Event   Supply Chain   General Atomics   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DefenseNews.com

General Atomics and Rheinmetall tee up transatlantic co-production for Vektrex 155mm precision artillery at Eurosatory 2026

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Rheinmetall signed a Memorandum of Understanding at Eurosatory 2026 to explore cooperative production of Vektrex—an active maneuvering, precision-guided 155 mm munition—supporting allied long-range artillery modernization. Separately, General Atomics unveiled Bullseye cruise-missile and railgun projectile concepts alongside Vektrex.

2026-06-18T09:01:01.342649-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Shield AI readies for X-Bat first flight with initial test aircraft complete

By FlightGlobal: The autonomous vertical take-off and landing combat jet will make a maiden sortie towards the end of 2026. AI and autonomy developer Shield AI has now almost completed the first three test assets for its X-Bat collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) programme as it builds towards a first flight later this year.

2026-06-18T09:01:10.923519-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

US Congress pursues funding to replace MC-130Js and Little Birds lost in Iran rescue operation

By FlightGlobal: Draft legislation from the US Senate would provide $127 million to cover four MH-6 helicopters and two MC-130J special operations transports destroyed while recovering a downed American F-15E crew.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag
2026-06-18T09:01:12.019681-07:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Embraer  
NEW
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Embraer ramping KC-390 production, plans Czech, Uzbek, Korean deliveries this year

By Breaking Defense: At some point, company officials will need to discuss the fate of a separate production line for the A-29 Super Tucano in Jacksonville, Fla., but “[t]hat time has not come yet,” said Embraer’s Marcio Monteiro.

2026-06-18T09:35:32.616514-07:00
Satellite   ESA   Space Defense & Militarization  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Paperwork done, European Defence Agency ISR constellation requirements to be delivered to ESA for in-orbit demos

By Space Intel Report: BRUSSELS— Seven months after securing an initial budget to jump-start a European intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) service, the European Space Agency (ESA) is about to receive a list of what the future users of the service want from it.

2026-06-18T05:24:04.580706-07:00
Satellite   Europe   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Space Intel Report • Peter B. de Selding

Rheinmetall signs MoU to use Vantor's geospatial platform for European intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance network

By Space Intel Report: BRUSSELS — German defense technology contractor Rheinmetall AG, investing heavily in space technology to capture a share of the German military’s $40-billion, five year space budget, has signed an MoU with US-based Vantor to integrate Vantor’s Tensorglobe geospatial platform and satellites into Rheinmetall’s command.

Also: Satellite Evolution, Financial Times and Financial Times
2026-06-18T00:16:07.306454-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)  
aviationnews.eu • Rob Vogelaar

Germany Nears Deal for Six Bombardier Global 8000 Electronic Warfare Aircraft

By aviationnews.eu: Aviation News – Germany is preparing to order six Bombardier Global 8000 business jets that will be converted into advanced electronic warfare and jamming aircraft for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr), according to reports.

Also: Air Data News
2026-06-17T18:01:01.635695-07:00