UAV Development & Drone Programs   F-16   Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters • Tom Balmforth

Missile shortfalls and delayed F‑16 transfers leave Ukraine's air defence stretched

Allied missile supplies ran dry for more than three weeks, leaving Ukraine's F‑16s underarmed as Russia prepared a winter air offensive, while pledged transfers such as Belgium's 30 F‑16s remain undelivered. Kyiv is compensating with donated Mirages armed with MICA and a surge in interceptor drones.

Also: aviationnews.eu, news.ssbcrack.com and Kyiv Independent
2026-03-04T22:26:51.840671-08:00
Europe   Airports   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
NEW
Reuters

Portugal’s PM Defends Allowing US Use of Lajes Airbase for Iran Campaign, Diverging From Spain

By Reuters: Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro defended his decision to let the United States use the Lajes airbase on Portugal's Azores Islands during the Iran bombing campaign, a position at odds with that of neighbour Spain which refused such requests.

2026-03-04T23:22:05.601667-08:00
Reuters • Yimou Lee

Chinese military flights around Taiwan fall, Trump-Xi meeting may be factor

By Reuters: Chinese air force activity around Taiwan has fallen sharply in recent weeks, with no flights at all in the past week, a sudden drop in what had been daily military manoeuvres that could signal Beijing is recalibrating its pressure on Taipei.

2026-03-04T21:52:06.662825-08:00
Supply Chain   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pentagon shifts from long‑range missiles to GPS‑guided gravity bombs amid intensified US air campaign on Iran; officials say stockpiles remain sufficient

By FlightGlobal: The Pentagon says it will transition from expensive long-range missiles to GPS-guided gravity bombs as its air campaign against Iran intensifies, though senior officials insist munitions stockpiles remain strong despite heavy use of precision weapons.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag and Air & Space Forces Mag
2026-03-04T16:06:31.365199-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Embraer  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Embraer adds AI-based counter-drone system to A-29 Super Tucano

By Air Data News: Embraer will integrate an artificial intelligence-based counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) suite into the A-29 Super Tucano under a partnership with.

Also: APAC Defence Reporter, Unmanned Airspace, arabiandefence.com and edrmagazine.eu
2026-03-04T11:14:16.481821-08:00
Dassault Aviation   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Dassault targets Indian contract for blockbuster Rafale order by year-end

By FlightGlobal: Dassault Aviation is hopeful that a new order from India for 114 Rafale combat aircraft can be wrapped up this year, as it looks to further extend the backlog of the fourth-generation jet.

Also: Aviation Week and India Defense News
2026-03-04T09:31:30.060266-08:00