Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact News

Via Satellite • Rachel Jewett

Kyivstar launches Starlink-powered direct-to-cell SMS service across Ukraine

Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, has rolled out Starlink Direct-to-Cell nationwide, allowing customers to send and receive SMS where terrestrial mobile coverage is absent. The move makes Ukraine one of the early national adopters of SpaceX’s satellite-to-phone capability and strengthens civilian connectivity resilience.

2025-11-24T13:31:10.403896-08:00

FlightGlobal

Sunrise Airways suspends Port‑au‑Prince flights amid escalating gang violence and aviation security concerns

2025-11-24T09:25:11.968576-08:00

ch-aviation

US OFAC Expands Sanctions on Iranian Aviation — Yazd Airways Designated; Gambia’s Macka Also Targeted

2025-11-23T20:30:27.371372-08:00

Reuters

Air India urges New Delhi to secure Xinjiang overflight rights as Pakistan ban raises fuel costs and adds hours

2025-11-18T20:38:11.749732-08:00

Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Baykar's Kizilelma simulates beyond-visual-range shoot‑down of Turkish F‑16 in trials east of Istanbul Baykar’s Kizilelma UCAV conducted a simulated shoot‑down of a Turkish Air Force F‑16 during trials east of Istanbul, employing a beyond‑visual‑range air‑to‑air missile in a mock engagement. Baykar called the sortie the stealth jet’s first simulated air combat and a weapons‑integration milestone.

2025-11-24T21:24:27.800814-08:00

Baykar's Kizilelma simulates beyond-visual-range shoot‑down of Turkish F‑16 in trials east of Istanbul

The Aviationist

Exercise Pinion Titan: British and French helicopter forces stage up to 50 aircraft and ~2,000 personnel across the UK Throughout November, British and French forces staged up to 50 helicopters and roughly 2,000 personnel across the UK in Exercise Pinion Titan, a major bilateral rotary‑wing exercise aimed at testing cross‑border operations, sustainment and interoperability between their helicopter fleets.

2025-11-24T14:17:18.525829-08:00

Exercise Pinion Titan: British and French helicopter forces stage up to 50 aircraft and ~2,000 personnel across the UK

Via Satellite

Kyivstar launches Starlink-powered direct-to-cell SMS service across Ukraine Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile operator, has rolled out Starlink Direct-to-Cell nationwide, allowing customers to send and receive SMS where terrestrial mobile coverage is absent. The move makes Ukraine one of the early national adopters of SpaceX’s satellite-to-phone capability and strengthens civilian connectivity resilience.

2025-11-24T13:31:10.403896-08:00

Kyivstar launches Starlink-powered direct-to-cell SMS service across Ukraine

DefenseNews.com

USAF rehearses Agile Combat Employment from dispersed, cut‑off austere bases to prepare for high‑end fight with China The U.S. Air Force rehearsed Agile Combat Employment as 23rd Wing units from Moody AFB operated independently from dispersed, austere and cut‑off bases during Exercise Mosaic Tiger 26‑1, practicing operations without resupply or higher‑echelon communications to simulate a high‑end fight with China.

2025-11-24T13:13:49.461498-08:00

USAF rehearses Agile Combat Employment from dispersed, cut‑off austere bases to prepare for high‑end fight with China

Flying Magazine

NATO fighters intercept rare Russian Tu-134 ‘Black Pearl’ ELINT aircraft over the Baltics Earlier this month NATO fighters intercepted a rare Russian Tupolev Tu‑134 electronic‑intelligence (ELINT) aircraft — nicknamed “Black Pearl” by Western analysts — operating over the Baltic Sea and escorted by NATO air‑policing assets. The contact signals renewed use of a seldom‑seen SIGINT platform in the region.

2025-11-24T09:53:18.070523-08:00

NATO fighters intercept rare Russian Tu-134 ‘Black Pearl’ ELINT aircraft over the Baltics

FlightGlobal

Sunrise Airways suspends Port‑au‑Prince flights amid escalating gang violence and aviation security concerns Sunrise Airways has suspended all flights to and from Port‑au‑Prince, citing security concerns as escalating gang violence continues to disrupt aviation operations in Haiti’s capital. The carrier said the suspension responds to threats to safe operations while the security situation remains unstable.

2025-11-24T09:25:11.968576-08:00

Sunrise Airways suspends Port‑au‑Prince flights amid escalating gang violence and aviation security concerns

DefenseNews.com

Ukraine signs deal for French warplanes as U.S. signals possible F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia Kyiv has signed a deal to buy French warplanes while Washington has signalled approval for a potential F‑35 sale to Saudi Arabia — expected to be a downgraded variant — drawing heavy scrutiny over regional strategic balances, Israel’s qualitative edge, and export‑control implications.

2025-11-24T07:54:20.804954-08:00

Ukraine signs deal for French warplanes as U.S. signals possible F-35 sale to Saudi Arabia

tectonicdefense.com

Mark Esper on the changing defense innovation ecosystem — risks, threats and where industry should go next Former US Defense Secretary Mark Esper, drawing on decades in uniform and Capitol experience, assesses how the defense innovation ecosystem has shifted since his tenure — identifying the biggest risks and threats to U.S. security and outlining where he wants industry to focus next.

2025-11-24T07:24:04.176797-08:00

Mark Esper on the changing defense innovation ecosystem — risks, threats and where industry should go next

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