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FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

USAF and Northrop Grumman accelerate B-21 Raider production, target 2027 service entry

Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are ramping B-21 Raider production—boosting the build pace by roughly 25% and allocating several billion dollars—to accelerate deliveries and field next‑generation stealth bomber capability in support of U.S. long‑range strike, with reports pointing to a 2027 in‑service date.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.274005-08:00

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Leonardo pins Yeovil helicopter plant's future on Proteus as UK procurement delays threaten continuity

2026-02-24T01:30:43.404182-08:00

FlightGlobal

General Atomics arms MQ‑9B with long‑range standoff munitions and validates F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in MUM‑T trials

2026-02-23T22:00:38.780286-08:00

FlightGlobal

BAE and USAF demonstrate modular airborne electronic-attack pod for manned aircraft and large UAS

2026-02-24T00:34:00.647028-08:00

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FlightGlobal

Leonardo pins Yeovil helicopter plant's future on Proteus as UK procurement delays threaten continuity Leonardo is tying the future of its Yeovil helicopter plant to Proteus, an autonomous military-helicopter programme, even as Defence Investment Programme delays and outstanding contract awards threaten operational continuity. The company warns prolonged procurement slippage could imperil production capacity and thousands of local jobs before Proteus delivers capability.

2026-02-24T01:30:43.404182-08:00

Leonardo pins Yeovil helicopter plant's future on Proteus as UK procurement delays threaten continuity

Reuters

Iran military helicopter crashes into Isfahan market, kills four An Iranian military helicopter crashed into a fruit market in Dorcheh, Isfahan province, killing four, including the pilot and co‑pilot, and causing a small fire that emergency services extinguished. The accident follows a separate U.S.-built fighter crash in Hamadan amid reports of aging aircraft and spare-part shortages.

2026-02-24T00:41:42.175776-08:00

Iran military helicopter crashes into Isfahan market, kills four

FlightGlobal

BAE and USAF demonstrate modular airborne electronic-attack pod for manned aircraft and large UAS On Feb. 23, 2026, BAE Systems and the U.S. Air Force completed flight trials of a prototype, pod-mounted modular electronic-attack system, demonstrating scalable airborne electromagnetic-attack capability across manned aircraft and large unmanned systems to disrupt adversary air-defence networks and spectrum coordination.

2026-02-24T00:34:00.647028-08:00

BAE and USAF demonstrate modular airborne electronic-attack pod for manned aircraft and large UAS

FlightGlobal

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General Atomics arms MQ‑9B with long‑range standoff munitions and validates F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in MUM‑T trials General Atomics has armed its MQ‑9B SkyGuardian with long‑range standoff munitions for naval and deep‑strike missions, and in parallel conducted a manned–unmanned teaming demonstration at Edwards AFB where an F‑22 commanded an MQ‑20 Avenger, validating loyal‑wingman autonomy and cross‑platform control.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.780286-08:00

General Atomics arms MQ‑9B with long‑range standoff munitions and validates F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in MUM‑T trials

FlightGlobal

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USAF and Northrop Grumman accelerate B-21 Raider production, target 2027 service entry Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are ramping B-21 Raider production—boosting the build pace by roughly 25% and allocating several billion dollars—to accelerate deliveries and field next‑generation stealth bomber capability in support of U.S. long‑range strike, with reports pointing to a 2027 in‑service date.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.274005-08:00

USAF and Northrop Grumman accelerate B-21 Raider production, target 2027 service entry

FlightGlobal

Embraer’s KC-390 demonstrator crisscrosses the globe on worldwide sales tour Since its September 2024 debut, Embraer’s company-owned KC-390 demonstrator has been on an intensive world tour, visiting potential customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The travelling demonstrator is aiming to secure new orders for the Brazilian airframer’s multi-role transport.

2026-02-23T22:00:38.109353-08:00

Embraer’s KC-390 demonstrator crisscrosses the globe on worldwide sales tour

FlightGlobal

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes Beijing is advancing multiple collaborative combat aircraft airframes, but analysts argue the decisive contest is in autonomy, mission software and networking rather than hardware. China’s emphasis on AI-enabled command-and-control aims to field interoperable ‘drone wingmen’ and integrated sensor networks at scale.

2026-02-23T20:10:22.432473-08:00

China’s collaborative combat aircraft push: the software race outpacing airframes

FlightGlobal

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy L3Harris is broadening the mission set of its SkyWarden/OA‑1K Skyraider II close‑air‑support turboprop with a gun pod, onboard signals‑intelligence sensors and longer‑range missiles, and says international demand could equal the U.S. 75‑aircraft program of record. The company is pressing for a larger U.S. buy to sustain production.

2026-02-23T18:00:18.883319-08:00

L3Harris expands SkyWarden/OA‑1K roles with gun pod, SIGINT and long‑range weapons; urges bigger U.S. buy

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

USAF and Northrop Grumman accelerate B-21 Raider production, target 2027 service entry

Leonardo pins Yeovil helicopter plant's future on Proteus as UK procurement delays threaten continuity

General Atomics arms MQ‑9B with long‑range standoff munitions and validates F‑22 control of MQ‑20 Avenger in MUM‑T trials

BAE and USAF demonstrate modular airborne electronic-attack pod for manned aircraft and large UAS

News Timeline