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politico.eu • Milena Wälde

USS Gerald R. Ford leads U.S. carrier and AWACS buildup in Middle East as pressure on Iran rises

The U.S. has massed naval and air assets in the Middle East — led by carrier USS Gerald R. Ford — dispatching two carrier strike groups plus fighters, tankers and AWACS (about 40% of the E‑3 fleet shifted to Europe and the region) as pressure on Iran intensifies.

2026-02-19T06:11:12.857821-08:00

AeroTime

Airbus warns uncrewed FCAS could create capability gap after Merz questions crewed sixth‑gen fighter

2026-02-19T04:35:16.328253-08:00

Reuters

Airbus earnings and U.S.–Iran tensions knock European markets; oil spike hits airline margins

2026-02-19T01:40:19.466161-08:00

DefenseNews.com

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

2026-02-19T03:00:50.199647-08:00

News Timeline

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USS Gerald R. Ford leads U.S. carrier and AWACS buildup in Middle East as pressure on Iran rises The U.S. has massed naval and air assets in the Middle East — led by carrier USS Gerald R. Ford — dispatching two carrier strike groups plus fighters, tankers and AWACS (about 40% of the E‑3 fleet shifted to Europe and the region) as pressure on Iran intensifies.

2026-02-19T06:11:12.857821-08:00

USS Gerald R. Ford leads U.S. carrier and AWACS buildup in Middle East as pressure on Iran rises

AeroTime

Airbus warns uncrewed FCAS could create capability gap after Merz questions crewed sixth‑gen fighter Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warned that pursuing an uncrewed Future Combat Air System after Chancellor Merz publicly questioned the Luftwaffe’s need for a crewed sixth‑generation fighter risks creating a capability gap, and could have significant industrial and operational consequences for Europe.

2026-02-19T04:35:16.328253-08:00

Airbus warns uncrewed FCAS could create capability gap after Merz questions crewed sixth‑gen fighter

DefenseNews.com

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts The U.S. Air Force has cancelled the Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW). This cluster assesses immediate program implications and the status of remaining Air Force hypersonic efforts, situating the decision alongside other U.S. services' hypersonic timelines and prototyping activity near‑term.

2026-02-19T03:00:50.199647-08:00

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

DefenseNews.com

How the US Air Force Plans to Keep Warplanes Flying Amid China, Russia Missile Threats in the Indo‑Pacific As Russia and China invest in long‑range strike networks that threaten forward bases across the Indo‑Pacific, the U.S. Air Force is reviewing resilience measures — from dispersed basing and rapid runway repair to sustainment and sortie‑generation concepts — to ensure warplanes can continue to deploy and operate.

2026-02-19T03:00:49.591796-08:00

How the US Air Force Plans to Keep Warplanes Flying Amid China, Russia Missile Threats in the Indo‑Pacific

DefenseNews.com

F-15EX builds Boeing momentum but export hurdles and a Kadena stationing delay expose risks Boeing's F-15EX has strengthened its fighter portfolio but faces steep political and competitive hurdles in the international market. The U.S. Air Force has delayed permanent stationing of F-15EX jets at Kadena AB, Japan, altering basing timelines and reducing near‑term readiness for the 18th Wing.

2026-02-19T03:00:49.177788-08:00

F-15EX builds Boeing momentum but export hurdles and a Kadena stationing delay expose risks

Reuters

Airbus earnings and U.S.–Iran tensions knock European markets; oil spike hits airline margins European stocks slipped as Airbus's mixed earnings and cautious delivery guidance weighed on sentiment, while rising U.S.–Iran tensions pushed oil to a seven‑month high. The energy-driven move sent airline shares lower as higher fuel costs threaten carrier margins and Gulf routing decisions.

2026-02-19T01:40:19.466161-08:00

Airbus earnings and U.S.–Iran tensions knock European markets; oil spike hits airline margins

Skift

China–Japan spat slams inbound travel: mainland Chinese visitors tumble ~61%, Japan posts first tourism decline in four years Japan saw about 3.6 million inbound travelers in January, a 4.9% year‑on‑year decline — its first fall in four years — as mainland Chinese arrivals plunged roughly 61% amid a diplomatic spat. That drop has immediately dented demand on China–Japan routes and forced carriers to cut schedules.

2026-02-18T12:53:12.916663-08:00

China–Japan spat slams inbound travel: mainland Chinese visitors tumble ~61%, Japan posts first tourism decline in four years

ch-aviation

Tribunal splits in Volga‑Dnepr v. Canada over An‑124 dispute An international tribunal issued a split decision in the arbitration between Volga‑Dnepr Airlines and the Government of Canada over a dispute concerning An‑124 transport aircraft. The lack of a clear majority leaves key claims unresolved and sustains legal uncertainty around the operator's An‑124 fleet and related assets.

2026-02-18T10:10:03.365491-08:00

Tribunal splits in Volga‑Dnepr v. Canada over An‑124 dispute

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Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact News

USS Gerald R. Ford leads U.S. carrier and AWACS buildup in Middle East as pressure on Iran rises

Airbus warns uncrewed FCAS could create capability gap after Merz questions crewed sixth‑gen fighter

Airbus earnings and U.S.–Iran tensions knock European markets; oil spike hits airline margins

USAF Cancels Hypersonic Conventional Strike Weapon (HCSW); Reviews Status of Remaining Hypersonic Efforts

News Timeline