Saudi Arabia   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy   BAE Systems  
defence-blog.com • Colton Jones

US approves up to ~$1.96B sale of BAE Systems APKWS II laser-guided guidance kits to Saudi Arabia

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible sale of up to 20,000 APKWS II guidance sections to Saudi Arabia, covering 10,000 air-to-air and 10,000 air-to-ground kits. BAE Systems is the principal contractor, supporting Riyadh’s counter-drone and precision-strike capability.

Also: FlightGlobal and FlightGlobal
2026-07-16T05:16:58.169481-07:00
Event   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation  
AeroTime • Ian Molyneaux

Actions of Blue Angels pilot called into question over low pass at busy US beach

By AeroTime: A US Navy's Blue Angels aerobatic display team is under review after video footage emerged of a low altitude pass at a busy Florida beach.

Also: Stars and Stripes, NBC News, The Independent, CBS News, CNN and 6 more
2026-07-16T04:15:47.808247-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Boeing touts potential of AESA radar addition for Apache

By FlightGlobal: More capable sensor would boost detection of airborne threats. Boeing is advancing further enhancements for its AH-64E Apache to boost the platform’s ability to engage non-traditional threats such as one-way attack drones.

Also: India Defense News
2026-07-16T10:16:36.131393-07:00
Space Force   Defense Budgets & Spending   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Trump's pick to lead Space Force defends plan to more than double budget

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the U.S. Space Force backed the administration’s proposal to more than double the service’s budget, telling senators on Thursday that a $71.1 billion request was “exactly what we need” to counter China’s rapidly expanding military capabilities in space.

Also: Breaking Defense and Defense Daily
2026-07-16T08:14:50.576553-07:00
Satellite   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization  
SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Defense Innovation Unit seeks commercial path to deliver electrical power from orbit

By SpaceNews.com: WASHINGTON — The Defense Innovation Unit is seeking commercial proposals to beam electrical power between spacecraft and from orbit to the ground in a demonstration within two years, an effort to move a long-studied technology toward operational military use by the end of the decade.

Also: Defense Daily
2026-07-16T08:44:48.269276-07:00
Satellite   Europe   Space Policy & International Cooperation   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Via Satellite • Mark Holmes

Integration and Sovereignty: How Defense is Reshaping the Earth Observation Market

By Via Satellite: As defense and security needs drive demand for Earth Observation (EO) data, experts from Europe’s leading space and security organizations say challenges remain with integrating EO data into larger systems and finding the right balance with sovereignty.

2026-07-16T09:14:01.263011-07:00
SAAB   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Starmer says UK to help fund 16 Gripen fighter jets for Ukraine

By Reuters: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on ​Thursday pledged €300 million ($345 million) to help ‌equip Ukraine with a squadron of 16 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets, making one of ​his final commitments to Kyiv before leaving ​office.

2026-07-16T05:45:44.051100-07:00