Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Jean Carmela Lim

RAAF and US Air Force complete first joint F-35A weapons integration test using Weapon Fill Measurement Vehicle

The RAAF says it has finished its first joint Weapon Fill Measurement Vehicle (WFMV) flight test on an F-35A Lightning II, conducted in tandem with the US Air Force. The late-April trial is intended to accelerate and streamline Australia’s weapons integration onto the F-35A.

Also: Australian Aviation
2026-06-19T03:51:13.172308-07:00
Helicopter   Sikorsky   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Deals  
NEW
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Vienna whirls: Austria tweaks specification for incoming Black Hawk fleet

By FlightGlobal: Changes to UH-60M buy are revealed in a new US Congressional notification for the acquisition. Austria has been cleared for a second time for the possible acquisition of 12 Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawks in what appears to be a specification upgrade of the same number of helicopters it ordered in 2024.

Also: FlightGlobal and defcrosnews.com
2026-06-19T04:16:11.949077-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   BAE Systems  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Callen-Lenz reveals Nyan one-way effector, with thousands already delivered

By FlightGlobal: Developer reveals strike drone as already operational in Ukraine. BAE Systems subsidiary Callen-Lenz has released first details of its Nyan one-way effector, following a recent trial activity conducted by the British Army.

Also: defence-blog.com
2026-06-19T01:22:54.645846-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Defense Budgets & Spending   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Bloomberg • Aaron Eglitis, Ott Tammik

EU’s Eastern Flank Demands Brussels Step Up on Air-Defense Funds

By Bloomberg: European Union nations on the bloc’s eastern flank are piling pressure on Brussels to speed up the approval of air-defense funding as more military drones stray into their airspace from Russia and Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter.

2026-06-18T21:38:08.141168-07:00
Event   Leadership   Policy & Regulation   Defense Policy  
New York Times • Greg Jaffe, Maggie Haberman

Scores Fall Ill at Air Force Base After Hegseth Makes Flu Vaccine Optional

By New York Times: The defense secretary described the vaccine requirement, which he lifted in April, as an “absurd, overreaching” mandate.

Also: The Guardian, CBS News, ms.now and The Independent
2026-06-18T11:49:35.903939-07:00