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FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

The three-nation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has awarded a £686 million ($904 million) joint design contract to design-and-development authority Edgewing, announced 2 April. The award funds core design and engineering activities to move the UK–Japan–Italy partnership into its next programme phase and build industrial momentum.

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

FlightGlobal

UK and France launch 12‑month joint study for a successor to MBDA's Meteor BVR missile

2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00

AeroTime

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

2026-04-02T02:25:47.387168-07:00

Reuters

Haftar forces deploy Chinese- and Turkish-made combat drones at eastern Libya airbase despite UN embargo

2026-04-02T00:10:30.805311-07:00

News Timeline

Vertical Mag

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones Hydroplane has been awarded a Phase 2 Small Business Innovation Research contract by the U.S. Army to advance development of a hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion system for helicopters and cargo drones. The award supports maturation of fuel-cell powertrain hardware and integration for military rotorcraft and unmanned logistics platforms.

2026-04-02T05:41:56.482655-07:00

Hydroplane wins Phase 2 SBIR to develop hydrogen fuel-cell electric propulsion for Army helicopters and cargo drones

FlightGlobal

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase The three-nation Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has awarded a £686 million ($904 million) joint design contract to design-and-development authority Edgewing, announced 2 April. The award funds core design and engineering activities to move the UK–Japan–Italy partnership into its next programme phase and build industrial momentum.

2026-04-02T04:20:53.455568-07:00

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

FlightGlobal

UK and France launch 12‑month joint study for a successor to MBDA's Meteor BVR missile The UK and France have signed a memorandum of understanding to begin a 12‑month joint study on a next‑generation beyond‑visual‑range (BVR) air‑to‑air missile to succeed MBDA's Meteor, which equips Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale fleets. The study will assess future threat landscapes and outline capability requirements.

2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00

UK and France launch 12‑month joint study for a successor to MBDA's Meteor BVR missile

AeroTime

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row France will fund the Rafale F5 development alone after the UAE walked away from a proposed €3.5 billion contribution, La Tribune reports. Abu Dhabi quit negotiations when Paris refused to provide what the UAE described as "meaningful" technology transfers, stalling a potential export partnership.

2026-04-02T02:25:47.387168-07:00

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

Reuters

Haftar forces deploy Chinese- and Turkish-made combat drones at eastern Libya airbase despite UN embargo Satellite imagery shows at least three new combat drones—experts identify Chinese and Turkish types—parked at an eastern Libyan airbase under Khalifa Haftar's control. The placement appears to contravene a UN arms embargo and signals continued external support to forces in Libya's contested east.

2026-04-02T00:10:30.805311-07:00

Haftar forces deploy Chinese- and Turkish-made combat drones at eastern Libya airbase despite UN embargo

FlightGlobal

UK accepts final Tranche 1 F-35B, completing 48‑aircraft initial buy as follow‑on plans remain undecided On 27 March the UK’s Defence Equipment & Support accepted the final aircraft from its Tranche 1 F‑35B programme, completing the initial 48‑jet Lightning II purchase. DE&S said firm decisions on any further UK F‑35 purchases or Tranche 2 commitments have not yet been finalised.

2026-04-01T04:01:25.324818-07:00

UK accepts final Tranche 1 F-35B, completing 48‑aircraft initial buy as follow‑on plans remain undecided

Reuters

Dassault sets two-to-three week deadline to salvage Franco‑German‑Spanish FCAS fighter programme Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has given France, Germany and Spain two to three weeks to reach an agreement to salvage the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) Next Generation Fighter, warning the flagship tri‑national programme risks collapse amid an escalating industrial and governance dispute with Airbus.

2026-04-01T01:45:22.332370-07:00

Dassault sets two-to-three week deadline to salvage Franco‑German‑Spanish FCAS fighter programme

The War Zone

From WWII Camouflage to 'Invisible' Aircraft: How Close Is Visual Stealth to Reality? Visual stealth—techniques to reduce detection by the naked eye—began in World War II and remains an active area of military research. This piece surveys historical approaches and modern materials and asks how close armed forces are to fielding aircraft that are effectively invisible to human observers.

2026-03-31T23:12:31.797240-07:00

From WWII Camouflage to 'Invisible' Aircraft: How Close Is Visual Stealth to Reality?

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

Edgewing wins £686m GCAP joint design contract as programme moves to next phase

UK and France launch 12‑month joint study for a successor to MBDA's Meteor BVR missile

France to self‑fund Rafale F5 after UAE pulls out of €3.5bn deal over tech‑transfer row

Haftar forces deploy Chinese- and Turkish-made combat drones at eastern Libya airbase despite UN embargo

News Timeline