Event   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

RIAT 2026 canceled as RAF Fairford access uncertain amid US operations linked to Iran

Organisers of the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) have cancelled the 2026 event, planned for 17-19 July, citing that RAF Fairford base access is uncertain due to ongoing US operations against Iran. The disruption affects the show’s ability to proceed as scheduled.

aviationnews.eu • Marcel Van Leeuwen

RIAT 2026 Cancelled

Aviation Week • Tony Osborne

RIAT 2026 Canceled Over Iran War Uncertainty

Also: Breaking Defense and airforce-technology.com
2026-05-22T04:05:33.753250-07:00
MRO   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Embraer  
Air Data News • Ricardo Meier

Embraer hints at possible Greek C-390 order with MRO agreement

By Air Data News: Embraer signed a memorandum of understanding with Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) on May 22, a move that signals growing expectations that Greece could become a future operator of the C-390 Millennium military transport aircraft.

2026-05-22T01:39:09.248065-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

AFSOC Reapers get long-range punch with GBU-39B integration

By FlightGlobal: GBU-39B gives special forces an accurate stand-off weapon from a key uncrewed platform. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9 Reaper uncrewed aircraft assigned to the US Air force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) have gained the capability to use the GBU-39B Small Diameter Bomb.

2026-05-22T00:55:07.820838-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   General Atomics   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Greg Waldron

YFQ-42A returns to flight tests after software fix

By FlightGlobal: The collaborative combat aircraft was grounded for nearly one month after a crash. The General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) YFQ-42A collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) prototype has resumed test flights following a 7 April crash.

Also: Aviation Week, Air & Space Forces Mag, ga-asi.com, Defense One, Defense Daily, Seeking Alpha and 4 more
2026-05-21T21:10:33.287494-07:00
Satellite   Space Defense & Militarization   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Cybersecurity (Cyber Threats & Protection)  
Bloomberg • Anthony Capaccio

Ukraine Retook Territory After Hobbling Starlink, Pentagon Says

By Bloomberg: A Ukrainian offensive against Russia earlier this year retook about 400 square kilometers after thousands of portable Starlink internet terminals operated by Russian forces were deactivated, according to the US Defense Intelligence Agency.

2026-05-21T15:54:27.493477-07:00
North America   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation  
AeroTime • Stephen Pope

US Air Force grounds T-38 Talon training fleet after Alabama crash

By AeroTime: The US Air Force grounded its T-38 Talon fleet after a crash in Alabama involving a jet assigned to Columbus Air Force Base.

2026-05-21T14:09:49.886581-07:00
Supply Chain   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
Reuters • Mike Stone

Lockheed Martin breaks ground on Alabama missile plant

By Reuters: Lockheed Martin broke ground on Thursday on an 87,000-square-foot Munitions Production Center at its Troy, Alabama campus, as part of a ​U.S. push to expand missile output and strengthen the defense ‌industrial base.

2026-05-21T14:24:14.316151-07:00