Defense News

Europe

The War Zone • Tyler Rogoway

Seven decades after first flight, A-4 Skyhawks still play aggressors in Europe

The A-4 Skyhawk, which first flew 70 years ago, remains in use in Europe as a “red air” aggressor aircraft. Its continued role shows how a Cold War-era platform still contributes to today’s military training, though the article provides no details on operators, fleet size or specific missions.

1 Source

2026-10-22T11:35:04.431826-07:00

Europe Military Aircraft Procurement Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Deals

Breaking Defense • Tim Martin

'Ability to strike back': Denmark commits to long-range missile orders

By Breaking Defense: Copenhagen said it would purchase Joint Strike Missiles for its F-35s and a new ground-launched munition from an American firm.

1 Source

2026-10-22T11:04:42.902964-07:00

Satellite Space Force Space Defense & Militarization

SpaceNews.com • Sandra Erwin

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

By SpaceNews.com: Illustration by NorthStar Earth & Space WASHINGTON — The U.S. Space Force has awarded its first operational contracts under a program designed to enlist commercial satellite operators during military crises.

Also: Air & Space Forces Mag, Business Insider and insidedefense.com

4 Sources

2026-10-22T09:06:06.316442-07:00

Military Aircraft Procurement Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs) Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Reuters • Aatreyee Dasgupta, Mike Stone

Lockheed lands Pentagon deal for 850 F-35 jets, lifts annual forecast

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin announced an agreement on Thursday to sell the Pentagon at least 850 stealthy ‌F-35 Lightning II fighter jets over the next 10 years, a deal worth at least $78 billion.

Breaking Defense

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to decade-long F-35 framework deal for hundreds of jets

DefenseNews.com

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to 10-year deal for 850 F-35 jets

Also: Bloomberg, aviationnews.eu, FlightGlobal, AeroTime, Air Data News, Wall Street Journal, Air & Space Forces Mag, Aviation Week, Stars and Stripes, defence-blog.com, Seapower Magazine, aeromorning.com and 14 more

40 Sources

2026-10-22T04:04:22.740387-07:00

Middle East Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact

The War Zone • Ian Ellis-Jones

Construction Of Iran’s “Eagle 44” Underground Airbase Hasn’t Stopped Despite War

By The War Zone: Satellite imagery depicts new construction and cleared wreckage after strikes at an Iranian airbase with underground hangars and taxiway tunnels.

1 Source

2026-10-22T07:28:25.086561-07:00

aviation eVTOL UAV Development & Drone Programs Aviation Safety & Regulation Defense Industry & Major Contractors Beta Technologies

AINonline • Charlotte Bailey

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

By AINonline: Hybrid-electric uncrewed defense variant also revealed.

aviationnews.eu

FAA Grants BETA Technologies First-Ever eVTOL Market Survey Authorization for ALIA A250

eVTOL Insights

BETA Secures First FAA Market Survey Authorisation for Electric VTOL Aircraft

Also: Inflight Online, Aviation Week, India Defense News and 5 more

12 Sources

2026-10-22T04:04:57.822906-07:00

Europe Embraer

Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

By Air Data News: Spain’s Eurofighters and F-18s are compatible with the tanker’s hose-and-drogue system, unlike Portugal’s own F-16s Portugal and Spain have approved a bilateral agreement that will allow Portuguese Air Force Embraer C-390 Millennium transport aircraft equipped for aerial refueling to support Spanish military aircraft.

4 Sources

2026-10-22T07:35:00.897073-07:00

L3Harris Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons Defense Industry & Major Contractors

Axios • Colin Demarest

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

By Axios: The preexisting L3Harris footprint in Camden, Arkansas, includes 100-plus buildings across 2,000 acres.

1 Source

2026-10-22T08:28:38.693737-07:00

Seven decades after first flight, A-4 Skyhawks still play aggressors in Europe

'Ability to strike back': Denmark commits to long-range missile orders

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

Lockheed lands Pentagon deal for 850 F-35 jets, lifts annual forecast

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to decade-long F-35 framework deal for hundreds of jets

Pentagon, Lockheed agree to 10-year deal for 850 F-35 jets

Construction Of Iran’s “Eagle 44” Underground Airbase Hasn’t Stopped Despite War

Skyfly Secures $10 million To Commercialize Axe personal eVTOL aircraft

FAA Grants BETA Technologies First-Ever eVTOL Market Survey Authorization for ALIA A250

BETA Secures First FAA Market Survey Authorisation for Electric VTOL Aircraft

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

A-4 'Super' Skyhawks Playing The Bad Guys In European Skies

'Ability to strike back': Denmark commits to long-range missile orders

Space Force taps six companies to provide satellite surveillance backup

Construction Of Iran’s “Eagle 44” Underground Airbase Hasn’t Stopped Despite War

Portuguese KC-390s to refuel Spanish fighters under new bilateral agreement

L3Harris opens robotic rocket motor factory in Arkansas

Argentina’s military accepts sixth and final Bell 407GXi

BlackSky announces Gen-3 contract with international defense agency

Space Force scrambles as Musk’s SpaceX retires its major rocket

Lockheed, Pentagon strike initial deal to produce 850 F-35 jets

Musk ordered a slowdown of Ukraine’s military-grade Starlink service, raising concerns over Kyiv’s reliance on the network for w

French Mirage 2000D crashes during night training flight, killing one crew member; second remains missing

UK to deploy Typhoons, Voyager tanker and A400M to support Saudi defensive operations against Houthi attacks

Russian satellite closes to within 3,281 feet of U.S.-registered ICEYE radar satellite

The day’s aerospace signal, in one email.

More in Defense

Turkey says it is waiting for sale contract from Qatar for Eurofighter Typhoon jet procurement

RTX Reports $59 Billion in Third-Quarter Awards, Backlog Reaches $340 Billion

Pentagon chief appears with new Sierra Nevada E-4C ‘Doomsday’ jet

How Does the Ukrainian Military Use Starlink?

ESPI AC 2026 - €35 Billion for Space: Is Germany Entering a New Space Era? | Klaus-Peter Willsch

Any Decision To Buy New-Build F-16s Not An "Urgent" Priority: USAF

French Mirage 2000D fighter jet crashes near Nancy

Russian Su-30 fighter crashes in Kaliningrad, pilots eject