UAV Development & Drone Programs   Helicopter   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Policy  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

UK to retire Leonardo Wildcat AH1 from 2027 as British Army pivots to drones and autonomous reconnaissance

The UK government has confirmed the British Army will begin withdrawing its 34 Leonardo Wildcat AH1 helicopters from service in 2027. The decision follows operational lessons and aligns with a broader defence transformation programme shifting battlefield reconnaissance toward unmanned and autonomous systems.

Also: aviationnews.eu
2026-07-05T00:31:51.293953-07:00
Event   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Policy   United Airlines  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

RAF flies P-8A Poseidon to the North Pole for the first time

By Air Data News: Maritime patrol aircraft completed the mission during a tactical training exercise in Norway that also involved NATO Royal Air Force (RAF) has completed its first P-8A Poseidon mission to the North Pole , taking the maritime patrol aircraft farther north than ever before during Exercise Midnight Warrior.

2026-07-04T03:15:57.880411-07:00
SAAB   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Deals   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

NATO set to announce Saab GlobalEye AWACS replacement in Ankara: Reuters

By AeroTime: NATO is expected to announce in Ankara that Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft will replace its E-3A AWACS fleet, according to Reuters.

Also: FlightGlobal, Aviation24, The Aviationist, Aviation Week, Janes, Aerotech News, Aeronews, Aero-News, defensetalks.com, news.ssbcrack.com, defensemirror.com, Simple Flying and 13 more
2026-07-02T08:28:59.948189-07:00
Helicopter   Sikorsky   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus   Airbus A330  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Canada's first CC-330 Husky MRTT completes maiden flight

By Air Data News: Aircraft enters flight testing before planned introduction into Royal Canadian Air Force service in 2027 first Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) built for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) has completed its maiden flight in Spain, moving Canada's next-generation tanker program into the flight-test phase.

2026-07-02T23:17:00.796313-07:00
Hypersonic   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Defense Policy  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

First US Hypersonic Weapon Program Faces Further Delay, GAO Says

By Bloomberg: The US’s first hypersonic weapon, already at least two years late for deployment in the field, is facing delays yet again — this time over unresolved production issues, according to congressional auditors.

2026-07-02T07:29:20.411582-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Royal Navy advances hybrid operational concept work with Nyan one-way effector test launch

By FlightGlobal: UK-produced attack drone launched from surface vessel for the first time. The UK Royal Navy (RN) has conducted test launches of the Callen-Lenz Nyan one-way effector (OWE) from an experimental vessel for the first time, as the service develops its new hybrid operating concept.

Also: Janes and The Aviationist
2026-07-03T07:15:47.301600-07:00