-390 ‘Millennium’ demonstrator with new livery to step up European/NATO sales push Embraer revealed a new visual identity for its KC-390 Millennium demonstrator at GOL Aerotech’s Confins (MG) facility, with the repainted jet intended for intensified customer demonstrations, trade-show appearances and global marketing. The move accompanies a targeted sales push toward European and NATO operators.

2025-09-19T09:28:38.671668-07:00

Embraer unveils KC-390 ‘Millennium’ demonstrator with new livery to step up European/NATO sales push

rotorhub.com

Leonardo opens $65M, 73,000‑sq‑ft Florida support centre at Whiting Aviation Park to service U.S. Navy and civil helicopters Leonardo has opened a purpose-built, $65 million, 73,000‑sq‑ft Florida Support Center at Whiting Aviation Park adjacent to NAS Whiting Field. The facility will provide maintenance, logistics and sustainment for U.S. Navy helicopter fleets and civil rotorcraft, including support for the TH‑73A training helicopter.

2025-09-19T08:55:39.763012-07:00

Leonardo opens $65M, 73,000‑sq‑ft Florida support centre at Whiting Aviation Park to service U.S. Navy and civil helicopters

AeroTime

CRS report raises major safety, reliability and cost concerns for the V‑22 Osprey A new Congressional Research Service report raises fresh questions about the V‑22 Osprey’s safety, reliability and lifecycle costs, citing fatal crashes, persistent operational limitations and expensive upgrade needs — findings Congress will weigh as it evaluates the tiltrotor’s future funding and sustainment.

2025-09-19T08:08:10.711427-07:00

CRS report raises major safety, reliability and cost concerns for the V‑22 Osprey

Aviation Week

Radia unveils military WindRunner variant as Pentagon, Congress consider DoD heavy‑lift role Colorado-based startup Radia has unveiled a purpose-built military variant of its WindRunner — an outsized cargo aircraft developed to carry massive wind‑turbine blades. The platform, billed as the world’s largest airlifter, has attracted interest from the Pentagon and US Congress for DoD cargo and logistics missions.

2025-09-19T08:07:33.446456-07:00

Radia unveils military WindRunner variant as Pentagon, Congress consider DoD heavy‑lift role

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