UAV Development & Drone Programs   Hydrogen   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
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
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

UK and France launch 12-month study for joint successor to MBDA’s Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile

By FlightGlobal: France and the UK are to launch study work on a joint successor to the MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile currently employed by their respective fleets of Eurofighter Typhoons and Dassault Aviation Rafales.

Also: UK Defence Journal, defence-industry.eu and Aviation Week
2026-04-02T03:21:24.464331-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   SAAB   Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy   BAE Systems  
Reuters

Sweden to buy SEK 8.7bn of air‑defence and anti‑drone systems from Saab, BAE Systems

By Reuters: Sweden will buy air defence and anti-drone systems worth 8.7 billion Swedish crowns ($916 million) from among others Saab and BAE Systems , the country's defence minister said on Thursday.

2026-04-02T01:01:25.894511-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Africa   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Aaron McNicholas, Alexander Dziadosz, Vinaya K

Satellite imagery shows Haftar forces deploying Chinese- and Turkish-made combat drones at eastern Libya airbase despite UN embargo

By Reuters: Satellite images reveal at least three new drones at an eastern airbase. Weapons experts say they are most likely from China and Turkey.

2026-04-02T00:10:30.805311-07:00
Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
New York Times • Aaron Krolik, Farah Stockman

Iran War Showcases Strength of South Korean Defense Sector

By New York Times: Missile interceptors made by the South Korean firm LIG Nex1 are said to be performing well, at a small fraction of the cost of U.S. interceptors.

2026-04-01T21:21:27.909537-07:00