Defense News

aviation Hypersonic Europe ESA

European Spaceflight • Andrew Parsonson

ESA’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program clears first major review; next review expected in October 2027

The European Space Agency’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program has passed its first major review, marking a milestone in the program’s development. The next review is expected in October 2027; the available report does not specify further technical findings or schedule details.

1 Source

2026-10-27T08:04:59.159362-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Bayraktar

FlightGlobal • Lizzie Rix

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

By FlightGlobal: Latest flight test continues progression of the Kalkan. Turkish manufacturer Baykar’s latest vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV has completed its first at-sea flight tests.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T07:05:11.517483-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI

Breaking Defense • Breaking Defense

The new must-have capabilities for drones

By Breaking Defense: The must-have drone capabilities shaping modern defense, including the technologies and features needed to meet evolving military mission requirements.

2 Sources

2026-10-27T06:04:55.541625-07:00

Europe ESA Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

Payload • Douglas Gorman

OSMOS X Tapped to Lead EDF-backed Tactical Capture Consortium

By Payload: The European Defence Fund tapped French OTV startup OSMOS X to lead a coalition studying how countries can respond to threats in orbit.

1 Source

2026-10-27T06:05:38.897759-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Policy Boeing

Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

USAF should buy newly designed air refuelers to meet China threat: Report

By Breaking Defense: Although there’s a “temptation” to keep buying KC-46s, a plan to procure 75 more of the Boeing-made tankers should be an “upper limit” followed by a new, longer range tanker, the Hudson Institute’s Timothy Walton told Breaking Defense.

FlightGlobal

USAF needs blended-wing-body tanker for war against China: think tank

Aviation Week

Think Tank Study Urges USAF To Buy Blended Wing Body Tanker Fleet

5 Sources

2026-10-27T05:04:43.725365-07:00

Satellite Space Defense & Militarization Space Debris & Traffic Management

Space.com • Tereza Pultarova

Astroscale proposes fleet of 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

By Space.com: Technologies developed to remove space junk and fix broken satellites can be repurposed to build fleets of bodyguard spacecraft to protect important assets from attacks.

1 Source

2026-10-27T03:05:29.447892-07:00

Europe Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters

Exosens Q3 revenue rises 23.5% on stronger demand, capacity ramp-up

By Reuters: French detection and imaging technology company Exosens on Tuesday posted a 23.5% rise in its third-quarter revenue, driven by ‌stronger demand for its products and faster-than-expected European capacity ramp-up.

1 Source

2026-10-27T01:04:27.391880-07:00

Hypersonic Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Air & Space Forces Mag • Greg Hadley

2026-10-26T15:04:49.514809-07:00

ESA’s INVICTUS hypersonic aircraft program clears first major review; next review expected in October 2027

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

The new must-have capabilities for drones

OSMOS X Tapped to Lead EDF-backed Tactical Capture Consortium

USAF should buy newly designed air refuelers to meet China threat: Report

USAF needs blended-wing-body tanker for war against China: think tank

Think Tank Study Urges USAF To Buy Blended Wing Body Tanker Fleet

Astroscale proposes fleet of 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

Exosens Q3 revenue rises 23.5% on stronger demand, capacity ramp-up

Air Force Sends ARRW, Its 1st Hypersonic Missile, into Production

USAF Orders ARRW Hypersonic Missile Into Production, The Same Weapon It Nearly Cancelled

US Air Force puts once-canceled ARRW hypersonic missile into production

ESA’s INVICTUS Hypersonic Programme Clears First Major Review

Baykar completes at-sea flight test of Kalkan VTOL UAV

The new must-have capabilities for drones

OSMOS X Tapped to Lead EDF-backed Tactical Capture Consortium

USAF should buy newly designed air refuelers to meet China threat: Report

Astroscale proposes fleet of 'bodyguard' spacecraft to protect satellites from orbital attacks

China could field directed-energy weapons in orbit by late 2020s, U.S. intelligence says

US Air Force plans US$1 billion Nellis complex for F-47 operational testing

Canada receives first two F-35s as full purchase remains under review

Air Force Plans $1 Billion Campus for Testing F-47 at Nellis

Ukraine says Starlink restored after 10-day disruption as allies seek alternatives

Philippines grounds SF-260 fleet after training collision kills four pilots

Cosmos 2612’s close approach to ICEYE-X36 raises questions about NATO’s response to Russian space operations

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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Is the Pentagon’s demand signal for drones working? It depends on who you ask.