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Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 scores first air-to-air kill, shooting down Iranian drones

The Royal Bahraini Air Force’s F-16C/D Block 70 has achieved its type’s first air-to-air kill, intercepting and shooting down Iranian drones that penetrated earlier air-defense layers during regional fighting. Multiple reports describe the engagement as a milestone in Bahrain’s Block 70 combat debut.

2026-04-09T10:22:25.391225-07:00

FlightGlobal

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

2026-04-10T07:48:23.956107-07:00

Defense Daily

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

2026-04-09T14:39:16.098317-07:00

AeroTime

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays

2026-04-10T04:23:00.394331-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration The French Navy has ordered five additional CAMCOPTER S-100 unmanned aerial systems for use from FREMM-class frigates under its naval unmanned aviation programme. Each system includes two VTOL S-100 Camcopters, to be supplied by Schiebel via prime contractor Naval Group with progressive deliveries.

2026-04-10T07:48:23.956107-07:00

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

AeroTime

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays Finnish program officials say the country will have to retrofit its 64 F-35A fighters at its own expense because the Block 4 upgrade has slipped several years behind schedule. The development reinforces how software and integration timing can shift costs and fielding timelines to partner air forces.

2026-04-10T04:23:00.394331-07:00

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays

AeroTime

Finland faces costly F-35 upgrades as Block 4 delays persist

2026-04-10T04:23:00.394331-07:00

Finland faces costly F-35 upgr

Defense Daily

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U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production The U.S. government awarded Lockheed Martin a $4.7 billion undefinitized/premilinary contract to produce Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors, advancing accelerated output under a contract action described as a key production ramp. Lockheed had targeted raising annual PAC-3 interceptor output from ~600 to 2,000 over seven years.

2026-04-09T14:39:16.098317-07:00

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

FlightGlobal

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive Industries to develop disposable Frenzy 8 turbojet for swarm-class drones The U.S. Air Force awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7 million contract to advance its low-cost Frenzy disposable turbojet family, including flight testing of the 200-lb-thrust Frenzy 8. Work also supports prototype fabrication for the 100-lb-thrust Frenzy 6 and scaled development toward surge demand for swarm-class drones.

2026-04-09T14:01:12.762414-07:00

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive Industries to develop disposable Frenzy 8 turbojet for swarm-class drones

The War Zone

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed We flew aboard a unique KC-135R that serves as the centerpiece of the U.S. Air Force’s aerial-refuelling test force. The elite 'ghost' tanker unit conducts in-flight testing of refuelling hardware, procedures and tactics to validate capability and support operational interoperability.

2026-04-09T10:38:52.069307-07:00

Inside the USAF’s ‘Ghost’ Tanker Unit — Aboard the KC-135R Testbed

Aviation Week

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 scores first air-to-air kill, shooting down Iranian drones The Royal Bahraini Air Force’s F-16C/D Block 70 has achieved its type’s first air-to-air kill, intercepting and shooting down Iranian drones that penetrated earlier air-defense layers during regional fighting. Multiple reports describe the engagement as a milestone in Bahrain’s Block 70 combat debut.

2026-04-09T10:22:25.391225-07:00

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 scores first air-to-air kill, shooting down Iranian drones

Flying Magazine

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support Portugal's Air Force has chosen the Tecnam P‑Mentor to rebuild its basic pilot‑training capability, contracting seven P‑Mentor aircraft together with synthetic training systems and maintenance support under a World Aviation‑led deal awarded by the Ministry of Defence. Delivery and timeline details were not disclosed.

2026-04-09T09:07:17.007579-07:00

Portugal selects Tecnam P‑Mentor for basic pilot training; orders seven trainers with simulators and support

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Bahrain’s F-16 Block 70 scores first air-to-air kill, shooting down Iranian drones

France places follow-on order for five Schiebel S-100 Camcopter shipborne ISR systems for FREMM frigate integration

U.S. Army awards Lockheed Martin $4.76B PAC-3 MSE contract to accelerate Patriot interceptor production

Finland to self-fund F-35A Block 4 retrofit after upgrade delays

News Timeline