SAAB   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

NATO to announce Saab GlobalEye as replacement for E-3A AWACS fleet in Ankara

NATO is expected to announce in Ankara that its E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) fleet will be replaced by Saab’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, according to Reuters. The decision signals a shift in the alliance’s airborne ISR and battle-management surveillance architecture.

2026-07-02T08:28:59.948189-07:00
Hypersonic   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   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Russia likely used shadow fleet ships for drone campaign over Europe: IISS

By AeroTime: It is highly likely that the Kremlin conducted a drone campaign over Europe between August 2024 and February 2026, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) assessed in a report, which also finds that Russian-linked vessels and the shadow fleet likely served as launch and recovery platforms.

2026-07-02T07:29:07.844530-07:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Industry & Major Contractors  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

Up to 24 ‘surveillance drones’ will replace British Army Watchkeepers

By FlightGlobal: New uncrewed aircraft will replace obsolete type. The UK will field a replacement for its Watchkeeper remotely piloted aircraft by late this decade, according to its newly published Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

2026-07-02T04:59:27.747617-07:00
Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Missile Systems & Strategic Weapons   Defense Budgets & Spending   Defense Policy  
FlightGlobal • Craig Hoyle

UK defence plan targets Storm Shadow, Meteor successor investments

By FlightGlobal: New weapons investment outlined in spending plan. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) will not invest in further upgrades to two of the Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) long-range air-launched weapons, instead favouring the development of next-generation systems.

2026-07-02T00:46:56.114080-07:00