Defense News

Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Policy

Aviation Week • Chen Chuanren

Japan conducts first live-fire test of Tomahawk cruise missile from warship

Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force has conducted its first firing of an RTX BGM-109 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. The U.S.-supported test, launched from the destroyer JS Chokai, advances Tokyo’s long-range strike capability and marks a significant operational milestone for its maritime forces.

AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Japan fires Tomahawk cruise missile from warship for first time

Also: Janes

3 Sources

2026-07-30T18:47:57.988993-07:00

Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

NEW

AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

Australia, US, Japan formalize new trilateral air logistics agreement

By AeroTime: Australia, the United States and Japan have formalized a new trilateral agreement aimed at strengthening air logistics cooperation across their air forces.

1 Source

2026-07-31T03:50:13.032838-07:00

SAAB Middle East Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Deals

ch-aviation • Luciano Braganca

Undisclosed Middle East nation orders 2 GlobalEye aircraft

By ch-aviation: An undisclosed Middle Eastern country has placed an order with Saab (Sweden) for two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft based on the Global 6500 platform.

Also: AINonline and defencestar.in

3 Sources

2026-07-31T02:05:05.465969-07:00

Europe Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Associated Press

Man arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a UK military base for Iran

By Associated Press: A London man has been arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a U.K. air force base on the Mediterranean island for Iran.

Also: The Guardian and The Independent

3 Sources

2026-07-31T00:18:18.416132-07:00

eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters • Dan Catchpole, Shivansh Tiwary

Air taxi developers pivot to military market amid civil certification delays

By Reuters: Aerospace startups that have long promised to develop electric air taxis are increasingly focusing on a market with fewer regulatory hurdles and more money to spend: the military.

3 Sources

2026-07-31T00:19:15.708791-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Asia-Pacific (APAC) Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Philip Heijmans

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

By Bloomberg: A US Navy aircraft carrier arrived in the central Vietnamese city of Da Nang on Thursday for a rare port call, underscoring deepening security ties as Hanoi navigates rising maritime tensions with China.

1 Source

2026-07-30T20:48:12.190891-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Boeing

FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

USAF general reiterates 2028 first flight for F-47

By FlightGlobal: The F-47 programme is advancing well, as are efforts to the deploy the B-21 bomber next year and field CCAs. A senior US Air Force (USAF) officer has reiterated that key programmes such as the Boeing F-47 fighter and Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber remain on track.

1 Source

2026-07-30T20:18:04.079180-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Space Defense & Militarization Defense Policy

Bloomberg • Andreas Kluth

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

By Bloomberg: Artificial intelligence is already transforming warfare, whether it’s waged by missile, drone or satellite; on land or sea, or in the air, space or cyberspace.

1 Source

2026-07-30T21:33:22.317190-07:00

Japan conducts first live-fire test of Tomahawk cruise missile from warship

Japan fires Tomahawk cruise missile from warship for first time

Australia, US, Japan formalize new trilateral air logistics agreement

Undisclosed Middle East nation orders 2 GlobalEye aircraft

Man arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a UK military base for Iran

Air taxi developers pivot to military market amid civil certification delays

US Aircraft Carrier Makes Vietnam Port Call Amid Sea Tensions

USAF general reiterates 2028 first flight for F-47

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

Japan Conducts First Tomahawk Live-Fire Test

Australia, US, Japan formalize new trilateral air logistics agreement

Man arrested in Cyprus on suspicion of spying on a UK military base for Iran

Undisclosed Middle East nation orders 2 GlobalEye aircraft

Air taxi developers pivot to military market amid civil certification delays

The Real Reasons to Be Terrified About AI and WMD

Zelensky Asked Trump to Enable Starlink Support for Strikes on Russian Missile Launchers

Japanese F-2 Fighter Appears With New Large Stealth Cruise Missile Under Its Wings

Iran struck Amazon data centers again amid widening war, satellites show

F135 Engine Core Upgrade Set For Key Design Review Next Month, As CCA Engine Picture Clarifies

Boeing logs record $715B backlog while Air Force One VC-25B replacement costs balloon

Rolls-Royce touts Trent durability gains as BAE Systems lifts defense-driven guidance; both signal momentum into 2026

EU releases €3.47B for Ukraine drones, air defence and Swedish Gripens as F-16s strain intercepting Russia’s drone swarms; NATO

France mobilizes an Airbus A400M to combat Gironde wildfires, disrupting Airbus and Rafale-area aerospace operations

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

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