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defence-industry.eu • Martin Chomsky Air

US Global Strike Command conducts unarmed Minuteman III ICBM test from Vandenberg

The U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command carried out an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 20 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific, aimed at verifying ICBM health, readiness and system reliability via telemetry.

2026-05-20T03:09:58.809814-07:00

FlightGlobal

Boeing Little Bird rotorcraft losses in Iran remove SOF Week flypast presence

2026-05-20T11:56:02.603662-07:00

Reuters

Airbus proposes FCAS reset post-Ukraine, keeping options open on two-aircraft architecture and potential multi-vendor data “orch

2026-05-20T02:10:40.436996-07:00

Washington Post

B-52s back in the spotlight as chronic pilot shortages and aging airframes drive urgent Air Force upgrade decisions

2026-05-20T04:09:07.445879-07:00

News Timeline

FlightGlobal

Boeing Little Bird rotorcraft losses in Iran remove SOF Week flypast presence A US Special Operations Command source says four Boeing MH-6 “Little Bird” rotorcraft were destroyed in Iran during a mission to rescue a downed F-15E weapons officer. The losses are linked to a broader set of rescue and combat-attrition events that left the “Little Birds” notably absent from SOF Week demonstrations.

2026-05-20T11:56:02.603662-07:00

Boeing Little Bird rotorcraft losses in Iran remove SOF Week flypast presence

FlightGlobal

Airbus/Quadriga shows Germany’s first Tranche 4-standard Eurofighter as production-standard set for 38-aircraft delivery Airbus displayed a Quadriga-standard Eurofighter in the new Tranche 4 production standard for the first time, with the aircraft representing a new production configuration that has not yet flown. The programme is set to deliver 38 Tranche 4-standard aircraft to Germany under Quadriga acquisition.

2026-05-20T05:54:33.348253-07:00

Airbus/Quadriga shows Germany’s first Tranche 4-standard Eurofighter as production-standard set for 38-aircraft delivery

Washington Post

B-52s back in the spotlight as chronic pilot shortages and aging airframes drive urgent Air Force upgrade decisions The Air Force is deploying the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress—an aircraft fielded as a strategic bomber in the 1950s—to carry nuclear and conventional missions over long distances, including recent strikes tied to Iran. Against this backdrop, personnel shortages and sustainment burdens are forcing the service to reconsider how it upgrades and replaces legacy bombers.

2026-05-20T04:09:07.445879-07:00

B-52s back in the spotlight as chronic pilot shortages and aging airframes drive urgent Air Force upgrade decisions

Axios

U.S. Army awards L3Harris $466M BiNOD contract as Nova night-vision orders ramp In February, the U.S. Army awarded L3Harris Technologies a $466 million BiNOD contract. The award is positioned to support the company’s near-term “Nova” night-vision order pipeline, expanding production against an Army-led demand signal for improved soldier sensing.

2026-05-20T03:24:21.103695-07:00

U.S. Army awards L3Harris $466M BiNOD contract as Nova night-vision orders ramp

defence-industry.eu

US Global Strike Command conducts unarmed Minuteman III ICBM test from Vandenberg The U.S. Air Force’s Global Strike Command carried out an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile test launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base on May 20 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific, aimed at verifying ICBM health, readiness and system reliability via telemetry.

2026-05-20T03:09:58.809814-07:00

US Global Strike Command conducts unarmed Minuteman III ICBM test from Vandenberg

Reuters

Airbus proposes FCAS reset post-Ukraine, keeping options open on two-aircraft architecture and potential multi-vendor data “orch Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury says Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) needs a partial reset of pre-Ukraine assumptions, citing diverging national/industrial requirements for next-generation fighter capabilities. Airbus also signals openness to a two-aircraft FCAS solution and to an Airbus-led “in-flight connectivity” (IFC) orchestration role for multi-vendor data ferrying.

2026-05-20T02:10:40.436996-07:00

Airbus proposes FCAS reset post-Ukraine, keeping options open on two-aircraft architecture and potential multi-vendor data “orch

FlightGlobal

Airbus to expand A330 MRTT tanker conversion capacity in Spain with new Seville line (targeting late-2027 output) Airbus Defence and Space plans to open a second A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conversion line in Seville, Spain, to augment its existing Getafe facility. The new Spanish centre is scheduled for late 2027 and is being positioned to meet rising global tanker demand, including a demo campaign with the Spanish Navy.

2026-05-19T23:10:34.642782-07:00

Airbus to expand A330 MRTT tanker conversion capacity in Spain with new Seville line (targeting late-2027 output)

FlightGlobal

U.S. Navy grants MQ-25A Stingray Milestone C approval, clearing unmanned tanker for LRIP After receiving Milestone C approval, the U.S. Navy has cleared Boeing’s MQ-25A Stingray uncrewed air-to-air refueler for Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). The decision follows the program’s move through milestone C, setting conditions to transition from engineering/flight-test activity toward early production for carrier air wings.

2026-05-19T21:55:46.814816-07:00

U.S. Navy grants MQ-25A Stingray Milestone C approval, clearing unmanned tanker for LRIP

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Military Aircraft Procurement News

US Global Strike Command conducts unarmed Minuteman III ICBM test from Vandenberg

Boeing Little Bird rotorcraft losses in Iran remove SOF Week flypast presence

Airbus proposes FCAS reset post-Ukraine, keeping options open on two-aircraft architecture and potential multi-vendor data “orch

B-52s back in the spotlight as chronic pilot shortages and aging airframes drive urgent Air Force upgrade decisions

News Timeline