Aircraft Carrier   Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
Reuters

France to build next-generation nuclear aircraft carrier to replace Charles de Gaulle, Macron says

President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed plans for a larger, next‑generation nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier to replace the ageing Charles de Gaulle. The government has formally decided to proceed with construction, aiming to modernise carrier capability and strengthen France's maritime power and nuclear-deterrent reach.

Also: UK Defence Journal and al-monitor.com
2025-12-21T07:34:00.612540-08:00
Satellite   Space Force   Supply Chain   L3Harris   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Launch Vehicles & Space Transportation   Commercial Space   Space Defense & Militarization  
Breaking Defense • Theresa Hitchens

SDA awards $3.5B Tranche 3 Tracking Layer contracts to Lockheed, Rocket Lab, Northrop Grumman and L3Harris

By Breaking Defense: Lockheed Martin, Rocket Lab USA, Northrop Grumman, and L3Harris Technologies each won awards to "deliver and operate 18 space vehicles" for the Space Development Agency's Tranche 3 Tracking Layer.

Also: Spaceflight Now, Bloomberg, Reuters, sda.mil, Northrop Grumman, Air & Space Forces Mag, GlobeNewswire, news.defcros.com, Business Wire, spacewar.com, arabiandefence.com, indiastrategic.in and 17 more
2025-12-19T09:09:49.185349-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   AI   North America   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Ryan Finnerty

US Air Force to Fit X-62 VISTA with Raytheon PhantomStrike AESA to Test AI-Enabled Combat for Uncrewed Fighters

By FlightGlobal: The US Air Force will install Raytheon's PhantomStrike active electronically scanned array radar on its X-62 VISTA test aircraft, advancing autonomous combat capabilities as the service develops artificial intelligence systems for future uncrewed fighters.

Also: edwards.af.mil, Aviation A2Z, AirForceTimes, The Aviationist, Aviation Week, interestingengineering.com, news.defcros.com and 5 more
2025-12-19T07:58:18.769640-08:00
AI   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
Breaking Defense • Michael Marrow

US Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft Round 2: Nine vendors chosen to advance autonomous 'drone wingmen' concepts

By Breaking Defense: The designs selected for the next group of Collaborative Combat Aircraft represent a “broad spectrum” of concepts, which will be narrowed down at a later date for prototyping, an Air Force spokesperson told Breaking Defense.

2025-12-19T16:28:59.731301-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Germany signs deal to launch production of Taurus Neo cruise missiles for Luftwaffe

By FlightGlobal: Europe's Taurus Systems joint venture has been awarded a contract by the German BAAINBw defence procurement body to produce Taurus air-launched cruise missiles in an enhanced Neo-version standard.

Also: Janes
2025-12-19T03:39:18.940060-08:00
Europe   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Leonardo to deliver four next‑generation AESA GaN radars for Italy’s long‑range ballistic missile defence

By AeroTime: Leonardo will develop and deliver four next-generation radars for Italy’s long-range ballistic missile defense, including fixed and mobile AESA GaN systems.

Also: asdnews.com
2025-12-19T03:39:03.063358-08:00
AI   Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Policy & Regulation   Export Controls & Trade Compliance  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

European Defence Fund backs studies for new small turbofan to power 'loyal wingman' drones amid export restrictions

By FlightGlobal: A lack of suitable European-built small turbofan engines for 'loyal wingman' applications that are also free of export restrictions has pushed the EU to consider funding the development of a new powerplant.

2025-12-19T04:48:33.409796-08:00