Safran Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

DefenseNews.com • Rudy Ruitenberg

MBDA and Safran complete first live firing of France’s Thundart long-range rocket artillery

MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defence say the Thundart system has achieved its first successful firing, with the launch executed April 14 at the Île du Levant test site. The surface-to-surface rocket is designed and produced in France for a FLP-T (long-range land strike) requirement, targeting operational availability by 2030.

defence-blog.com • Emily Ryan Miller

France fires THUNDART rocket for the first time

edrmagazine.eu • Paolo Valpolini

MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense announce successful testing of the surface-to-surface Thundart missile

2026-04-29T14:29:45.975317-07:00

Europe Defense Industry & Major Contractors BAE Systems

Breaking Defense • Jonas Olsson

Estonia’s CV90 exit has no ‘big effect’ on joint European order: BAE Hägglunds chief

By Breaking Defense: “The effect is marginal. I think the other customers will get vehicles earlier,” Tommy Gustafsson-Rask, general manager of BAE Systems Hägglunds, said during a media visit to its Ornskoldsvik site.

2026-04-29T13:55:58.076010-07:00

Aircraft Carrier Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact Defense Policy

Washington Post • Dan Lamothe, Tara Copp

U.S. aircraft carrier to leave Mideast, reducing military might amid Iran war

By Washington Post: The USS Gerald R. Ford, at sea for 10 months, is in need of repair. Its exit, though, reduces the firepower on hand as Trump presses Tehran to make peace.

2026-04-29T13:29:04.129915-07:00

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

The War Zone • Thomas Newdick

First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

By The War Zone: The MQ-58 with conventional landing gear will mark the beginning of the Marines’ operational Collaborative Combat Aircraft journey, with other types likely to follow.

2026-04-29T11:47:54.142269-07:00

UAV Development & Drone Programs AI Sikorsky Military Aircraft Procurement Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Vertical Mag • Oliver Johnson

Autonomous 505 & R66 Turbinetruck selected for USMC MARV-EL resupply program

By Vertical Mag: The two autonomous platforms — finalists in the U.S. Army’s Flight School Next program in their manned variants — are being developed by Sikorsky and Near Earth Autonomy.

2026-04-29T11:21:14.219573-07:00

Event UAV Development & Drone Programs Europe Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)

Vertical Mag • Elistair Press Release

Elistair’s Khronos tethered DroneBox takes part in ORION 2026, France’s largest joint military exercise

By Vertical Mag: Explore the role of DroneBox in ORION 2026, a major military exercise in France with over 1,200 drones deployed.

2026-04-29T11:21:25.202333-07:00

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

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force awards BAE Systems $11.8 million to demo satellite communications for Golden Dome

By SpaceNews.com: AE Systems WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force awarded BAE Systems an $11.8 million contract to demonstrate satellite-to-satellite communications using Link-182, a radio-frequency data link standard adopted for its planned MILNET data relay network supporting the Golden Dome missile defense shield.

2026-04-29T06:30:04.451147-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Orders Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors Workforce & Skills Development Airbus

Airbus

Airbus leads national industry launch of Spain's new combat training system

By Airbus: Getafe, Spain, April 28, 2026 – An Airbus-led group of Spanish companies presented today the industrial programme of the Spanish Air and Space Force's new Integrated Combat Training System (ITS-C).

AeroTime

Airbus presents Spanish industry roadmap for new SAETA II combat trainer

aviationnews.eu

Airbus-Led Consortium to Replace Spain’s Aging F-5 Fleet with Advanced Hürjet-Based System

Also: Air Data News, FlightGlobal, Aviation Week, aviation-defence-universe.com and 11 more

2026-04-28T04:24:55.386429-07:00

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MBDA and Safran complete first live firing of France’s Thundart long-range rocket artillery

France fires THUNDART rocket for the first time

MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense announce successful testing of the surface-to-surface Thundart missile

Estonia’s CV90 exit has no ‘big effect’ on joint European order: BAE Hägglunds chief

U.S. aircraft carrier to leave Mideast, reducing military might amid Iran war

First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

Autonomous 505 & R66 Turbinetruck selected for USMC MARV-EL resupply program

Elistair’s Khronos tethered DroneBox takes part in ORION 2026, France’s largest joint military exercise

Space Force awards BAE Systems $11.8 million to demo satellite communications for Golden Dome

Airbus leads national industry launch of Spain's new combat training system

Airbus presents Spanish industry roadmap for new SAETA II combat trainer

Airbus-Led Consortium to Replace Spain’s Aging F-5 Fleet with Advanced Hürjet-Based System

Safran, MBDA see delivery of French rocket artillery in 2029 as feasible

Estonia’s CV90 exit has no ‘big effect’ on joint European order: BAE Hägglunds chief

U.S. aircraft carrier to leave Mideast, reducing military might amid Iran war

First USMC MQ-58 Valkyrie CCA Drones To Arrive In 2029

Autonomous 505 & R66 Turbinetruck selected for USMC MARV-EL resupply program

Elistair’s Khronos tethered DroneBox takes part in ORION 2026, France’s largest joint military exercise

Bell and KAI sign MoU to pitch MV-75 tiltrotor for South Korea’s HSMUH

New Cruise Missile-Armed MV-75 Tiltrotor Concept For The Marines Shown Off

Beehive unveils Rampart 1,000lb-thrust engine for uncrewed fighters

India May Sign Helo Deal by Boeing Deadline

Spain launches SAETA II integrated combat training with Airbus-led ITS-C for 30 TAI Hurjet trainers

U.S. Navy declares initial operational capability for P-8A Poseidon Increment 3 Block 2

Pentagon: Only 36% of F-35 fleet meets full mission-capability goals

Bell and KAI align on MV-75 Cheyenne II tiltrotor for South Korea’s HSMUH; Wichita facility readies fuselage production for Army

Starlink's 2024 Advances: Transforming In-Flight Wi-Fi Connectivity in Aviation

Riyadh Air: Saudi Arabia's New National Carrier Prepares for Launch Amid Regional Competition

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