Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
DefenseNews.com • Michael Peck

US Navy seeks dual-function helicopter sonar to detect submarines and mine-like targets

The US Navy is exploring a single sonar capability for helicopters that can support both submarine tracking and mine detection, aiming to replace—or at least reduce—the need for separate, dedicated sensors. The effort targets practical operational convenience: one aircraft, one acoustic system, multiple maritime missions.

Also: Navy Times, Military Times and news.ssbcrack.com
2026-04-20T09:26:07.476573-07:00
Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
DefenseNews.com

DARPA develops synthetic blood for the battlefield | Defense News Weekly Full Episode 4.21.26

By DefenseNews.com: DARPA is overseeing the development of synthetic blood, which could drastically change battlefield medicine. How soon could one see it in their kit?.

Also: AirForceTimes and 3 more
2026-04-20T08:42:42.434370-07:00
Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Policy  
Aviation Week • Steve Trimble

One F/A-XX Bidder 'Can’t Deliver' On Navy Schedule, CNO Says

By Aviation Week: One of the two companies vying for the F/A-XX contract lacks the capacity to deliver the fighter on time, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle says.

2026-04-20T08:20:47.941579-07:00
Aircraft Carrier   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
DVIDS / U.S. DoD

New JDAM LR capability completes successful demonstration flights; milestone achievement for long-range naval strike

By DVIDS / U.S. DoD: The Navy recently demonstrated the new Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Long Range (LR) variant in early April, marking a significant milestone in bringing a new option for affordable, producible, standoff strike capability to the Carrier Air Wing.

Also: The Aviationist and AeroTime
2026-04-20T06:11:33.155146-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   Helicopter   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus   GKN Aerospace  
Airbus

Airbus and partners sign NH90 Block 2 architecture study contract

By Airbus: The NATO agency in charge of the NH90 programme, NAHEMA, has signed a contract with NHIndustries to launch the NH90 Block 2 architecture study.

Also: Aviation Week, aviation-defence-universe.com, AeroTime, Vertical Mag, Janes and 6 more
2026-04-20T02:45:15.734683-07:00
Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Vertical Mag • Bell Press Release

Bell: Nacelle improvement elevates V-22 readiness

By Vertical Mag: The first of nine CV-22s with the 20th Special Operations Squadron at Cannon Air Force Base received the NI upgrade in 2021, and the program has produced a 75% reduction in maintenance hours, Bell said.

Also: AeroTime
2026-04-20T06:48:20.675987-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

New FCAS talks collapse, casting doubt over Europe’s next-generation fighter program

By Air Data News: Mediation between Airbus and Dassault fails to resolve dispute over sixth-generation system, according Efforts to resolve a dispute between the industrial partners of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) have failed, raising fresh uncertainty over one of Europe’s most ambitious defense programs.

2026-04-20T05:29:48.136301-07:00