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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance low‑cost Frenzy turbojets for swarm drones

The U.S. Air Force awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7 million contract to advance its low‑cost Frenzy turbojet family, funding flight tests of the 200 lb‑thrust Frenzy 8 and prototype fabrication of the 100 lb‑thrust Frenzy 6. The work targets vehicle integration and scalable production for swarm‑class drones.

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

The Aviationist

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Rapidly Descends and Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

2026-04-09T05:07:28.650856-07:00

The War Zone

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

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

Flying Magazine

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

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

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance low‑cost Frenzy turbojets for swarm drones The U.S. Air Force awarded Beehive Industries a $29.7 million contract to advance its low‑cost Frenzy turbojet family, funding flight tests of the 200 lb‑thrust Frenzy 8 and prototype fabrication of the 100 lb‑thrust Frenzy 6. The work targets vehicle integration and scalable production for swarm‑class drones.

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

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance low‑cost Frenzy turbojets for swarm 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

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

The Aviationist

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U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Rapidly Descends and Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton unmanned patrol aircraft declared an in‑flight emergency while operating over the Persian Gulf, signalling a communication‑link loss via its transponder before rapidly losing altitude from about 52,000 ft and vanishing from public tracking data.

2026-04-09T05:07:28.650856-07:00

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Rapidly Descends and Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

AeroTime

Knight Aerospace clears CDR for Royal Netherlands Air Force C-390 medevac kit, greenlights production Knight Aerospace has completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s C-390 aeromedical evacuation system, clearing the programme to move into production. The milestone validates the kit’s design and allows manufacturing and aircraft integration planning to begin.

2026-04-09T03:46:25.891133-07:00

Knight Aerospace clears CDR for Royal Netherlands Air Force C-390 medevac kit, greenlights production

FlightGlobal

South Korea rolls out first production MUAV — 'Korean Reaper' set for 2027 service entry South Korea has rolled out the first production-standard Medium-Altitude Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (MUAV) at Korean Air's Busan Tech Center. The long‑endurance, MQ-9–style system — fully autonomous from takeoff to landing — is due to enter ROK service in 2027 to bolster North Korea monitoring.

2026-04-08T21:11:41.458893-07:00

South Korea rolls out first production MUAV — 'Korean Reaper' set for 2027 service entry

Air Data News

Textron displays Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at Sea‑Air‑Space as part of U.S. Navy UJTS bid Textron Aviation Defense is exhibiting a Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at the Sea‑Air‑Space expo (April 20–22, National Harbor, MD) as part of its proposal for the U.S. Navy Graduate Jet Training System competition; the simulator incorporates features from Leonardo’s M‑346 family.

2026-04-08T13:58:28.701727-07:00

Textron displays Beechcraft M‑346N simulator at Sea‑Air‑Space as part of U.S. Navy UJTS bid

FlightGlobal

USAF adds probe-and-drogue refuelling to A-10 with new probe refuelling adapter The US Air Force has certified the A-10 Thunderbolt II for probe‑and‑drogue aerial refuelling after building a Probe Refuelling Adapter to meet an urgent combatant‑command requirement. The modification lets A‑10Cs take fuel from HC‑130/C‑130 drogue tankers, expanding interoperability while KC‑46 integration remains pending.

2026-04-08T12:11:08.061992-07:00

USAF adds probe-and-drogue refuelling to A-10 with new probe refuelling adapter

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

USAF awards $29.7M to Beehive to advance low‑cost Frenzy turbojets for swarm drones

U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton Declares In-Flight Emergency, Rapidly Descends and Drops Off Tracking Over Persian Gulf

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

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

News Timeline