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Yonhap News Agency • Song Sang-ho

U.S. approves potential $4.2B FMS: MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and AH-64E Apache upgrades for South Korea

The U.S. State Department has authorized potential Foreign Military Sales to South Korea totaling up to $4.2 billion, covering MH-60R multi-mission naval helicopters and an AH-64E Apache upgrade program. The notification positions the package as a way to enhance Seoul’s defense capabilities with rotary-wing modernization.

2026-05-18T13:32:52.052283-07:00

Reuters

U.S. State Department clears possible $198.2M Apache helicopter support services sale to India

2026-05-18T13:24:21.538583-07:00

FlightGlobal

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

2026-05-18T10:39:20.544451-07:00

AeroTime

France orders 16–17 Varda counter-drone air-defense systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars on Scania tactical vehicles

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

News Timeline

Yonhap News Agency

U.S. approves potential $4.2B FMS: MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and AH-64E Apache upgrades for South Korea The U.S. State Department has authorized potential Foreign Military Sales to South Korea totaling up to $4.2 billion, covering MH-60R multi-mission naval helicopters and an AH-64E Apache upgrade program. The notification positions the package as a way to enhance Seoul’s defense capabilities with rotary-wing modernization.

2026-05-18T13:32:52.052283-07:00

U.S. approves potential $4.2B FMS: MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and AH-64E Apache upgrades for South Korea

Reuters

U.S. State Department clears possible $198.2M Apache helicopter support services sale to India The U.S. State Department said it approved a possible sale of Apache helicopter support services and related equipment to India, estimated at $198.2 million. The approval signals continued U.S. sustainment support for Apache helicopter operations and life-cycle capability in the Indian fleet.

2026-05-18T13:24:21.538583-07:00

U.S. State Department clears possible $198.2M Apache helicopter support services sale to India

FlightGlobal

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers A report says the US military lost or suffered significant damage to 42 aircraft during an aerial bombing campaign against Iran amid a tenuous ceasefire. The tally includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper drones, seven KC-135 tankers, and several fighter types, underscoring combat attrition risks to high-tempo air operations.

2026-05-18T10:39:20.544451-07:00

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

Breaking Defense

Sen. Budd pushes NDAA-backed multi-year buys for F-35 and F-15EX plus pilot retention measures North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis Budd is sponsoring a trio of bills aimed at boosting fighter-jet inventory and retaining pilots, with implications for multi-year procurement plans that could shape future U.S. Air Force force structure. The effort is positioned as adding airpower support through the NDAA pipeline.

2026-05-18T06:39:14.032488-07:00

Sen. Budd pushes NDAA-backed multi-year buys for F-35 and F-15EX plus pilot retention measures

AeroTime

France orders 16–17 Varda counter-drone air-defense systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars on Scania tactical vehicles France’s DGA has contracted with Saab and Scania France to supply Giraffe 1X radars integrated on Scania tactical vehicles for the Armed Forces, as part of the Varda short and very short-range air-defense effort. The deals call for 16–17 radar-equipped systems to counter the expanding FPV and tactical UAV threat.

2026-05-18T04:54:32.756312-07:00

France orders 16–17 Varda counter-drone air-defense systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars on Scania tactical vehicles

Air Data News

Turkish Air Force commander tours Portugal’s Beja KC-390 unit, inspecting fleet, simulator and maintenance Gen. Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu, commander of the Turkish Air Force, visited Portugal’s Beja Air Base to tour the Portuguese Air Force’s KC-390 Millennium fleet, including simulator and maintenance facilities, during an official visit.

2026-05-18T02:54:04.787167-07:00

Turkish Air Force commander tours Portugal’s Beja KC-390 unit, inspecting fleet, simulator and maintenance

FlightGlobal

India completes first locally assembled Airbus C295 at Tata-Airbus; aircraft heads to flight-testing for IAF tactical airlift Airbus and Tata Advanced Systems have finished assembly of the first Airbus Defence & Space C295 produced domestically at the Tata-Airbus facility in Vadodara. The aircraft is now preparing for flight tests before delivery to the Indian Air Force, advancing India’s tactical airlift upgrade and local manufacturing push.

2026-05-18T01:54:15.829281-07:00

India completes first locally assembled Airbus C295 at Tata-Airbus; aircraft heads to flight-testing for IAF tactical airlift

Task & Purpose

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US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely Two US Navy Boeing EA-18G Growlers collided during an air show in Idaho, becoming entangled and plummeting to the ground. Officials said all four crew members ejected safely before the jets crashed, with video showing the aircraft spinning as they fell.

2026-05-17T12:51:13.509349-07:00

US Navy EA-18G Growlers collide midair at Idaho air show; all four crew eject safely

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

U.S. approves potential $4.2B FMS: MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and AH-64E Apache upgrades for South Korea

U.S. State Department clears possible $198.2M Apache helicopter support services sale to India

Report: US loses or severely damages 42 aircraft in Iran bombing campaign; includes 24 MQ-9A Reaper and seven KC-135 tankers

France orders 16–17 Varda counter-drone air-defense systems with Saab Giraffe 1X radars on Scania tactical vehicles

News Timeline