News

Breaking Defense • Carley Welch

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

The U.S. Army will receive AV’s Switchblade 400 portable anti-armor loitering munition for the AV LASSO prototyping competition, the company said. Switchblade 400 is described as a medium-range system, placing AV alongside Textron and Uvision in the early-stage contest to demonstrate concepts and hardware.

2026-05-04T06:50:37.781519-07:00

AINonline

Textron to separate Industrial segment, creating a pure-play aerospace and defense company led by Textron Aviation and Bell

2026-04-30T11:23:34.943433-07:00

AINonline

Textron Aviation maintains European bizjet market-share lead as OEMs intensify competition

2026-04-29T10:07:57.104320-07:00

Textron

Bell signs agreements for three Bell 429 VIP helicopters in the U.K. and Estonia, expanding corporate rotorcraft presence

2026-04-22T06:05:32.206405-07:00

News Timeline

Breaking Defense

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race The U.S. Army will receive AV’s Switchblade 400 portable anti-armor loitering munition for the AV LASSO prototyping competition, the company said. Switchblade 400 is described as a medium-range system, placing AV alongside Textron and Uvision in the early-stage contest to demonstrate concepts and hardware.

2026-05-04T06:50:37.781519-07:00

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

AINonline

❗️

Textron to separate Industrial segment, creating a pure-play aerospace and defense company led by Textron Aviation and Bell Textron Inc. said it intends to separate its Industrial segment from its core aerospace and defense businesses to sharpen strategic and operational focus. The resulting pure-play would leave Textron with Textron Aviation and Bell as major anchors, alongside Textron Systems.

2026-04-30T11:23:34.943433-07:00

Textron to separate Industrial segment, creating a pure-play aerospace and defense company led by Textron Aviation and Bell

AINonline

Textron Aviation maintains European bizjet market-share lead as OEMs intensify competition Business aircraft OEMs are stepping up the race for share in Europe, even as heavy-jet models remain highly popular. Within that contest, Textron Aviation is reported to lead the European market despite demand skewing toward larger aircraft categories.

2026-04-29T10:07:57.104320-07:00

Textron Aviation maintains European bizjet market-share lead as OEMs intensify competition

DefenseNews.com

Spirit AeroSystems temporarily pauses Boeing work at select facilities Spirit AeroSystems is temporarily suspending Boeing-related work in some of its facilities, while stating that military programs, non-Boeing work and other activities will continue. The move highlights ongoing production allocation and continuity planning across aerostructures as Boeing’s commercial output remains a key customer focus.

2026-04-23T14:24:41.375938-07:00

Spirit AeroSystems temporarily pauses Boeing work at select facilities

DefenseNews.com

Textron Aviation to furlough up to 7,000 employees Textron Aviation says a furlough affecting as many as 7,000 employees is in the offing, signaling near-term workforce cost pressure despite continued demand for business aircraft. The move underscores how production and labor planning are being reshaped by constraints across supply chain and margins.

2026-04-23T14:24:40.655176-07:00

Textron Aviation to furlough up to 7,000 employees

FlightGlobal

Honeywell to ramp F124 turbofan production for Textron’s Beechcraft M-346N bid in US Navy UJTS competition Honeywell will expand production of its F124 turbofan to support Textron Aviation Defense’s Beechcraft M-346N light fighter bid for the US Navy Graduate Jet Training System (UJTS) tender. The M-346N uses two F124 engines, making supply scaling a key prerequisite ahead of trainer evaluations.

2026-04-23T09:36:28.941017-07:00

Honeywell to ramp F124 turbofan production for Textron’s Beechcraft M-346N bid in US Navy UJTS competition

AINonline

Textron Aviation signs new European contracts for Cessna Citation jets and Cessna Skyhawk training aircraft Textron Aviation has announced two new commercial agreements covering light-jet Cessna Citation aircraft and Cessna Skyhawk training airplanes, with deal activity centered on Europe. The announcements underscore Textron’s continued push to supply both business-jet and training fleets.

2026-04-23T09:07:16.099986-07:00

Textron Aviation signs new European contracts for Cessna Citation jets and Cessna Skyhawk training aircraft

DefenseNews.com

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism Bell Helicopter international military sales vice president Richard Harris says the company is “keen to pitch” in Australia following reported criticism of Airbus Helicopters’ Tiger attack helicopter. The comments underscore Bell’s intent to convert reputational pressure into new rotary-wing sales opportunities in the Australian defense market.

2026-04-23T07:50:37.705253-07:00

Textron/Bell turns to Australia after Airbus Helicopters Tiger attack-helo criticism

Menu

Textron News

Army selects AV LASSO prototyping contender with Switchblade 400 offer, joining Textron and Uvision in loitering-munition race

Textron to separate Industrial segment, creating a pure-play aerospace and defense company led by Textron Aviation and Bell

Textron Aviation maintains European bizjet market-share lead as OEMs intensify competition

Bell signs agreements for three Bell 429 VIP helicopters in the U.K. and Estonia, expanding corporate rotorcraft presence

News Timeline