Defense News

Middle East Helicopter Sikorsky North America Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Deals

FlightGlobal • Brooke Ingemi

U.S. approves potential $1.075 billion sale of 11 UH-60M Black Hawks to Mexico

The proposed package includes 11 Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters, spare engines, weapons, advanced sensors, mission equipment and logistical support. The State Department’s approval clears a step in the potential sale; it does not mean the aircraft or associated equipment have been delivered.

Reuters

US approves potential $1.08 billion Black Hawk helicopter sale to Mexico

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

US approves potential $1.08 billion sale of 11 Black Hawk helicopters to Mexico

8 Sources

2026-11-06T12:05:23.147864-08:00

Aircraft Carrier UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement BAE Systems

FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Uncrewed Nyan, AR5 trials advance UK Royal Navy’s hybrid carrier air wing development

By FlightGlobal: Service details recent work conducted using one-way effector and uncrewed logistics platform. The UK Royal Navy (RN) has demonstrated an expansion to its operational Carrier Strike capability, with first trials conducted aboard HMS Queen Elizabeth using Nyan one-way effectors.

Naval News

Strike drones launched from British aircraft carrier for the first time

The Independent

Royal Navy launches strike drones from aircraft carrier for first time

Also: Business Insider and 3 more

9 Sources

2026-11-06T10:55:58.836886-08:00

Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Space Defense & Militarization

Spaceflight Now • Steven Young

Falcon 9 launches from California on classified mission for U.S. Space Force

By Spaceflight Now: Liftoff from pad 4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base occurred at 4:48 p.m. PST (7:48 p.m. EST / 0048 UTC). The mission is thought to be carrying satellites based on SpaceX’s Starshield platform.

Also: Space.com and interestingengineering.com

3 Sources

2026-11-06T14:04:42.534290-08:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Boeing

The War Zone • Joseph Trevithick

Operational F-15EXs Have Started Flying With Conformal Fuel Tanks

By The War Zone: The USAF did not originally plan for the air-to-air combat-focused F-15EX to carry CFTs, but its mission demands are evolving.

1 Source

2026-11-06T13:50:39.334026-08:00

Satellite Space Force Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation Commercial Space Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceWatch Global • Joshua Faleti

AST SpaceMobile Joins U.S. Space Force Program to Advance Space-Based Sensing

By SpaceWatch Global: AST SpaceMobile will support STR under a USSF program to advance space-based sensing using commercially developed satellite technology.

Bloomberg

AST SpaceMobile to Build Own Rocket to Compete with SpaceX

Space.com

AST SpaceMobile announces new 'Blacklift' rocket, targets 2028 launch debut

Also: Via Satellite, Reuters, Ars Technica, Payload, fireflyspace.com, Seeking Alpha, quiltyspace.com and 7 more

17 Sources

2026-11-06T01:34:55.539636-08:00

MRO Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Sierra Nevada, BAE, Collins and GE Aerospace partner on KC-135 avionics and fuel system modernisation

By FlightGlobal: US Air Force KC‑135 Center Console Refresh (CCR) effort seeks to address obsolescence issues in the aged but strategically important tanker aircraft.

1 Source

2026-11-06T13:04:59.353504-08:00

Viasat Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization

Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

2026-11-06T06:28:44.525483-08:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Policy

Breaking Defense • Barry Rosenberg

Europe's airpower future is taking shape, but not as originally planned

By Breaking Defense: Europe's airpower strategy is shifting as the FCAS program falters, GCAP advances and collaborative combat aircraft reshape the future of European fighter fleets.

1 Source

2026-11-06T10:04:45.502305-08:00

U.S. approves potential $1.075 billion sale of 11 UH-60M Black Hawks to Mexico

US approves potential $1.08 billion Black Hawk helicopter sale to Mexico

US approves potential $1.08 billion sale of 11 Black Hawk helicopters to Mexico

Uncrewed Nyan, AR5 trials advance UK Royal Navy’s hybrid carrier air wing development

Strike drones launched from British aircraft carrier for the first time

Royal Navy launches strike drones from aircraft carrier for first time

Falcon 9 launches from California on classified mission for U.S. Space Force

Operational F-15EXs Have Started Flying With Conformal Fuel Tanks

AST SpaceMobile Joins U.S. Space Force Program to Advance Space-Based Sensing

AST SpaceMobile to Build Own Rocket to Compete with SpaceX

AST SpaceMobile announces new 'Blacklift' rocket, targets 2028 launch debut

Sierra Nevada, BAE, Collins and GE Aerospace partner on KC-135 avionics and fuel system modernisation

Key Space Force satellites can't talk to each other, likely requiring $1B solution: Sources

The Space Force Goes to War

Viasat wins Space Force network operations contract worth up to $450 million

Europe's airpower future is taking shape, but not as originally planned

Falcon 9 launches from California on classified mission for U.S. Space Force

Operational F-15EXs Have Started Flying With Conformal Fuel Tanks

Sierra Nevada, BAE, Collins and GE Aerospace partner on KC-135 avionics and fuel system modernisation

US clears potential $100m APKWS guided rocket sale to Jordan

Uncrewed Nyan, AR5 trials advance UK Royal Navy’s hybrid carrier air wing development

Europe's airpower future is taking shape, but not as originally planned

Canada facing ‘knife-edge timeline’ to replace Hornets as F-35 purchase remains in limbo

Russian Mi-28 Attack Helicopters Are Now Firing Cruise Missiles

Russia must swiftly expand its answer to Elon Musk's Starlink satellites, security council says

Boeing’s Sixth-Generation Fighter Wins Mark a Seismic Shift for U.S. Defense

ArianeGroup and France’s DGA complete second SyLEx sounding-rocket flight, testing technology for M51.4

SES Networks grows 6% in Q3 as aviation and defense demand lifts segment revenue

RIAT to leave RAF Fairford for MOD Boscombe Down from 2027

Korean Air’s aerospace unit pursues defense growth in South Korea’s uncrewed aircraft market

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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