Helicopter North America Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Workforce & Skills Development

FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

US Army narrows Flight School Next to four bidders; three propose Robinson R66

The U.S. Army's Flight School Next trainer competition has been cut to four bidders as the service seeks to modernize helicopter pilot instruction. Three of the remaining contenders are proposing variants of the Robinson R66, concentrating the contest around the light‑turbine R66 platform.

2026-03-09T15:38:52.884422-07:00

Satellite Space Force Defense Industry & Major Contractors Space Defense & Militarization BAE Systems

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

BAE Systems’ missile-detection satellite clears early review, advancing missile-tracking programme

By SpaceNews.com: Missile detection satellites designed by BAE Systems pass early review Missile-tracking satellite designed by BAE Systems passes early review.

Also: Defense Daily

2026-03-09T14:38:49.028198-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors Beta Technologies

Reuters • Dan Catchpole

Beta Technologies accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone, targets first flight this year after winning FAA grants

By Reuters: Drone startup Beta Technologies is speeding up development of its Alia MV250 military cargo drone by six months, with the first flight now expected this year, Beta chief executive Kyle Clark told Reuters in an interview.

2026-03-09T15:03:23.098305-07:00

eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs Helicopter North America Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Vertical Mag

Bell completes critical design review on DARPA SPRINT X-Plane program

By Vertical Mag: This milestone allows Bell to begin building the next-generation aircraft demonstrator, recently designated as the X-76.

The War Zone

Bell’s X-76 Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Is DARPA’s Newest X-Plane

Textron

Bell Completes CDR for DARPA SPRINT, Earns X‑Plane Designation (X‑76); Demonstrator Build to Start

Also: The Aviationist, Defense Daily and defence-industry.eu

2026-03-09T12:08:14.909704-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs Honeywell AI Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Vertical Mag

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 high‑accuracy IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms

By Vertical Mag: Honeywell has launched the HGuide i700, a high-accuracy inertial measurement unit designed to support unmanned platforms operating in GNSS-denied environments.

2026-03-09T12:08:15.811222-07:00

Middle East Aviation Safety & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Reuters

NATO air defences shoot down second Iranian ballistic missile over Turkey; Ankara warns of response

By Reuters: Turkey said on Monday that NATO air defences shot down a second Iranian ballistic missile that had entered its airspace and warned that it would move against any such threats, which increasingly pose a test for Ankara and the alliance.

aviationnews.eu

NATO Intercepts Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Over Southern Turkey; Ankara Warns Tehran

CNBC

Turkey: NATO air defenses shoot down second Iranian ballistic missile over Turkish airspace

Also: Kyiv Independent, cavenewstimes.com, spacewar.com, al-monitor.com, news.ssbcrack.com, aa.com.tr, Military.com, The Independent, South China Morning Post and 9 more

2026-03-09T05:18:18.113054-07:00

Supply Chain Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Saab offers Gripen production work to Portugal’s OGMA as Lisbon mulls F‑16 replacement

By AeroTime: Saab says Portuguese aerospace firm OGMA could join Gripen production work, as Lisbon considers options to replace its aging F-16 fighters.

2026-03-09T08:59:22.485886-07:00

China Accident Aviation Safety & Regulation Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

FlightGlobal • May Lee

Australia lodges protest after PLA Navy helicopter dangerously intercepts RAN MH-60R over Yellow Sea

By FlightGlobal: Australia has lodged a formal protest after a People's Liberation Army Navy helicopter conducted an unsafe intercept of a Royal Australian Navy MH-60R operating in international waters during a UN sanctions enforcement mission on 4 March.

Australian Aviation

Australia protests 'unsafe' encounter between HMAS Toowoomba MH-60R and Chinese PLAN helicopter

spacewar.com

Australia accuses Chinese navy helicopter of 'unsafe' close-range manoeuvre near its aircraft in the Yellow Sea

Also: news.ssbcrack.com, defenceconnect.com.au and nknews.org

2026-03-09T00:18:22.661765-07:00

Menu

US Army narrows Flight School Next to four bidders; three propose Robinson R66

BAE Systems’ missile-detection satellite clears early review, advancing missile-tracking programme

Beta Technologies accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone, targets first flight this year after winning FAA grants

Bell completes critical design review on DARPA SPRINT X-Plane program

Bell’s X-76 Fold-Away Rotor Aircraft Is DARPA’s Newest X-Plane

Bell Completes CDR for DARPA SPRINT, Earns X‑Plane Designation (X‑76); Demonstrator Build to Start

Honeywell unveils HGuide i700 high‑accuracy IMU for GNSS‑denied unmanned platforms

NATO air defences shoot down second Iranian ballistic missile over Turkey; Ankara warns of response

NATO Intercepts Second Iranian Ballistic Missile Over Southern Turkey; Ankara Warns Tehran

Turkey: NATO air defenses shoot down second Iranian ballistic missile over Turkish airspace

Saab offers Gripen production work to Portugal’s OGMA as Lisbon mulls F‑16 replacement

Australia lodges protest after PLA Navy helicopter dangerously intercepts RAN MH-60R over Yellow Sea

Australia protests 'unsafe' encounter between HMAS Toowoomba MH-60R and Chinese PLAN helicopter

Australia accuses Chinese navy helicopter of 'unsafe' close-range manoeuvre near its aircraft in the Yellow Sea

US Army 'Flight School Next' narrows to four bidders as Robinson R66 remains a major contender

Beta Technologies accelerates Alia MV250 military cargo drone, targets first flight this year after winning FAA grants