MRO   Helicopter   Sikorsky   Supply Chain   Europe   M&A   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Textron  
Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

Bell Textron creates Ukraine subsidiary to support long-term helicopter assembly, MRO

Bell Textron has set up a Ukrainian unit, Bell Textron Ukraine, and plans to open a dedicated office as a hub for its future activities in the country. The subsidiary is intended to back local helicopter assembly and maintenance and repair through a long-term partnership with Ukraine’s defense industry.

2026-04-17T10:45:15.785400-07:00
China   Military Aircraft Procurement   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)  
FlightGlobal • May Lee

China’s AEW&C fleet is growing, but can it survive modern warfare?

By FlightGlobal: The KJ-600 features an IRST sensor and air-to-air refuelling. Source: Chinese social media Beijing is making significant progress with new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft, even as doubts grow about the survivability of such platforms in modern warfare.

2026-04-17T19:45:21.193767-07:00
Museums   UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

Pratt & Whitney PW500 engine will power Northrop Grumman YFQ-48 autonomous fighter

By FlightGlobal: A single Pratt & Whitnet PW500 business jet engine will power Northrop Grumman's YFQ-48A prototype Northrop Grumman The Northrop jet is the first uncrewed fighter prototype to officially feature a Pratt & Whitney engine.

Also: defence-blog.com, Defense Daily and 3 more
2026-04-17T15:16:11.915042-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
DefenseNews.com • Cristina Stassis

Air Force unit executes test of Anduril’s semiautonomous combat drone

By DefenseNews.com: Airmen operated Auduril's YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone, which could someday fly alongside piloted fighters.

Also: AirForceTimes, c4isrnet.com and Military Times
2026-04-17T12:59:53.196480-07:00
Satellite   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Human Spaceflight & Space Stations   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation  
Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

Lockheed Martin nabs $105M ground system contract to support next-gen GPS

By Breaking Defense: The upgrade to be performed under then new contract would allow Lockheed Martin's AEP ground system to replace RTX's long-troubled OCX program for future GPS IIIF birds.

Also: Satellite Evolution and indiastrategic.in
2026-04-17T15:37:15.080655-07:00
Air Cargo & Freight Logistics   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

Canberra looks to replace C-27Js with 'commercial' type

By FlightGlobal: Canberra aims to replace its fleet of Leonardo C-27J tactical transports, although it intends to maintain the airlift capacity to serve Pacific neighbours.

Also: AeroTime, Scramble and The Aviationist
2026-04-16T23:24:31.483594-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Sydney J Freedberg Jr

Northrop Grumman’s Talon IQ testbed hot-swaps AI brains mid-flight

By Breaking Defense: “While the aircraft was flying, the software was queued up so that we could have different companies’ behaviors take control of the platform and fly [it]," said Dan Salluce, Northrop’s senior director for aerospace systems.

Also: Janes
2026-04-17T15:37:14.670447-07:00
Satellite   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

Air Force secretary eyes multi-year deals for satellites, aircraft

By Breaking Defense: Pentagon officials are seeking lawmakers’ authorization to buy weapon systems through multi-year deals “across the board, not only with munitions, but actually with the production of aircraft, with the production of spacecraft,” said Air Force Secretary Troy Meink.

2026-04-17T15:37:14.693819-07:00