Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

NATO next‑generation rotorcraft project finalises ~90% of requirements as RfP nears; Boeing re‑emerges as potential bidder

A six‑member NATO programme to develop a next‑generation military rotorcraft has agreed roughly 90% of its requirements ahead of a planned request for proposals to industry this summer. The milestone narrows design scope, accelerates the procurement timetable and has reopened the field to major OEMs, with Boeing re‑emerging as a possible bidder.

2026-03-02T02:26:22.982794-08:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy   Boeing   Boeing 737  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

RAF advances crew training capability as delayed E-7A Wedgetail nears service entry

By FlightGlobal: The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has edged closer to reinstating its lapsed airborne early warning and control capability, following the arrival of an Indra-produced simulator at its Lossiemouth base in Scotland.

2026-03-02T03:56:32.825980-08:00
Middle East   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

USAF F-15E Crashes in Kuwait in Reported Friendly-Fire Incident; Crew Ejects and Survives

By AeroTime: Social media footage suggests a US Air Force F-15E crashed in Kuwait in what is reported as a friendly fire incident. Both crew members ejected and survived.

Also: Air Data News, AirForceTimes, Aviation24, UK Defence Journal, AeroTime, Task & Purpose, defence-blog.com, the-independent.com, The Independent, aerospaceglobalnews.com, swarajyamag.com, airlive.net and 8 more
2026-03-01T22:11:41.246223-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Europe   Airports   Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Iranian-made drone hits British air base in Cyprus, causing limited damage

By Reuters: A drone strike hit a British air base in Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, Cypriot and British officials said on Monday, in a marked escalation effectively dragging an EU member state into the conflict surrounding Iran.

Also: Unmanned Airspace, aa.com.tr, defence-industry.eu, spacewar.com, Sky News, India Defense News, The Guardian and 5 more
2026-03-01T22:11:38.405811-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Leonardo AW149 selected for UK New Medium Helicopter programme — 23 to be built at Yeovil in £1bn deal

By FlightGlobal: Leonardo Helicopters has finally been declared the winner of the UK's £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter contest, which will see a reported 23 AW149s built at its Yeovil plant in southwest England.

Also: Vertical Mag, Reuters, Shephard Media, Aviation Week, UK Defence Journal, defencetoday.com, portsmouth.co.uk, defence-industry.eu, defensehere.com, army-technology.com, miragenews.com, spacewar.com and UK Defence Journal
2026-03-01T05:34:42.656693-08:00