UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

AH‑64 Apache fires XM1225 APEX 30x113mm proximity‑fuzed rounds in counter‑UAS trials

The US Army completed live‑fire trials of the XM1225 Aviation Proximity Explosive (APEX) 30x113mm round aboard the Boeing AH‑64 Apache at Yuma Proving Ground. Tests demonstrated proximity‑fuzed cannon engagements against unmanned aircraft systems, expanding the Apache’s short‑to‑medium‑range counter‑UAS toolkit.

2026-02-16T20:44:36.344199-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy   Bayraktar  
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FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Bayraktar TB3 conducts live naval strikes from Turkish carrier during exercise

By FlightGlobal: Turkey's Bayraktar TB3 unmanned air vehicle has successfully conducted live naval strikes from the TCG Anadolu aircraft carrier during NATO's Steadfast Dart 2026 exercise in the Baltic Sea, marking a significant milestone in carrier-based UAV operations.

Also: Daily Sabah, defence-industry.eu and defence.m5dergi.com
2026-02-16T21:49:51.434744-08:00
AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
Bloomberg • Katrina Manson

SpaceX and xAI Join Secret Pentagon Contest to Develop Voice-Controlled Autonomous Drone Swarms

By Bloomberg: Elon Musk’s SpaceX and wholly owned subsidiary xAI are competing in a secretive new Pentagon contest to produce voice-controlled, autonomous drone swarming technology, according to people familiar with the matter.

Also: Bloomberg Law and Stars and Stripes
2026-02-16T11:04:25.060566-08:00
F-16   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com • Jaroslaw Adamowski

Slovakia in talks with US to buy four more F-16s

By DefenseNews.com: The additional jets would enable the country to shoulder its own air-policing missions, according to Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico.

2026-02-16T05:25:36.084345-08:00
Saudi Arabia   Middle East   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Saudi Arabia orders four C-27J Spartan transports for maritime patrol missions

By FlightGlobal: Saudi Arabia has ordered four Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transports in a maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) configuration. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2029, the Italian airframer says.

Also: Air Data News, AeroTime, Aviacionline, Janes and Aviation Week
2026-02-16T02:24:27.096294-08:00