Defense News

Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

Reuters • Che Pan, Ryan Woo

China conducts joint air and naval combat drills around disputed Scarborough Shoal

China’s People’s Liberation Army Southern Theater Command conducted joint air and naval combat drills around Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, describing the exercises as a response to regional instability. The patrols were intended to test combat readiness and reinforce China’s territorial defense capabilities.

Also: Economic Times

2 Sources

2026-08-01T02:56:48.722383-07:00

North America Military Aircraft Procurement Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation

The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

F-35B Crashes And Burns At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Updated)

By The War Zone: The F-35B crashed near the end of the runway at the sprawling Marine Corps base at around 10AM local time. Add TWZ (opens in a new tab) More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results.

Flying Magazine

F-35 Involved in Serious Accident in San Diego

The Aviationist

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar

Also: Associated Press, Breaking Defense, Simple Flying, Stars and Stripes, The Hill, Aerotech News, Economic Times, ANI News Agency, al.com, defensemirror.com, timesofsandiego.com, San Diego Union-Tribune and 12 more

33 Sources

2026-07-31T12:14:11.177452-07:00

Helicopter Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

NATO next-generation rotorcraft project advances to concept design stage

By FlightGlobal: Four pre-qualified bidders have until 31 August next year to respond to request for proposals. A NATO programme paving the way for the development of a next-generation military rotorcraft has advanced with the release of detailed requirements to four pre-qualified bidders.

1 Source

2026-07-31T16:12:47.591222-07:00

Space Force FlightSim Defense Budgets & Spending

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Facing a lack of kit, Space Force creates $981M pool to buy training capabilities

By Breaking Defense: Gen. Greg Gagnon, head of Space Force Combat Forces Command, said a number of key mission areas face a serious lack of simulators needed for training Guardians.

Also: homelandprepnews.com and Defense Daily

3 Sources

2026-07-31T13:05:48.265314-07:00

Space Force Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Inside the effort to show Congress what war in space looks like

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — Members of Congress can watch tanks maneuver, tour warships and see combat aircraft fly. Space Force leaders have no comparable way to demonstrate the battlefield they oversee — one where satellites travel at thousands of miles an hour, but the maneuvers that determine an encounter can unfold over days.

2 Sources

2026-07-31T06:37:32.488436-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Turkey’s new KAAN fighter prototype completes first taxi test ahead of flight

By AeroTime: Turkey’s KAAN P1 fighter prototype has completed its first taxi test ahead of a maiden flight expected within the next few months.

The War Zone

Turkey’s Latest Kaan Fighter Prototype Begins Taxi Tests

The Aviationist

Second Prototype of Turkey’s Kaan Begins Taxi Trials

Also: Aviation Week, quwa.org, defence-blog.com, english.defensearabia.com and interestingengineering.com

8 Sources

2026-07-31T04:34:28.888098-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Policy

Aviation Week • Chen Chuanren

Japan Conducts First Tomahawk Live-Fire Test

By Aviation Week: Japan has conducted its first live-fire test of the RTX BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile.

AeroTime

Japan fires Tomahawk cruise missile from warship for first time

Also: Janes

3 Sources

2026-07-30T18:47:57.988993-07:00

F-16 Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Washington Post • Mark Montgomery

Ukraine Could Use F-16s to Hunt Russian Ballistic-Missile Launchers—If the U.S. Unlocks One Capability

By Washington Post: Ukraine's F-16s could hunt ballistic-missile launchers within weeks — if Washington unlocks one capability.

1 Source

2026-07-31T04:33:19.202106-07:00

China conducts joint air and naval combat drills around disputed Scarborough Shoal

F-35B Crashes And Burns At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Updated)

F-35 Involved in Serious Accident in San Diego

U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Crashes at MCAS Miramar

NATO next-generation rotorcraft project advances to concept design stage

Facing a lack of kit, Space Force creates $981M pool to buy training capabilities

Inside the effort to show Congress what war in space looks like

Turkey’s new KAAN fighter prototype completes first taxi test ahead of flight

Turkey’s Latest Kaan Fighter Prototype Begins Taxi Tests

Second Prototype of Turkey’s Kaan Begins Taxi Trials

Japan Conducts First Tomahawk Live-Fire Test

Japan fires Tomahawk cruise missile from warship for first time

Ukraine Could Use F-16s to Hunt Russian Ballistic-Missile Launchers—If the U.S. Unlocks One Capability

China conducts naval, air patrols around disputed shoal in South China Sea

NATO next-generation rotorcraft project advances to concept design stage

Facing a lack of kit, Space Force creates $981M pool to buy training capabilities

F-35B Crashes And Burns At Marine Corps Air Station Miramar (Updated)

Inside the effort to show Congress what war in space looks like

Light at the end of M-code's tunnel? Receivers for ships, planes to finish tests by 2027

Rolls-Royce CEO says major hyperscaler nuclear deal is imminent as data center demand soars

Poland scrambles F-16 after unidentified object crashes in Lublin region

Light at the end of M-code's tunnel? Receivers for ships, planes to finish tests by 2027

Undisclosed Middle East nation orders 2 GlobalEye aircraft

Rolls-Royce touts Trent durability gains as BAE Systems lifts defense-driven guidance; both signal momentum into 2026

EU releases €3.47B for Ukraine drones, air defence and Swedish Gripens as F-16s strain intercepting Russia’s drone swarms; NATO

US pushes autonomous aircraft swarms and “robot wingman” CCAs alongside B-21 automation and new airborne-systems buys

Japan conducts first live-fire test of Tomahawk cruise missile from warship

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Defense

Australia, US, Japan formalize new trilateral air logistics agreement

The Tech Download: Anduril CEO Brian Schimpf talks AI in warfare and manufacturing push

Air taxi developers pivot to military market amid civil certification delays

Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

USAF general reiterates 2028 first flight for F-47

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

Man arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a UK military base for Iran

Nigeria set to receive first three M-346FAs