Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Airbus   Boeing  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

NATO next‑generation rotorcraft project finalises ~90% of requirements as RfP nears; Boeing re‑emerges as potential bidder

A six‑member NATO programme to develop a next‑generation military rotorcraft has agreed roughly 90% of its requirements ahead of a planned request for proposals to industry this summer. The milestone narrows design scope, accelerates the procurement timetable and has reopened the field to major OEMs, with Boeing re‑emerging as a possible bidder.

2026-03-02T02:26:22.982794-08:00
UAV Development & Drone Programs   Middle East   Europe   Airports   Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
Reuters

Iranian-made drone hits British air base in Cyprus, causing limited damage

By Reuters: A drone strike hit a British air base in Cyprus overnight, causing limited damage and no casualties, Cypriot and British officials said on Monday, in a marked escalation effectively dragging an EU member state into the conflict surrounding Iran.

Also: Unmanned Airspace, spacewar.com, Sky News, India Defense News, The Guardian and 5 more
2026-03-01T22:11:38.405811-08:00
Middle East   Accident   Aviation Safety & Regulation   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

USAF F-15E Crashes in Kuwait in Reported Friendly-Fire Incident; Crew Ejects and Survives

By AeroTime: Social media footage suggests a US Air Force F-15E crashed in Kuwait in what is reported as a friendly fire incident. Both crew members ejected and survived.

Also: The Aviationist, AeroTime, defence-blog.com, swarajyamag.com, airlive.net, newsable.asianetnews.com, news.ssbcrack.com, UK Defence Journal, Air Data News and defence-blog.com
2026-03-01T22:11:41.246223-08:00
Supply Chain   Europe   Military Aircraft Procurement   Orders   Aircraft Manufacturing (OEMs)   Defense Industry & Major Contractors   Workforce & Skills Development  
FlightGlobal • Dominic Perry

Leonardo AW149 selected for UK New Medium Helicopter programme — 23 to be built at Yeovil in £1bn deal

By FlightGlobal: Leonardo Helicopters has finally been declared the winner of the UK's £1 billion ($1.34 billion) New Medium Helicopter contest, which will see a reported 23 AW149s built at its Yeovil plant in southwest England.

Also: Reuters, Aviation Week, UK Defence Journal, defencetoday.com, army-technology.com, miragenews.com, spacewar.com, UK Defence Journal and defensehere.com
2026-03-01T05:34:42.656693-08:00
Helicopter   Europe   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Export Controls & Trade Compliance   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

French NH90s Back Belgian Forces in Boarding and Seizure of Sanctioned Russian Tanker

By AeroTime: Belgian forces, backed by French Navy NH90 helicopters, boarded a sanctioned tanker in the North Sea, the ship is now in Zeebrugge for seizure.

Also: ANI News Agency and defencetoday.com
2026-03-01T02:52:27.520415-08:00
Accident   Geopolitical Developments & Conflict Impact   Asia-Pacific (APAC)   Defense Policy  
AeroTime • Clement Charpentreau

Taliban says Pakistani jets entered Afghan airspace and attempted to bomb Bagram airbase

By AeroTime: Taliban officials say Pakistani military jets entered Afghan airspace near Bagram and were driven off, as blasts were reported over Kabul amid border fighting.

Also: ANI News Agency and 3 more
2026-03-01T05:06:26.516211-08:00